Saratoga News

Sports

Saratoga's Lagemann is division's co-MVP

By Mike Barnhart

Entering the 2006 football season, most coaches tabbed Saratoga as the favorite in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League. They knew Saratoga was dropping down from the high-powered De Anza Division, and they knew the Falcons still had Alex Lagemann, who had earned the De Anza's Most Valuable Receiver award.

Looking back, the El Camino honchos were close as Saratoga finished second behind unbeaten champion Los Altos, but they were right on about Lagemann. Despite touching the ball less than eight times a game, Lagemann was spectacular during his senior season. He and Monta Vista senior Marcus Woo were honored as the co-Most Valuable Players of the El Camino Division.

Lagemann, a 6-foot-3, 210-pounder gifted with an uncommon talent package of size, speed and skill, verbally accepted a full scholarship offer from UC-Berkeley last June, then went out and backed the hype in the fall. Even if Lagemann's No. 5 jersey had read "Danger! Big Play Ahead," he still would have given opposing defenses fits.

His 36 pass receptions produced 11 touchdowns and 727 yards--more than 20 yards per catch. Also dangerous in the return game, Lagemann returned 11 punts for 278 yards and two TDs and 16 kick-offs for 472 yards and another pair of scores. He also carried the ball 11 times for 115 yards and a touchdown, and he even threw one pass--which was good for 44 yards.

Woo, who also earned co-MVP honors as a junior in 2005, once again earned a share of the El Camino's top individual award this season. He gained more than 2,000 all-purpose yards and scored 17 touchdowns for Monta Vista.

Lynbrook linebacker Scott Day was the division's Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot, 200-pound junior played both ways for the Vikings and scored a team high of 10 touchdowns, but made a bigger impression plugging holes and stopping opposing ball carriers. Day made 98 tackles, including 66 solo hits, one interception and a fumble recovery.

Another Lynbrook defender, senior Ben Shin, was Most Valuable Defensive Lineman. The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder made 35 solo tackles and assisted on 32 others.

Monta Vista senior Kota Kojima was honored as Most Valuable Utility Player. Kojima sparkled on both sides of the ball, scoring seven touchdowns on offense and ranking fourth in tackles for the defense.

Senior quarterbacks Kevin Sieczkarek of Saratoga and Alex Atkins of Monta Vista were among the 20 players named to the first team offense. Others included: Saratoga--senior running back Jeff Frederickson, junior wide receiver Keon Ghafouri, junior linemen David Pignatelli and Brian Dodge; Monta Vista--junior wide receiver Billy Guardino, senior lineman Mike Moustakas, junior kicker Derrick Ley; Lynbrook--junior tight end Andy Meunier.

Monta Vista junior lineman Matt Moustakas, who sacked quarterbacks 10 times this season, was one of 16 selections to the first team defense. Others included: Saratoga--senior lineman Sean Nasiri, junior lineman Zach Kowitz, junior defensive end Steven Walker, senior linebacker Sean Casserly, junior linebacker Gabe Essner, senior defensive back Danny Miroyan; Lynbrook--senior linebacker Matt Kemp, senior defensive back Eric Park, senior utility Kevin Rahbar.

The second team offense included senior center Brian Frediani of Monta Vista and junior center Bobby Esquivel of Lynbrook. The second team defense included senior tackle Danny Park and junior linebackers Peter Kosulin, Trevor Sambyal and Kevin Bernstein of Monta Vista and senior end Kris Gingrich of Lynbrook.