Making a commitment

Mike Sciacca

If hard work and determination in the off-season were a true

barometer for what happens on the playing field, then the Ocean View

High football team would be in a fine spot.

And while what actually transpires on game night can be another

story, the Seahawks are hoping that the countless hours of sweat and

pain invested in their off-season weight training regimen will help

them beef up their play and better last year’s 2-8 record.

With just one returning All-Golden West League player and only a

few key returners back, the Seahawks will need to show their brawn

under the lights.

There will be a new face at quarterback, some stability along the

offensive and defensive lines, and a seasoned player at linebacker

handling kicking duties.

As has been the case in years past, Ocean View will have several

players play both sides of the ball.

“This year’s team made a commitment in the off-season weight

program,” said Vern Vander Sluis, who will serve with Harold Eggers

as co-head coach. “We are looking forward to the upcoming season.”

When the season begins with a Sept. 10 home game against Santiago,

Ocean View will be under the direction of new quarterback Aaron

Valenzuela, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior.

Last year, the Seahawks seemed set at the spot with the power arm

of all-league returner Alex Hickerson. But he was sidelined by an

injury in the first game at the school’s new stadium.

Brett Burda, who played running back, filled in for Wilkerson

under tough circumstances.

So, having little experience at quarterback is nothing new to the

Seahawks.

“[Valenzuela] is playing in his first year at quarterback,” Vander

Sluis said. “He played linebacker for us last season.”

Burda and Aaron Gonya are no longer in the Ocean View backfield,

which, this year, will be filled with tailback candidates Mike Bildad

, a senior, and Jason Walker, a junior, as well as junior fullback

Chris Syfers (6-0, 220).

At receiver will be senior Jason Sloan and junior Reice Hamel, who

is also the team’s kicker.

Senior Justin Geifer is projected to start at tight end.

Ocean View’s lone returning all-league player, Jhovanny Ramirez, a

5-11, 255-pound senior, anchors the offensive line.

Expected to contributing to the O-line are seniors Javier Miranda

(5-11, 260), Paul Gallardo (6-2, 350) and Joe Deluccia (6-2, 245).

Miranda, like Ramirez, will be counted upon on defense.

Syfers, who led the team in tackles last year as a sophomore, is

back at linebacker. He’ll be joined there by Troy Adessian (5-10,

175), who moved to the spot from strong safety.

Sloan and Hamel should be key players in the secondary.