Ross the boss of Sage Hill

Braden Ross only needed one varsity letter for his letterman’s jacket.

But, just to be safe, he stacked up 10 of them during his four years at Sage Hill School.

“That’s pretty rare in high school,” said Lightning boys’ athletic director Nate Miller. “Even at a small school.”

Ross, who was named the Lightning Male Athlete of the Year for 2007, certainly earned all of them. He was a four-year varsity athlete in football and soccer, and also played baseball during his freshman and sophomore years.

“I was thrown into Sage Hill varsity sports immediately when I got there,” Ross said. “I think having the opportunity to be on every varsity team was an amazing experience. It really helped me grow a lot quicker as an athlete.”

In football is where he probably made his biggest mark. A four-year starter, he played quarterback his freshman year. The last three years, Ross wore many hats as a wide receiver, defensive back, punter and kick returner.

He also helped transform a team that went 1-8 his freshman year to a playoff contender.

“We really turned it around,” Ross said. “I got to see it go from 12 kids at each practice to last year, about 45. It’s unbelievable to be a part of that experience.”

Ross, who will play football at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., this fall, was first-team All-Academy League for the past three seasons, as well as a team captain. In 2006, he was named a first-team All-CIF Northeast Division wide receiver, helping the Lightning to a 6-5 mark and a second-place finish in the Academy League.

Ross, who was named to the Daily Pilot Football Dream Team, caught a Newport-Mesa best 66 passes for 1,092 yards, scoring 14 touchdowns.

He also led the Lightning with 91 tackles, intercepted five passes and had two quarterback sacks.

In 2005, Ross also led the team with 31 receptions for 409 yards and six touchdowns, helping Sage Hill finish 9-2 and reach the CIF Southern Section Division XIII quarterfinals.

This past winter, Ross also excelled on Sage Hill’s football field, but this time as a member of the Lightning varsity soccer team.

“His talent really shined at Sage,” Miller said. “I think football is where he stands out he most, but in soccer he was the leading goal-scorer on the team. He also benefited everyone around him, for sure.”

Ross, who started at forward for four years, was named first-team All-Academy League in soccer the last three. In his senior year, he led Sage Hill with 14 goals, despite playing the second half of the season on a broken foot.

Ross’ leadership helped the Lightning win the Academy League championship and finish 15-1-2, not allowing an opponent goal (other than an own-goal) until the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs.

His playing on a broken foot also impressed his teammates, like senior team captain — and back-to-back league MVP — Alex Edelstein.

“He’s hanging in there for us,” Edelstein said in February. “We expect nothing less from him just because he’s played through injuries before for the team. Everyone knows he’s a great player. He is showing what he is capable of doing.”

Ross was also starting third baseman for the Lightning baseball team for two seasons, even though he said he hadn’t played the sport for two years before that.

“He’s definitely been a major contributor over the past four years to our entire program,” Miller said. “Even as a freshman, he made an impact on all those teams right away.”

And he carries his rivalry against Academy League foe St. Margaret’s with him. Ross’ favorite athletic moments at Sage Hill?

“Any time we’d do something against St. Margaret’s,” he said.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.