Macias, Waldron, Sapolu All-Golden West League picks

Patrick Laverty

Estancia High’s Geo Macias and Costa Mesa’s Jeff Waldron and Luke

Sapolu led a group of eight players from the two high schools who

were named to the All-Golden West League football teams.

Macias, who caught passes, threw passes, ran the ball, punted and

kicked, returned punts and kickoffs and started at cornerback for the

Eagles, who finished 3-7 in Coach Craig Fertig’s first season, was

the lone Estancia player to be selected first-team all-league.

Waldron, the Daily Pilot’s defensive player of the year, and

Sapolu were first-team selections for Costa Mesa, which finished the

year 5-5. A junior linebacker and wide receiver, Waldron led the

Mustangs in interceptions and was among the leading tacklers. Sapolu,

the son of former San Francisco 49er and current Costa Mesa assistant

coach Jesse Sapolu, provided senior leadership at the center and

linebacker positions.

Four Mustangs were selected to the second team, including running

back Omar Ruiz, who rushed for more than 1,500 yards in his senior

season. Two players who helped Ruiz achieve that mark, junior

offensive linemen Bryce Carich and Rodrigo Gutierrez, were also

second-team selections. The final Costa Mesa player selected was

senior defensive end Marc Daniels.

Estancia’s representatives were rounded out by a pair of senior

leaders who comprised the Eagles’ offensive backfield, in addition to

manning the linebacker position on defense.

Bubba Kapko led Estancia in rushing and scoring and was a

second-team selection. Not far behind him in either category was Mike

Cahill, also named to the second team.

The league MVP was James Peni, a fullback and defensive end from

league champion Orange. Peni’s teammate Justin Jones was named the

offensive player of the year. Linebacker Alfred Tau, from

second-place Westminster, was named the league’s defensive player of

the year.