DIGEST : At Quarterback, Westlake Chooses a Familiar Name

Casey Preston, a junior following in the footsteps of his brother, Todd, will make his first start at quarterback for Westlake High on Friday night against Royal, Coach Jim Benkert said.

Todd Preston was the Warriors’ quarterback in 1989-90 before playing at Moorpark College and the University of Cincinnati.

Preston replaces senior Steve Aylsworth.

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Cal State Northridge seniors Virgil Nelson and Anthony Fernandez, two of the Matadors’ top defensive linemen, have been moved to the offensive line.

The offensive line, which lacks size and experience, was damaged by the loss of center James Omatsu, who is out because of a hand injury.

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Northridge is close to finalizing a deal to play New Mexico State next season, Athletic Director Paul Bubb said. The Aggies would be the Matadors’ first Division I-A opponent since 1993, when Northridge played San Diego State and Nevada Las Vegas.

The Matadors also will play eight Big Sky Conference games, leaving two openings in the 11-game schedule.

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Royal High could see a new stadium as early as next fall. But some sports fans say stadium plans approved by the Simi Valley school board Tuesday night were a far cry from the original plans.

The board cut some amenities, such as a ticket booth and state-of-the-art running track, and put out the project to new bidders after original cost estimates submitted by construction companies in August ran more than $3 million.

The board voted to give the new bid to Chartered Construction of Los Angeles, which submitted a bid of $2.7 million.

Earlier this year, district officials rejected a proposal for artificial turf, which would have cost more than $1 million.

Soccer

Cal State Northridge’s Keith West is Mountain Pacific Sports Federation player of the week for the second time this season.

West had five goals and an assist in victories over New Mexico and Nevada Las Vegas last week.

Softball

Janet Sherman has been selected Cal State Northridge’s coach of the year for the academic year 1994-95.

Basketball

Alemany High is looking for a freshman boys’ coach.

Information: 818-727-8250.

Bell-Jeff High needs teams for its varsity and junior varsity boys’ tournament Dec. 21-23.

Information: 818-972-1401.

Van Nuys High is seeking teams for its boys’ and girls’ tournaments, Dec. 18-20.

Information: 818-781-2371 ext. 260.

Archery

Justin Huish of Simi Valley finished third at the men’s U.S. Olympic pre-trials. The top eight qualified for final trials next spring.

Miscellany

Former Cal State Northridge football Coach Jack Elway will be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame on Nov. 10 at the Odyssey restaurant in Granada Hills.

Heidi Rose, 74-27 in tennis from 1980-82, and Barbara Jordan, a softball All-American from 1985-87, also will be inducted.

Debbie Manuel was named athletic director at Oxnard High, where she has been a physical education teacher for 10 years.

Contributing: Fernando Dominguez, Jeff Fletcher, Steve Henson, Mike Hiserman, Michael Lazarus, Bryan Rodgers.