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The Ventura County All-Star Game may be turning 50, but it’s not exactly in the mood to celebrate.
Local soccer’s annual birthday party is underway after losing its longtime sponsor, the Downtown Ventura Lions Club. The club for the game dates back to the first game in 1974.
So far, the search for a sponsor has been unsuccessful. Instead of canceling the game, the Ventura County Football Coaches Association footed the bill this year.
But VCFCA president Mike Moon warns that if Saturday afternoon’s attendance at Camarillo High doesn’t cover the game’s burden, it would likely be the last time it is played.
“The deal budgets all the cash and houses it in Camarillo, a centralized location,” Moon said. “I’m a little scared that this won’t go as planned. If we don’t have enough people to cover the costs, the game will end in 50. “
The 50th anniversary East-West game, the final event of Ventura County’s 100th high school football season, will kick off at Camarillo High on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth and can be on GoFan. com.
Finishing the game is unthinkable for the St. John’s offensive tackle. Bonaventure High Shaun Torgeson, who waited until his formative years to don his uniform on Saturday.
“I think it’s vital to have the All-Star Game,” Torgeson said. “I’ve been chasing them and watching them for years. I’ve been waiting for years for my turn to play. . . There is no explanation as to why he passed away.
After leading St. Bonaventure to the CIF-State Division 2-A state championship, Torgeson, the VCFCA lineman of the year, was ranked No. 3, the most sensible senior, in the final ranking of Ventura County’s top 100 star players.
His involvement is revealing, given that he is the player on both rosters who has signed an NCAA Division I letter of intent.
The 6-foot-4, 285-pound Portland State University commitment said it contemplated skipping the game, but its reserves were offset by the chance to play one last game with St. Petersburg’s teammates. John. Bonaventure High as guard Jack Slonicker, his former spouse. on the Seraphs’ offensive line — and formative teammates like Bronson Seiler.
“I’m excited,” Torgeson said. “It’s another chance to play high school football with a couple of my teammates and a couple friends I’ve met along the way. It’s just going to be a ton of fun.”
Torgeson and Seiler, who starred at Ventura High last fall, were longtime youth football teammates. Considering Seiler plays across the line at nose tackle, the buddies have been making memories with each practice, not just the game.
“This is my last chance to play with him,” Torgeson said. “It’s been a lot of fun. There’s been a lot of talk. “
The game will be directed by Jim Bittner of Rio Mesa and Charles Collins of Oaks Christian.
Bittner has fond memories of the game when he was a senior at Camarillo High in 1985.
“It can be a fun, competitive game and a last chance for some of those kids to play soccer,” Bittner said. “There’s a pretty smart organization of them that don’t play anymore. “
“It’s going to be an attractive year, but we’ll be able to take advantage of it. Hopefully, we can continue to expand and sustain it. “
It’s no surprise that the strength of the West team is in the offense. Torgeson, Slonicker, Pacifica’s Augaga Peapea, Pacifica’s Gabriel Ibarra and Santa Paula’s Arturo Alcaraz were among the county’s most no-nonsense linemen last fall.
“They’re great people,” Bittner said.
The West backfield will come with J’Lin Wingo of Rio Mesa and Nathaniel Madrigal of Camarillo. The receiving corps will be Ventura’s Makana Arndt and Camarillo’s Jacob Mantei.
Oxnard’s Caleb Stremcha is expected to start at quarterback.
“It’s an engaging collection of athletes, players and personalities,” Bittner said. “We have smart kids everywhere. They play together and have fun. “
The defense will come with Seiler, Ventura linebacker Nick Thomas, Ventura guard Mylan Walker, Hueneme linebacker Kevin Brannon and Camarillo linebacker Jackson Walea.
Nordhoff two-way star Shane Loes has been a standout for Bittner in practice.
Another factor clouding the long-term viability of the game is the involvement of Eastern schools. While the West has forty-five players on the roster, the East has 30.
The East’s roster includes just one player each from Calabasas, Thousand Oaks and Agoura, and just two each from Newbury Park and Westlake.
Agoura coach Dustin Croick said adjusting the game’s schedule could increase participation, as multisport athletes in the middle of the basketball or football season can’t play due to conflicts. Traditionally played in the summer, the game was recently moved to January. .
“Can you believe if a player told a football coach that he would host an all-star football game in the middle of the season?”I played in that game and coached him twice. I love this game and can’t wait to see the long term and opportunities that lie ahead in 2025 and beyond.
Collins has felt like the deck is stacked against him this week.
“If you need to have an All-Star Game, you can’t have a loaded team,” Collins said. “It has to be fair and it has to make sense. “
The East’s roster includes names like Oaks quarterback Christian Devin Tate, Simi Valley quarterback Jesse Sereno, Fillmore running back David Jimenez, Moorpark wide receiver Jaden Buckles, Moorpark middle man Cole McGovern and Oak Park defensive lineman Jaden Mosley.
“Let’s check it out to make it fun,” Collins said. We’re hoping that some kind of competitive juice will emerge. “
After two games between Ventura County and Santa Barbara County in 1971 and 1972, the Ventura County All-Star Football Game made its debut in 1974 at Ackerman Stadium at Camarillo High. Tom Pariso of the Channel Islands and Joe Howell of Thousand Oaks coached the game. UCLA head coach Dick Vermeil was the guest speaker at the pregame banquet.
Buena back Marty Cherrie, Channel Islands wide receiver Tom Doleman and Ventura wide receiver Arden McDaniel scored touchdowns in West’s 20-0 victory.
“There are 450,000 people in this county and we need this game,” Rio Mesa coach John Reardon told The Star in July 1974. “It’s a good thing and it can be an annual game if we get the support of everyone.”
Joe Curley covers high school, collegiate and professional football for The Star. He can be reached at [email protected]. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
This article gave the Ventura County Star the impression: Saturday’s 50th Ventura County All-Star football game could be the last.