Venice High will have to do without Alfonso Medina at quarterback next season. Medina was all-Western League in his junior and senior years and a leader of a Gondolier football team that went 10-2 in the recently-completed season.
But Coach Angelo Gasca is confident that Dean Sarabia will do well too.
In planning for next season Gasca must replace seven starters on offense and three on defense. There’ll be competition at some positions, but Sarabia appears set as the new quarterback.
“Dean is a lot like Alfonso,” said Gasca. “They both have been quarterbacks with the local Pop Warner program. They’re both very good students. They’re about the same size and have similar arm strength.”
Medina threw for 2,547 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior with only seven interceptions.
Venice figures strong again. Some key players returning are running back Teondray Caldwell, receivers Larry Clark and Franlk Murray and linebackers Timmy Geiger, Troy Aden and Jarhet Hood.
Jonathan McNeil and Ignatiis Porcia were seniors on defense and Connor Gil graduates as one of the school’s all-time best kickers.