Claremont Prep Makes Pre-Season All-America Team

At 6-8, senior Dan McGwire of Claremont High may be the tallest prep quarterback in the nation, and he’s not short on talent, either.

McGwire, who led his team to the CIF Eastern Conference championship last year, was the only San Gabriel Valley area player named to the 50-player 1985 Street & Smith’s Pre-Season High School All-America Football Team.

As a junior, McGwire posted outstanding statistics, completing 132 of 230 passes for 2,246 yards and 24 touchdowns. He has passed for 3,387 yards and 32 touchdowns in two years as a starting quarterback. He also had a strong 41.5-yard punting average last year.

Several other players from the valley received honorable mention on the squad, including senior wide receiver Travis Watkins, McGwire’s favorite passing target, who caught 51 passes for 876 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Others receiving honorable mention were Bishop Amat quarterback Rick Carter, Pomona running back J. J. Flannigan, Diamond Bar running back Kraig Washington and Los Altos linebacker and running back Jim Jastrab.

Pasadena and Ganesha high schools may have the dubious honor of having the toughest football schedules among San Gabriel Valley teams this season.

Pasadena, which reached the CIF Coastal Conference semifinals last year before losing to Camarillo, can look forward to playing defending CIF Southeastern Conference champion Diamond Bar, CIF Eastern Conference finalist Temple City and St. Francis, a perennial CIF Big Five Conference playoff participant.

Ganesha, another traditional valley power, must face Eastern Conference champion Claremont, Big Five Conference runner-up Fontana and Southeastern Conference quarterfinalist Duarte.

Bishop Amat, regarded as one of the top teams in the valley, also has a strong non-league schedule that includes highly regarded Rubidoux and Los Altos, which reached the CIF Southern Conference quarterfinals last year, St. Francis and Wilson (Hacienda Heights).

That should prepare the Lancers for another typically rugged Angelus League season. Bishop Amat’s league opponents will include CIF powers Servite, Mater Dei and St. Paul.

Cal Poly Pomona added a familiar San Gabriel Valley name to its coaching roster when Bruce Victor was selected as a men’s basketball assistant recently.

Victor, 33, is the son of successful Mt. San Antonio College Coach Gene Victor, who has been coaching for 38 years.

The younger Victor has been coaching for 10 years, including assistant positions with Nevada-Las Vegas in 1980-81 and the USC women’s team that won the national championship in 1982-83. He also was an assistant with his father at Mt. San Antonio for six seasons.

Pomona Coach George Fisher, whose team struggled to a 7-22 record last year, said Victor should bolster his school’s recruiting efforts.

“He (Victor) will be a big plus for our program,” Fisher said. “He knows the local area and is a very good recruiter. Bruce is aggressive, personable and is really what our program needs at this time.”

Victor said he will also concentrate on season ticket sales, academic matters and a summer basketball camp, but recruiting is his first responsibility.

“I take pride in recruiting and I enjoy talking to people about our program,” Victor said. “I was born around basketball and have scouted players for over 15 years. I look forward to promoting this program and securing the best players possible.”