West Covina ready to go


sidjones
By Steve Ramirez, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
West Covina High School has been the most-consistent football program in the CIF-Southern Section Southeast Division in recent years.

The Bulldogs won back-to-back division titles in 2010-11 and advanced to the semifinals last season. But despite being a big-time player in the division, no one views West Covina as the favorite for a championship run in either the Southeast Division or in the Hacienda League.

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CIF Preseason Football Polls: Charter Oak No. 5 in Inland; Amat No. 8 in Pac-5; San Dimas No. 5 in Mid-Valley

forsalePac-5 Division
1. Long Beach Poly, 2. St. John Bosco, 3. Mater Dei, 4. Mission Viejo, 5. St. Bonaventure, 6. Santa Margarita, 7. Alemany, 8. Bishop Amat, 9. Oaks Christian, 10. Crespi.

Southeast Division
1. Downey, 2. La Mirada, 3. La Serna, 4. Norwalk, 5., Diamond Ranch, 6. Los Altos, 7. Muir, 8. Santa Fe., 9. West Covina, 10. Paramount.

Mid-Valley Division
1. Monrovia, 2. Sierra Canyon, 3. Paraclete, 4. San Dimas, 5. San Marino, 6. Bell Gardens, 7. Arroyo, 8. Northview, 9. South El Monte, 10. Montebello.

Northwest Division
1. Bishop Diego, 2. Nordoff, 3. North Torrance, 4. Compton Centennial, 5. El Segundo, 6. Carpinteria, 7. La Salle, 8. Whittier Christian, 9. Oak Park, 10. Sierra Vista.

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San Dimas Football coach Bill Zernickow and his staff cleared after shake allegations

I just spoke with Bonita Unified assistant superintendent Curtis Frick, who gave me the following statement after the District concluded its investigation of the “shake” allegations made against San Dimas coach Bill Zernickow and his staff. Zernickow has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

zernickowStatement from Frick: “The Bonita Unified School District followed the complaint procedure and principal (Michael Kelly) did a thorough investigation into the allegations brought forward by Mr. and Mrs. (Peter and Shara) Lyons.

Essentially, on two to three occasions of the spring of 2011, an assistant coach brought a blender and made shakes after weight training for a small group of position players he coached. The shakes were made with ice cream, milk and pickle relish. Some of the players did this two to three times only over multiple weeks.

Some players started bringing other food ingredients from from home, but they didn’t include them into the shakes. There were absolutely no supplements or additives added to the shakes. No players were ever forced to drink the shakes and any players with milk allergies were not allowed to participate.

“Coach Zernickow put a stop to the assistant coach making the shakes in the spring of 2011 after a parent told him of her concerns. The use of shakes did not occur after the spring of 2011.

“The principal, Mr. Kelly, has full confidence in coach Zernickow’s professionalism and integrity as he continues to serve as the head coach at San Dimas High School.”

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Tribskin Pick’em, your predictions and ours … Smudge Pot and Bishop Amat headline Week 0

The Contest: Once again, Aram Tolegian and I will go head-to-head picking football games throughout the season. He’s edged me out the past two seasons, but it’s not happening this year. He will be back from vacation on Tuesday to fill out his Week 0 picks, but why wait, here’s mine.

pickem

This week: Week 0 has been incredible with the addition of the Smudge Pot between rivals Bonita and San Dimas, who kick it off on Thursday at Citrus College. There could be added intrigue if somehow Jake Payton, who left San Dimas for Upland only to transfer to rival Bonita on Friday, is cleared by Thursday. But let’s face it, this game doesn’t need much to get the juices jangling. You want predictions? How’s this? There is no way, no way in the world I’m going against Bonita this time. They have the experienced QB in Sunshine and with Payton out and Bonita and the ‘Cats ticked off with how it fumbled away last year’s game, take Bonita. This is payback time. Santa Margarita at Bishop Amat headlines Friday’s game. As much talk as there has been about the Lancers’ returning QB Koa Haynes, the Lancers are somewhat dinged up and I’m not sure they’re equipped to take on a powerhouse this soon. I don’t expect Bishop Amat to lose any other non-league games, but I do think they loose their first. Other games of note, have to take South Hills over Covina and West Covina over Colony (barely). Also like Los Altos in a blowout over Arroyo and I expect Baldwin Park to bounce back this season with a win at El Monte. I’ve got high hopes for Diamond Bar, so taking them over Montebello

This weeks games and predictions
Thursday’s games

Bonita at San Dimas, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Bonita); Aram (SD)
Ontario vs. Northview at CDF, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Northview); Aram (Nview)
Friday’s games
Santa Margarita at Bishop Amat, 7 p.m. — Robledo (SM); Aram (Amat)
Colony at West Covina , 7:00pm — Aram (WC); RObledo ()
Covina vs. South Hills at CDF, 7 p.m. – Robledo (South Hills); Aram (SH)
Diamond Ranch at Chino, 7 p.m. – Robledo (DRanch); Aram (DR)
Don Lugo at Walnut, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Don Lugo); Aram (DL)
El Dorado at Ayala, 7 p.m. — Robledo (El Dorado); Aram (ED)
El Monte at Baldwin Park, 7 p.m. — Robledo (BPark); Aram (BP)
Ganesha at Keppel, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Ganesha); Aram (Ganesha)
Los Altos at Arroyo, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Los Altos); Aram (LA)
Maranatha at Bassett, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Maranatha); Aram (Maranatha)
Montebello at Diamond Bar, 7 p.m. — Robledo (DBar); Aram (D-Bar)
Nogales at Rowland, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Rowland); Aram (Rowland)
Pomona at Garey, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Pomona); Aram (PTown)
Valley Christian at Duarte, 7 p.m. — Robledo (Duarte); Aram (VC)
Wilson at Bosco Tech, 7 p.m. — Robledo (BTech); Aram (BT)
Workman at Riverside Notre Dame, 7 p.m. — Robledo (RND); Aram (ND)

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