Coming off the disappointment of consecutive winless seasons, the Roadrunners feel as though 2009 will be a season in which they begin building the program back toward respectability.

Head coach Jim O’Connell stated that his team is focused on the task of doing what it takes to end their streak of futility.
 
“The main focus of the kids is to have an opportunity to get a win, which is something they have worked extremely hard for,” he said. “No matter the result, we’re going to back everyday and continue to make the effort to be successful.”
 
Saddleback’s last successful result on the field came in on November 17, 2006, when they beat Rosemead 49-13 in the first round of the Southwest Division playoffs.
 
Senior Tino Candelas, who will be a first time starting quarterback for the Roadrunners, said he was eager for the challenge of being a leader on the team.
 
“This is my first year, but I’m excited and feel great,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of improvement from my teammates and so far they have done a good job.” 
 
Though he inherits a team that struggled to put points on the board in 2008, Candelas says he is working hard on his individual talents to help the team prosper.
 
“I’m working on reading the corners and safeties and making the pre-snap reads,” Candelas said. “My goal is to make the passes and put the ball where it has to be.”
 
Senior lineman Alvaro Escutia, a second team all-league selection last season, is also embracing his role as one of the leaders on the team.
 
“I just try to push myself and the team to not give up and go harder,” he said. “Everyone wants things to change from the last couple of seasons.”
 
Escutia was clear that the team’s outlook as they begin preparation for the upcoming season is a confident one.
 
“I think we’re going to be a better team,” he said. “We just have to execute our plays and play harder than the other team.”

•To see 2009 team preview, click here

•To see 2009 league preview, click here

CO-MVP – Jose Bahena (Santa Ana, Sr.); Edward Zepeda (Saddleback, Sr.)

Offensive MVP – Omar Laris (Saddleback, Jr.)

Defensive MVP – Erick Zuniga (Saddleback, Sr.)

First Team – Fernando Valdez (Ocean View, Sr.); Sergio Candelas (Orange, Sr.); Marco Plasencia (Orange, Sr.); David Paniagua (Saddleback, Sr.); David Perez (Saddleback, Sr.); Agustin Carbajal (Saddleback, Jr.); Gerardo Guzman (Saddleback, Jr.); Josh Aragon (Santa Ana, Jr.); Javier Alva (Santa Ana, Sr.); Christian Lara (Santa Ana, Sr.); Bernardo Jimenez (Segerstrom, Sr.); Ray Estrada (Segerstrom, Jr.); Hector Martinez (Segerstrom, Sr.); Jose Jaime Rodriguez (Westminster, Sr.)

Second Team – Nadeem Abdo (Ocean View, Sr.); Jamie Madrigal (Orange, Jr.); Jason Toscano (Orange, Jr.); Edgar Ramos (Saddleback, So.); Jesus Salgado (Saddleback, Sr.); Javier Hernandez (Saddleback, Sr.); Edgar Islas (Santa Ana, Sr.); John Gonzalez (Santa Ana, Sr.); Ernest Rodriguez (Santa Ana, Sr.); Mario Hernandez (Segerstrom, Jr.); Miguel Bahena (Segerstrom, Sr.); Robert Aguilar (Westminster, So.); Jose De La Cruz (Westminster, Sr.)

MVP – Rachel Sweezy (Ocean View, Sr.)

First Team – Sara Mitchell (Ocean View, Sr.); Sareen Ohanian (Ocean View, Sr.); Lliana Duarte (Orange, Jr.); Mariah Malapira (Saddleback, Sr.); Elly Ruiz (Saddleback, Sr.); Ana Arizaga (Santa Ana, Sr.); Briana Myles (Segerstrom, Sr.); Stephanie Cash (Segerstrom, Sr.); Judy Guadarrama (Westminster, Sr.); Lauren Carbajal (Westminster, Sr.).

Second Team – Hannah Ferguson (Ocean View, Fr.); Adrienne Knapp (Orange, Jr.); Gaby Garcia (Saddleback, Jr.); Nicole Warnick (Santa Ana, Sr.); Brianna Montes (Segerstrom, Sr.); Ashley Washington (Segerstrom, Sr.); Shannon Smith (Segerstrom, Jr.); Shirley Vu (Westminster, Sr.); Daisy Lopez (Westminster, So.)

At the end of the tape there are some comments from Santa Ana coach Joe Penaflor and Saddleback's Mel Silva.

Saddleback's David Zepeda

Well, those kinds of comments undercut everything that these players, who are loyal to their schools, have been doing this month.

True there are gifted players in academy soccer, but there is a lot of talent left on the high school field as well.

I covered the sport when kids such as Danny Califf and Tomas Serna were on the field, and I have seen some kids this year who would have been able to keep up with them.

(Which brings up something else. Califf always seemed to make some time for his high school team before heading off to play in Egypt or some other exotic place.)

Playing high school sports just seems to make the four years you spend in a school mean a bit more. OK, that's my two cents worth, now onto what this post is really about.

The top 11 players in December that I HAVE SEEN (notice those words that are capitalized. I haven't seen La Habra, Troy or JSerra, among others).

Here is the list, and please let me know who I might have forgotten. Oh, and the list is no particular order:

1. Edward Zepeda, Saddleback

2. Duncan Capriotti, Santa Margarita

3. Chris Zamarippa, Mater Dei

4. Carlos Vasquez, Santa Ana Valley

5. David Perez, Saddleback

6. Alex Cannas, El Toro

7. Auston Smyth, Esperanza

8. Stephen Donnelly, Servite

9. Eric Brunter, Servite

10. Chris Violas, Servite

11. Juan Pablo Ocegueda, Saddleback