Sign Up for Our Newsletter!


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

EPISODE #116
CATHOLIC SPORTS VIEW: GUESTS ARE DAN O’DELL AND TROY THOMAS

Each week, Bob Gibson interviews coaches and players throughout the various Catholic high schools in Orange County.

This week on CSV we visit with Dan O’Dell as he gets the Mater Dei girls volleyball program ready to navigate the stacked Division 1 playoffs. Then, we’ll check-in with Servite football coach Troy Thomas who is enduring a tough season one year after playing in the CIF championship game. Plus, we’ve got your scores and updated standings!

EPISODE #114
CATHOLIC SPORTS VIEW: GUESTS ARE ROD SHERMAN AND DAN ALBANO

Each week, Bob Gibson interviews coaches and players throughout the various Catholic high schools in Orange County.

For this episode, our first guest is Orange Lutheran football coach Rod Sherman. Next up, Bob checks in with OC Register prep reporter Dan Albano to talk all about the Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco rivalry.

EPISODE #113
CATHOLIC SPORTS VIEW: GUESTS ARE SCOTT McKNIGHT AND KATY DALY

Host Bob Gibson interviews coaches and players throughout the various Catholic high schools in Orange County. His Twitter handle is: @catholicsv

Join us as we talk with JSerra football coach Scott McKnight; and, Santa Margarita girls volleyball coach Katy Daly. Plus, we’ll also provide you with news and highlights from around the Trinity League.

THE NEXT STEP

Another batch of Trinity League football players cemented their college plans by signing letters of intent on Dec. 18. 

That put them among a small percentage of high school athletes who earned the opportunity to compete at the next level while also acquiring a higher education. 

Before the ink even dried on those signatures, however, recruiters were already looking over their shoulders of those athletes and focusing on the next crop of standout players. 

The Trinity League, which sent about a dozen football players to major college programs from San Diego to Tuscaloosa, figures to be another heavy supplier of talent next year as well. 

While this year’s class will likely be remembered for the wealth of talented skill players, next year’s group appears loaded with standout defensive players and a few really good offensive linemen. 

One of the most impressive offensive skill players in next year’s signing class is Mater Dei wide receiver Kyron Ware-Hudson, who has already verbally committed to Oregon.  

The Ducks had an inside track on Ware-Hudson because his brother, Keyon Ware-Hudson, was a redshirt freshman defensive lineman for Oregon last season. 

“Not a lot of people can say that they played with their brother in college,” Kyron Ware-Hudson told reporters after making his commitment. 

Kobah Fuamatu, a Mater Dei linebacker who signed with San Diego State, was the lone defensive player from last season’s team to sign a letter of intent, but the Monarchs figure to have several players from that side of the ball land scholarships next year. 

Mater Dei cornerback Jaylin Davies is the top-rated 2021 player at his position on the West Coast by Rivals.com and already owns offers from UCLA and Alabama. 

In the biggest win of the season for Mater Dei, Davies had a late interception to preserve a 38-24 victory against St. John Bosco, securing the Trinity League title for the Monarchs. 

Mater Dei linebacker Raesjon Davis also has an offer from UCLA, as well as out-of-state powers such as Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State and Oklahoma.  

Davis had 16.5 tackles for loss last season and proved to be just as effective in pass coverage.  

Mater Dei defensive end Tyler Narayan is another first-team all-Trinity League selection as a junior, and he’s drawing tremendous interest from major colleges as well. 

Santa Margarita did not have a player sign a letter of intent from the Class of 2020, but the Eagles figure to have at least one next year. 

Derek Wilkins had four Pac-12 offers at the end of December, and the defensive end figures to pile on many more over the next few months. 

JSerra linebacker Jaden Genova also figures to be Pac-12 bound after picking up an early offer from Oregon. 

Genova is the younger brother of Jack Genova, who starred at linebacker for Mater Dei during the 2017 season. 

One of the top offensive lineman in the Southland next season figures to be Ross Maseuli of JSerra. 

He recently took an official visit to Michigan the same weekend the Wolverines hosted arch-rival Ohio State. 

“The visit was amazing,” Maseuli said. “I loved the football facilities and how nice the coaching staff and recruiting coordinators were.”  

EPISODE #106
CATHOLIC SPORTS VIEW: GUEST IS CHRIS RIX

Host Bob Gibson interviews coaches and players throughout the various Catholic high schools in Orange County. His Twitter handle is: @catholicsv

Today’s guest is:

  • Chris Ricks (former athlete and current coach and sportscaster)

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 12/21/19

HOLDING THE LINE

One of the best offensive lines in college football happens to be anchored by two former Trinity League players who start side-by-side. 

Nick Harris and Luke Wattenberg graduated from JSerra in 2016 and together headed to the University of Washington on athletic scholarships. 

Harris wasn’t nearly as heavily recruited as Wattenberg in high school, but he ended up starting four games at center his first season before emerging as a full-time starter his sophomore year. 

Wattenberg redshirted his first fall with the Huskies, moved into a part-time starting role at left guard the following season and then became a full-time starter at left guard last season, playing right alongside Harris. 

Three other starters also return on the offensive line for the Huskies. 

“We have so much experience,” Harris told the Tacoma News-Tribune. “We have a lot guys who have that passion to play O-Line. They aren’t just doing it because they’re big. Those guys want to be the best O-linemen on the field.” 

Heading into his senior season, Harris has been singled out as a player to watch. He was an all-Pac 12 first-team preseason selection and a second-team All-American. 

Wattenberg remembers when Harris first transferred to JSerra as a sophomore.  

“I didn’t know what to think of him,” Wattenberg said. “At that time, a lot of transfers were coming in and out, so I thought he was just another one.” 

Harris didn’t start right away at JSerra and his listed size of 6-foot-2, 260 pounds as a junior wasn’t particularly eye-catching either. 

When the Washington coaches came to visit Wattenberg, then-JSerra head coach Jim Hartigan suggested they also take a look at Harris. 

“Washington listened to us,” Hartigan told the News-Tribune.  

He paid a visit to Washington and quickly accepted the offer. 

Harris continued to impress the offensive line coaches at Washington with his quick feet and good use of his frame. Harris quickly moved up to second string during his first training camp, much to the surprise of head coach Chris Petersen, who wasn’t expecting to see a true freshman so far up the depth chart before his first season. 

  “And then I watched ten plays, and I went, ‘Oh, I get why he’s with the twos,’” Petersen said. “So much for all the recruiting experts.” 

Fast forward three years and Harris has emerged as not only a dependable starter, but someone who’s looked up to as a leader. 

“It’s pretty crazy when you put it in perspective, just how fast the time has gone by,” Harris said. “But it’s a role I’ve been ready to embrace.” 

A poll of media members over the summer indicated that Washington is expected to battle it out with Oregon for the top spot in the Pac-12 North Division. 

 Harris wants to enjoy every minute of his senior season. 

“I’ve been playing this game since I was six, and the love I have for it just grows every day,” Harris said. “The fact that I have the opportunity to be out there is why I’m focused. I’m not taking it for granted. I love every second I’m out there, being with my brothers. This is my last season, so I’m definitely trying to make the best of it every day.”  

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Nobody seems to notice the kicker, punter or long snapper until they’re called upon to win the football game. 

Or they cause something bad to happen. 

Or both of the above. 

It’s a wonder why anyone pursues this line of work. 

But the Trinity League has churned out some pretty good ones in recent years, and several will occupy essential roles on big-time college teams this fall. 

Let’s start with Sam Loy. 

Loy, who graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2016, is expected to handle the punt and kickoff duties for the University of Arkansas this season. 

He knows how slim the margin of success is for special team specialists like himself. 

“It’s really important to be consistent,” Loy said. “If you don’t have that consistency, then it doesn’t matter how strong your leg is.” 

Loy punted for Vanderbilt as a freshman and sophomore, earning second-team all-Southeastern Conference honors in 2016. 

After his second season with the Commodores, he took his skills to a higher altitude and transferred to the University of Colorado. He sat out last season under NCAA transfer rules and then decided to return to the SEC after Colorado’s head coach was dismissed. 

Now classified as walk-on, Loy wasn’t required to sit out another season. 

“I missed the SEC,” Loy said. “The best teams, best players and the best fans. I jumped at the chance to come back. I am fortunate to have a chance to play in the Southeastern Conference again.” 

Loy didn’t make the preseason Ray Guy Award watch list, which annually goes to the nation’s top collegiate punter at the end of the season, but another Trinity League graduate is on for a third straight year. 

Ryan Stonehouse, a 2017 graduate of Mater Dei, is set to begin his third season as the starting punter at Colorado State, which happens to play at Arkansas on Sept. 14. 

Stonehouse won the starting job as a freshman at Colorado State in 2017 and averaged 45.9 yards per punt, fifth-best in the country. He returned last season and bumped his average to 48.3, second-best in the nation and a school record. 

Two former Mater Dei kickers might also make noise in the Pac-12 this season. 

Chase McGrath is hoping to win back the starting job at USC after sustaining a torn ACL in the third game last season. 

McGrath was a vital piece of the 2017 USC team that won the Pac-12 championship game. He also kicked the tying field goal with no time left against Texas to send the game into overtime, and then booted the game-winner in double-overtime. 

McGrath faces some stiff competition this season, however. His replacement a year ago made 7-of-9 field goals while McGrath was injured. 

After serving as Mater Dei’s kicker last season, Nick Lopez signed with California as a preferred walk-on. He’s also expected to compete for the No. 1 spot. 

Servite graduate Asa Fuller is set to return as Fresno State’s kicker after making 14-of-22 field goal attempts last season, including two big ones in the Mountain West Conference championship game. 

Kickers and punters know they’re often only as good as their long snappers, and Seth MacKellar is hoping to make his look good at Arizona this season. 

MacKellar was an Under Armour All-American at JSerra last season, the first player from the school to earn that distinction at any position.

EPISODE #95
CATHOLIC SPORTS VIEW: FIRST ANNUAL TRINITY LEAGUE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY

Host Bob Gibson interviews coaches and players throughout the various Catholic high schools in Orange County. His Twitter handle is: @catholicsv

On today’s episode, Bob brings you a special Trinity League football preview!

Today’s guests include:

  • Bruce Rollinson (Head football coach at Mater Dei High School);
  • Tristen Wilson (athlete at Servite High School)
  • Karrington Dennis (athlete at Servite High School)
  • Brent Vieselmeyer (head football coach at Santa Margarita High School)
  • J.P. Presley (head football coach at Orange Lutheran)
  • Jason Negro (head football coach at St. John Bosco High School)
  • Pat Harlow (head football coach at J Serra High School)

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 8/10/19

BIG NAMES

With the start of high school football season less than two months away, now’s a good time to start getting familiar with the intriguing new names that are expected to take on high-profile roles in the Trinity League. 

Let’s start with General Booty. 

Booty transferred to JSerra from Cornerstone Christian School in San Antonio, Texas over the spring and he’s expected to take over as starting quarterback for the Lions this season. 

Booty, who will be a junior in the fall, brings a strong resume, highlighted by his familiar last name. 

His father, Abram Booty, set national high school records for career receiving yards (5,867), receptions (302) and touchdowns (83) while playing from Evangel Christian in Shreveport, Louisiana from 1993 to 1996. 

Abram later starred at LSU for two seasons. 

Booty’s uncles, John David and Josh Booty, were successful quarterbacks. 

John David led USC to Rose Bowl victories in 2007 and 2008, and set a Rose Bowl record with seven touchdown passes in his two appearances. 

John was a record-breaking quarterback at Evangel Christian and a first-round major-league draft pick of the Florida Marlins after his senior year in 1994. He played five years of minor-league baseball before returning to the football field and joining LSU as a 24-year-old freshman. 

On his mother’s side of the family, Booty’s uncle is Joe Ferguson, an NFL quarterback for four different teams from 1973-90. 

“General has a blood line that you need to follow closely,” former Houston head coach John Jenkins told 247Sports. 

Over at Santa Margarita, the Eagles are breaking in a new quarterback as well after Peter Costelli transferred to Mission Viejo. 

Costelli had a successful sophomore season at Santa Margarita after transferring from St. John Bosco, but transferred about a month after Rich Fisher was dismissed as head coach after three seasons. 

A month after Costelli departed, the Eagles welcomed incoming junior quarterback Colt Fulton, who played part time last season at Corona Centennial. 

Whichever quarterback wins the starting job at Santa Margarita, he’ll have one of the top receivers in the state in Isaac Jernagin who transferred to Santa Margarita from Bakersfield High School. 

Jernagin’s superior play at Bakersfield helped him generate scholarship offers from schools such as USC, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Arizona State. 

Isaac’s younger brother, Ian, is also a talented receiver with offers from Nevada and Arizona. 

The Eagles, who hired Brent Vieselmeyer as their third head coach since 2014, lost two other key starters from last season’s 3-7 team, however. 

Offensive lineman Brody Crane and tight end Gary Morrison transferred to JSerra in January, shortly before Fisher was dismissed. 

Noah Fifita isn’t a newcomer at Servite, but his name is still mostly unknown. 

He mostly played on the freshman team for the Friars last season, but seems to be the odds-on-favorite to take over as the starting quarterback for the varsity this fall. 

Fifita showed a glimpse of what he can do when he entered against Orange Lutheran in the final minutes last October and threw two long touchdown passes as Servite cut a 28-3 deficit to 28-20. 

“We do think the future is bright at Servite, that’s for sure,” Servite coach Troy Thomas said. 

Fifita hasn’t started a varsity game yet, but already has a scholarship from Idaho State. 

Fifita’s uncle, Steve Fifita, is the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Idaho State.

EPISODE #90
CATHOLIC SPORTS VIEW: GUESTS ARE BRUCE ROLLINSON AND CHRIS LEDYARD

Host Bob Gibson interviews coaches and players throughout the various Catholic high schools in Orange County. His Twitter handle is: @catholicsv

Today’s show is a “best of” feature from the 2018-2019 school year.

Our guests is include:

  • Bruce Rollinson (Head Football coach at Mater Dei High School);
  • Chris Ledyard (Athletic Director at J Serra Catholic High School)

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 6/15/19