HS FOOT: Thousand Oaks back primed for big season

John Lister has rushed for more than 1,100 yards two seasons in a row, yet the Thousand Oaks football senior still might be the area's most improved running back -- which means he could be on the brink of a huge year.

"John is 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, and since January he has dropped three-tenths of a second off his 40-yard dash time -- from 4.85 to 4.54," Thousand Oaks coach Mike Leibin said. "He has a gear he never had before, and he's going to be impressive to watch this season."

If Lister's name is familiar, you might recall he was the star player for Conejo Valley Little League baseball team that advanced to the 2004 World Series final in Williamsport, Pa. He decided to drop baseball following his sophomore year so he could lift weights and work on his speed, joining Thousand Oaks' track team this past spring.

Lister is part of a talented group of returnees that includes quarterback Ian Shultis, who completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 1,694 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, along with defensive lineman Dereck Jester.

Shultis has orchestrated a successful summer passing-league campaign that has seen Thousand Oaks lose just two games. Jester, who had five sacks last year, is 6-4 and 235 pounds, and he bench presses 325 pounds and squats more than 500.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com