SCHOLAR ATHLETES OF THE
WEEK
Presented by Grandstand Pizza
EastCountySports.com
WEEK 11 (Nov. 12-13)
DANIEL MILLER, MLB, West Hills
While the Wolf Pack offense gets most of the attention, Miller,
a senior middle linebacker, has been the quiet leader of the defense.
Plus, a 4.25 grade-point average doesn't hurt either.
Week 10 (Nov. 5-6)
WES DAVIS, FS/WR, Steele Canyon
Davis is one of the key ingredients to the Cougars defense, which
rated second only to top-ranked Monte Vista in fewest points allowed
this season. Davis is also a key figure in the classroom with
a 4.20 grade-point average. "I have aspirations of going
to college and being successful," noted Davis, a junior,
who plans to major in political science.
RAMEL WALLACE, LG, Grossmont
Wallace has been an important blocker on one of East County's
top rushing teams. He also owns a 3.30 grade-point average and
is a respected leader for the Foothillers.
WEEK 9 (Oct. 29-30)
ANDY BICKEL, LT, Granite Hills
The 6-foot-6, 255-pound left tackle has been one of the bright
spots for the Eagles this season - both on the field and in the
classroom. "He's got the size, the feet and the foot speed
that major colleges look for," said Eagles coach Dave Waastad.
Bickel, a junior, also owns a 3.20 grade-point average,
so "it will get me into the college I want to go to, hopefully,
a Division I school."
DEREK PEREZ, C/DE, El Cajon Valley
Perez is one of the many two-way performers for the Braves, while
carrying a 3.30 grade-point average. "Because to have a successful
life, you need an education to fall back on," said the junior.
"Then you can do anything you want to do in case athletics
falls through."
Week 8 (Oct. 22-23)
JERRY
LOPEZ, HB, Mount Miguel
Lopez carried a perfect 4.00 grade-point average last session,
pushing his composite well over the 3.00-mark. He notes that his
new-found excellence in the classroom, "will allow me to
provide for my future and my family."
JAMES
GRAHAM, OL, El Capitan
Graham, a senior, holds a 3.50 grade-point average, targeting
Azusa Pacific as his college of choice next fall, where he would
major in business or economics. "It's simple," he noted.
"This way, I can get a job and a great life."
Week 7 (Oct. 15-16)
TREVOR
FULKERSON, WR/DB, Granite Hills
Fulkerson, a 6-0 junior, possesses the top
classroom ranking of any Eagles football player with a 4.30 grade-point
average. "I know it will be important later in life, so I
make sure I always have good grades," said the two-way performer,
who is both a wide receiver and defensive back.
ALEX
LEDGERWOOD, OL/DL, Christian
Ledgerwood carries a Patriots-leading 4.30 grade-point average
among his school's football players, but his future may rest in
another sport. "I hope to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy,
but I may be too small for football, so I may make it there in
track," noted Ledger, who throws the discus and shot put.
"However, my main sport is target shooting, and Air Force
is in desperate need of good shooters to beat the other service
academies."
Week 6 (Oct. 8-9)
RYAN
GAGNON, RB/OLB, Santana
Gagnon, a two-way performer for a Sultans football team which
opened the season with a 5-0 mark, carries a solid 3.20 grade-point
average. "I plan on going to college and being smart,"
noted Gagnon. "You can't go 'round being stupid."
RAY
SMITH, SS, Valhalla
Smith is one of the leading tacklers for the Norsemen, both on
the field and when tackling the books. He holds an impressive
3.40 grade-point average because he wants, "to be smart in
everything I do in my life."
WEEK 5 (Oct. 1-2)
LUIS PEREZ, QB, El Cajon Valley
Perez has been picking up his game, both on the gridiron and in
the classroom this season, directing the Braves past San Diego
High in a 21-18 triumph this past weekend. In addition, his grade-point
average is a solid 3.50. "My grades will get me to college
and lead me to a successful career," Perez noted.
DARREN
"BUD" NEWBORN, WR/SS, Mount Miguel
In addition to being a two-way performer for the Matadors, Newborn
recently learned his current grade-point average for the semester
has reached 4.20, giving him a cumulative career mark of 3.50.
Newborn noted, "A lot of great athletes don't have (NCAA
qualifying) grades, so if I get good grades first, it will make
me that much better in the long run."
(10-04-04)
Week 4 (Sept. 24-25)
JEFF
WOODS, WR, Santana
Woods, a senior, carries a 3.50 grade-point average. He notes
that if "you want to go to college, you have to have good
grades." Woods caught a pair of passes -- both for
touchdowns -- in a 31-18 decision over Granite Hills over the
weekend.
JESSE
FIELDS, LT, Steele Canyon
Fields, a senior who anchors the Cougars offensive line, notes
that his improvement in the classroom comes from his parents.
"My father, who just retired, wouldn't have been able to
if it wasn't for school. And my mom works as a clerk at a school
-- they both pushed me."
Week 3 (Sept. 17-18)
THOMAS HOSTETLER, RB/SS, El Capitan
Hostetler, a two-way performer at running back and strong safety
for the Vaqueros, noted that football gives him skills which transfer
to academia. "It gives you incentive to do well, which helps
in doing things like learning plays."
THOMAS
BOYCE, LT, Monte Vista
Boyce, the starting left guard anchors the offensive line of the
Monarchs, one of the top rushing teams in the county. The senior
knows the classroom is where his future will be determined, "because
that's your future. Without academics, you can't expect to go
anywhere."
Week 2 (Sept. 10-11)
JAKE
TAUANUU, Helix
Tauanuu, the starting linebacker and fullback for the Highlanders,
carries a
3.20 grade-point average into his senior year. "In sports,
you need academics
to be in college, but I don't go to school to play football, I
play football
to go to school."
JAKE
RICHARDSON, Grossmont
One of the top blockers in the East County, Richardson, the starting
right
guard for the Foothillers, sees long-term goals in collecting
his 3.80
grade-point average. "School will get me through in life,
and with it, a better
standard of living."
Week 1 (Sept. 3-4)
Matt
Sutton, West Hills, Senior
The starting left tackle for the Wolf Pack football team, Sutton
carries a 3.60 grade-point average and hopes to become an athletic
trainer in the future. He credits his parents, who are educators,
with his success in the classroom, stating, "My parents are
my coaches when it comes to academics." Sutton would welcome
attending any college, as long as football is included in his
plans.
Kyle
Hirsh, Valhalla, Senior
An outside linebacker for the Norsemen football team, Hirsh carries
a 3.67 grade-point average and would choose to attend San Diego
State to major in business. "Learning is something I've learned
to strive for," Hirsh noted.
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