Johnson on California Shrine Team

Defensive lineman Travis Johnson of Notre Dame High is one of four All-Americans who will play for California in the California-Texas Shrine All-Star football game on June 24 at Cerritos College.

Running back D.J. Williams of Concord De La Salle, selected national player of the year by Parade Magazine and Student Sports Magazine, defensive back Matt Grootegoed of Mater Dei and kicker Chris Kluwe of Los Alamitos are the other All-Americans for California.

Fullback-linebacker Patrick Norton of Hart, quarterback Zac Wasserman and wide receiver Chris Catalano of Westlake were also selected to play in the game, which is in its 48th year, sixth in the California-Texas format.

California is 5-0 against Texas, including a 28-25 victory last year when All-American Kyle Boller of Hart threw a game-winning touchdown pass in the closing seconds.

Texas features running back Tyson Thompson of Irving, wide receiver B.J. Johnson of South Grand Prairie and defensive back Lawrence Robinson of Galveston Ball, each a USA Today and Student Sports Magazine All-American.

Jim Benkert of Westlake, which won its first Southern Section title in the fall, will coach California.

Randy Rodgers, a scouting consultant for nearly 40 colleges and a former University of Texas recruiting coordinator, will coach Texas.

CROSS-COUNTRY

* Ken Reeves of Nordhoff High has been selected National Assn. of Coaches’ 1999 cross-country coach of the year.

Reeves guided the Nordhoff boys’ and girls’ teams to runner-up finishes in Division IV of the state championships at Woodward Park in Fresno last November.

Nordhoff has won six state boys’ titles at the Division III or IV level since 1991 and finished second or third three times during that period.

The Ranger girls have won five state titles since 1990 and placed second or third three times.

Nordhoff has captured 22 league titles during Reeves’ tenure and 13 Southern Section championships.

“He’s just a real jewel,” Assistant Principal Susana Arce said. “He’s well regarded around the state for his ability to motivate kids.”

Reeves coached baseball, football, soccer, basketball and swimming before coaching cross-country.

He was an all-conference soccer player at UC Santa Barbara.