Eight Vikings Are All-CIF Selections

Amir Soofi
Mirror contributing writer

   The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Football selections include eight Vikings and 11 other Ocean League players. In Division X, Offensive Player of the Year went to Kenny Brown, North Torrance’s unbelievable quarterback. North also bagged Defensive Player of the Year honors in Alex Ligon. However, as expected, this year’s Coach of the Year is none other than the Division X Champion Santa Monica Vikings Coach, Norm Lacy.
   The Viking Selections to the Offensive Team were offensive back Derek Davis at 5’9”, 170 lbs., receiver Charles Gordon at 5’10”, 165 lbs., and linemen Dan Solchanyk at 6’2”, 300 lbs and Chris Price at 6’4”, 215 lbs., all seniors. Gordon, incidentally, verbally committed to Kansas this week.
   The Defensive Team selections were Vikings’ defensive lineman Josh Smith at 6’3”, 250 lbs, and defensive backs James Cooper at 5’9”, 165 lbs., and Terrell Maze at 5’11”, 170 lbs.
   Other Ocean League selections to the conference Offensive Team were Inglewood’s offensive back senior Lavelle Lemon, 5’11”, 190 lbs, and lineman Olad Dagundero, 6’0”, 245 lbs., as well as South Torrance’s back junior Chancey Washington, 6’1”, 205 lbs, El Segundo’s 5’11”, 180 lbs., tight end, senior Steve Eno. In addition to quarterback Kenny Brown, who’s 6’3”, 205 lbs., North Torrance also earned offensive honors in receivers senior Michael Bolio, 5’10”, 175 lbs., and junior Jeff Gray, 5’10”, 165 lbs.
   The balance of the Defensive Team’s Ocean League selections were Inglewood’s defensive lineman junior Lawrence Jackson at 6’5”, 260 lbs., and defensive back senior Darius Connor at 6’1”, 180 lbs. North Torrance, in addition to the 6’3”, 230 lbs. senior lineman Alex Ligon, also bagged senior linebacker Steven Juarez at 6’1”, 225 lbs.
   With a total of 20 Ocean League selections into the CIF division team, the league is showing signs once more that it will move to a much higher division next season. Santa Monica, which will graduate most of its key players this year, will be in a more fierce Ocean League and an even tougher CIF tournament.