John Glenn Standouts Earn Athletic Scholarships Friday 71˚ Saturday 74˚
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Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 Vol. 14 No. 46 14783 Carmenita Road, Norwalk, CA 90650 John Glenn standouts earn athletic scholarships Friday 71˚ Saturday 74˚ ■ Joe Varoz and Adrian Zamora will continue Sunday 79˚ their athletic careers in college after securing scholarship offers. ON THIS DAY DECEMBER 18 By John A. Sherrard Contributor 1892: Peter Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker NORWALK – In a time when Suite” premiered in St. Petersburg, playing a sport, any sport, is Russia. just not possible for high school students to show their talents 1898: to prospective colleges or Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat, of universities, two local athletes France, set the first recognized land are set for the next level. speed record, traveling 39.245 MPH in an electric vehicle. Earning a scholarship and verbally committing or signing a letter of intent is hard to do 1915: without live action or some video. President Woodrow Wilson, widowed the year before, married Edith Bolling Two John Glenn athletes, Joe Galt. Varoz and Adrian Zamora, are the exception as they are in position for the next level. 1944: Varoz, a senior offensive The Supreme Court upheld the wartime relocation of Japanese-Americans. In lineman that has been in the total, the U.S. incarcerated 120,000 football program at JG for four Japanese-Americans during World War years now, has committed to II. NCAA Division II Minot State University in North Dakota, 1957: while Zamora, also a senior, has The first nuclear facility in the United committed to play baseball at States to generate electricity, the NCAA DIII Finlandia University Shippingport Atomic Power Station in in Hancock, Michigan. John Glenn baseball player Adrian Zamora signed and will play at Finlandia University. (Photo by Keith Durflinger) Pennsylvania, went online. “Overall, both boys are great student-athletes,” John Glenn 1958: athletic director Linda Parra said. with Covid-19, I have not been The world’s first communications “We are very proud of them and able to put in the maximum work satellite was launched by the United their athletic achievements. I need to be at right now,” Varoz States aboard an Atlas rocket. They are a true example that said. “It has been a stressful time hard work, dedication and and I have been trying my best 1969: perseverance pay off.” to get drills and lifting done as Britain’s Parliament abolished the much as possible. I hope to soon The upside to this story is death penalty for murder. have a senior season because both athletes were able to secure I know it will be a memorable their future at their respective season for a lifetime.” 1981: universities prior to each of their Russia began flying the Tu-160, the Varoz, who was chosen the respective seasons. world’s largest combat aircraft. To this MVP of his freshman team, made Varoz, a 6-2, 305 lb. offensive day it remains the world’s largest and the varsity as a sophomore on the lineman, had communicated heaviest combat aircraft and the fastest offensive line as a right tackle. with the Minot University bomber in use. coaches several times this past “Knowing it was going to be summer. a tremendous transition from 2003: freshman football to varsity “In the beginning of my A jury in Chesapeake, Va., convicted football, I knew I had to put offseason of my senior year I was teenager Lee Boyd Malvo of two in the time and effort into the able to reach out to the offensive counts of murder in the Washington- weight room,” he said. line coach, Nick Nissen, and area sniper shootings. (He was later defensive coordinator, Mike Varoz credits assistant sentenced to life in prison without Scheper, from Minot State coach, Donnie Lobendahn, who parole.) University via Twitter,” Veroz prepared him for his sophomore said. “I sent them my film, which year. Lobendahn, who was the 2009: they absolutely loved. strength and conditioning coach, Reality TV stars Jon and Kate Gosselin, is the son of then, head coach “Going on for weeks and parents of eight children, divorced. Vince Lobendahn. months after continuously talking to the coaching staff, In his sophomore year, Varoz they offered me a scholarship to received honorable mention their school.” in league. His offensive line Birthdays helped the offense produce 1,964 Varoz is excited for the next John Glenn football player Joe Varoz signed and will play at Minot State University. Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards rushing yards. (77), film director stage in life at college. (Photo by Keith Durflinger) Steven Spielberg That led into his junior year, (74), “Goodfellas” actor Ray Liotta “I’m from Norwalk and for where he was named offensive (66), film star Brad Pitt (57), rapper the next four years I’m hoping to said. “He treated me as one of toured the campus.” the next four years. line captain. It was the filling of DMX (50), wrestler “Stone Cold” Steve grow as a player and as a young his own, disciplining me when big shoes from recent graduate Much credit by the Varoz “Adrian is a blessing to JG,” Austin (56), wrestler Trish Stratus man.” necessary and teaching me long family is also given to the said Linda Parra, JG AD. “He just (45), pop singer Sia (45), “Dawson’s and league Offensive Lineman of life lessons. Like most high school the Year, Edurado Barajas. Cruz family, Shanon Cruz (JG transferred to us this year so Creek” actress Katie Holmes (42), pop athletes in this era of social “Playing for coach was great Assistant Principal) and her we have not been able to watch singer Christina Aguilera (40), “Pretty Varoz shined in his junior media, Zamora, a right-handed because he was a defensive husband David Cruz (JG Assistant him play on the field. His mom Little Liars” actress Ashley Benson (31), year, as he was named to first pitcher, took to Twitter to get the lineman and understood what Athletic Director and current is awesome and she has kept and pop singer Billie Eilish (19). team in league. word out on his talents. went on in the trenches.” head football coach), who always me informed on his pursuit “My offensive line coach, helped guide Joe academically to play baseball in college and “I posted my pitching on Lobendahn, who also taught Deaths Donne Lobendahn, was one of and encouraged him to utilize his (eventually) let me know when Twitter,” said Zamora, who will at the school for years, had at the best line coaches I could have skills on the field. he committed to Finlandia Zsa Zsa Gabor, the actress and be attending the only private least one or two players each asked for,” said Varoz, who has University.” socialite whose nine marriages earned university in the Upper Peninsula year over a six-year period that “I always looked forward to her significant coverage in tabloid five brothers and three sisters. “I of Michigan. “I ended up meeting was eligible for a DI program in “Friday Night Lights” and to be Next fall he will head off to magazines, died on this date in 2016. wouldn’t consider coach Donne a lot of coaches. When I met college. able to watch Joe on the field, as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan She was 99. as my offensive line coach, but (pitching coach) Malcolm Purdy, well as his older siblings,” said for his next step in life. more as an older brother.” “Joe really bought into the South Korean singer and radio host Kim he continually reached out to program, even as a seventh and Nancy Varoz, Joe’s mom. “It had “This will be a different Jong-hyun, whose debut album “Base” me.” Another brother, Toa, eighth grader,” Vince Lobendahn always been a highlight of my aspect and everything,” said reached No. 1 on the Billboard world who played at USC, also had a week.” Zamora, unlike a lot of said. “He’s that kind of kid. He Zamora, who has a nickname of charts, died by suicide on this date in tremendous wealth of knowledge potential college athletes, made was a youth who came in and put Panda, which has stuck with him 2017. He was 27. for young Joe. Adrian Zamora, Finlandia his official visit to Finlandia, it all out on the field. since he was young. “It will be Actor, comedian and “SNL” cast University while others didn’t get that “Toa and Donne both pushed “Joe showed up and became definitely cool, but I’m excited member Chris Farley died on this date chance due to the pandemic. me beyond my limits and I would the All-Varoz player in my book.” Adrian Zamora has a lot of to play out there. Going on that in 1997 of a drug overdose. He was 33. not be who I am today without energy. With that, his mother, visit, it felt like home there. , the game show “On my visit, coach Purdy Two of Joe Varoz’ brothers, Mark Goodson them. Gaby Madrazo, decided to sign up producer who created “The Price offered me [a scholarship] and Tony and Ray, also played for John “With coach Purdy talking to young Adrian in sports. is Right,” “Family Feud” and other I said, ‘that’s a blessing.’ Two “All in all, the Lobendahn Glenn under coach Lobendahn. me and head coach (Evan) Brandt weeks ago I accepted.” family welcomes me with He started out with T-ball at talking to me and meeting the television game shows, died on this open arms with anything I “He’s (Joe) very deserving and the age of four and eventually guys, definitely made me feel date in 1992 of pancreatic cancer.