SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Football

Scholar-leader-athletes to be honored at Hall of Fame banquet

SAN DIEGO, March 28, 2003 -- Thirty-one scholar-leader-athletes from San Diego County high schools, colleges and universities were honored at the 31st annual National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Walter J. Zable/San Diego Chapter awards banquet on Friday, March 28 at the Scottish Rite Center in Mission Valley.

All honorees maintained at least a B average (3.0) and were either All-League or All-CIF coaches selections during the 2002 season.
According to foundation president Bob Babich, more than half of this year’s class of 31 scholar-leader-athletes were honored as All-CIF picks.

“This year’s class also produced one All-American player who performed at the collegiate level,” Babich said.

The combined grade point average for the 26 high school, three community college and two university student football players is 3.76, which equals a B+.

Carlsbad High’s Bob McAllister earned selection as the foundation’s Coach of the Year while Oceanside High’s John Carroll received recognition as Meritorious Coach of the Year for achievement in amateur football. Other awards to be bestowed include the Distinguished American award, Willie Jones Most Inspirational Player award (Oceanside’s Jason Thompson) and the Al Couppee award.

Since the awards began, more than 700 scholar-leader-athletes have been honored.

South County

This year’s South County honorees include Sweetwater’s Oswaldo Simental, Castle Park’s Freddy Dunkle, Hilltop’s Jammin Jackson, Marian Catholic’s Enrique Schulz and Nathaniel Puente and Francis Parker’s Drew Buyse.

Simental (6-2, 210) led Sweetwater with 85 receptions and 15 touchdowns to earn the team’s Offensive Player of the Year award. He was also named to the 2002 All-Mesa League First Team. A multiple position player, he also blocked five kicks and had three interceptions.
A two-year varsity letter-winner in football, Simental has earned four letters in track and field and two in basketball. With a 4.19 GPA, he has earned recognition on the principal’s honor roll and received a Governor’s Scholars award in 2000.

He also ranks as one of “Top 10 all-around individual students” at Sweetwater.

Simental’s community involvement includes the Christmas in July program, Link Crew, Read Across America and peer counseling. He enjoys music, rhythmic American poetry and surfing the web. He is the son of Ruth Nuho of National City.

A wide receiver and free safety at Castle Park, Dunkle (6-2, 190) earned honors at the 2002 South Bay League Player of the Year, First Team All-CIF and 2003 Global Junior Championship All-Star.

The Trojan standout earned First Team All-South Bay League honors at the wide receiver position both his junior and senior years after earning Second Team All-League honors as a sophomore. He was also named Castle Park’s Defensive Player of the Year and received the Martin Bayless Foundation award in 2002.

A four-year varsity football letter-winner, Dunkle has also earned three varsity letters in baseball, carries a 3.4 GPA and is a member of the California Scholastic Federation and the Associated Student Body Attorney General and Student Government Class representative. He has participated in the Thanksgiving food drive and Chula Vista Police Department toy drive. He is the son of Aracely Santos of Chula Vista.

Jackson (6-2, 210) played tight end, defensive line and inside linebacker at Hilltop where he earned his varsity letter and was team captain. A two-time Lancer Player of the Week, Jackson earned 2002 South Bay League First Team All-League status as well as receiving Hilltop’s Ironman award.

A member of the principal’s honor roll with a 4.08 college weighted GPA, he is also a member of the CSF. He lists his hobby as playing the drums and is the son of Dwane and Karen Sandoval of Chula Vista.
At 6 feet, 245 pounds, Schulz played defensive and offensive line for Division III champion Marian Catholic where he was a First Team All-South Bay League, Second Team Defense All-County and Australia Down Under Bowl selection. A two-year varsity letterman, he was named Second Team All-League his junior year.

With a 4.2 GPA, Schulz ranks 12th in his class and has been named to the National Honor Roll, received the Bishop R.H. Brom award and academic excellence awards his freshman, sophomore and junior years. He serves as senior class president, science club treasurer and was involved in the ecology club, ambassador of Christ and campus ministry. He was also named to the “Who’s Who Among American High School Students.”

Schulz plans to attend Northeastern University where he will major in accounting. He lists his hobbies as weight lifting and playing guitar. He is the son of Enrique and Luz Maria Schulz of Tijuana.

Puente (6-1, 260) played offensive tackle and defensive end for the South Bay League champion Crusaders. A two-year varsity letterman, he was selected First Team All-South Bay League, Second Team All-CIF and was an Australia Down Under Bowl selection.

With a 4.13 GPA, Puente has been named to the CSF the past three years, National Honors Society, United States Achievement Academy and received the Bishop’s award for academic excellence. For academic excellence, he received first honors in French and religion, the Bishop J. Fury award, Bishop Chavez award, Bishop R.H. Brom award and was named in “Who’s Who Among American High School Students.”

As president of the math/science club, Puente was also given the Verbum Dei citizenship award and was nominated to the National Leadership Conference. He is a member of the Ambassadors for Christ Corps and works as a volunteer at both school and church. He plans to attend Notre Dame University where he plans to major in business administration.

Puente lists his hobbies as weight lifting and playing the saxophone. He is the son of Benito and Laura Puente of San Diego.

Buyse (6-0, 215) was team captain and played offensive tackle, defensive tackle and long snapper for Francis Parker. A three-year varsity letterman, he was selected 2002 First Team All-Coastal League Offense despite missing eight weeks with a broken collarbone. His junior year he was selected First Team All-Coastal League Defense.

With a 4.34 GPA, Buyse was a National Merit Scholarship finalist and was awarded honors for the 2001-02 school year and honors with distinction in 2000-01. He plans to major in premed or business. His hobby is fishing. He is the son of Jeffrey Buyse of Chula Vista.

Ramona

At 6 feet, 2 inches and 205 pounds, Tim Plough played quarterback for the Bulldogs. He served as team captain and was named First Team All-Valley League and Second Team All-North County. He was also selected Ramona High’s varsity football Most Valuable Player.

A three-year varsity letter-winner, he was also named First Team All-Valley League and All-North County his junior year and Second Team All-League his sophomore year.

Plough has also earned three letters in baseball.

With a 4.0 grade point average, he has been a California Scholastic Federation member and honor roll student for six semesters. He has earned All-CIF Scholastic honors in both football and baseball.

Plough received the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership award, was named Outstanding Sophomore Social Science student in 2001 and was Ramona High’s Student of the Month for November 2000.

Plough also volunteers as a peer tutor at his school and served as news editor for the student newspaper.

In the community, he has volunteered for Ramona Community School Sports Day, instructed at Ramona PONY baseball clinics and was an assistant coach for Pop Warner football.

Plough worked a a tutor/mentor for a Barnett Elementary School student in 2002 and was a guest speaker for the Olive Pierce Middle School Special Education Program.

He will be attending UC Davis on a football scholarship where he plans to major in social sciences. He lists his hobbies as surfing, writing and being a dedicated Charger fans. He is the son of Dan and Bobbie Plough of Ramona.