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MIKE LEADS NEW GRID

CC RUNNERS WHIZATCOC

By Scott Peterson
Mike Martinez, COC's great By Don Chambers
cross country star, began his career "My main interest now is to
at age 14 on Placerita Junior High get to Bakersfield and the state
School's worn track, unsure that he championship," said Gary Hamil-
could ever make it as a distance ton, the Cougar's new star running
runner. back.
But make it he did ... and how! "I don't think any team can
He led last season's cross beat us," he said. "We're as good as
country team to a conference cham- last year's team (which was ranked
pionship, the first chalked up for fifth in California), and I think
any Cougar team. Five wins and no we're going to make the Bakers-
losses.
field (state championship) play-off."
Mike was undefeated in con- In only three games, the
ference meets and set four course Cougars' most exciting ball carrier
records. had scored nine touchdowns and
His best time on COC's rug- carried the pigskin for 348 yards.
ged 4-mile cross country course is Hamilton's football career
20:45 minutes, a mark likely to started at Tompkins High School in
stand for many years ... unless Mike Savannah, Ga. Hamilton, dubbed
betters it this year, of course. "Pickles" by teammates, made the
At last year's Fall Sports varsity in his first year (9th grade),
banquet, he received the "Most playing linebacker. He was 5'8" tall
Valuable Runner" trophy. at the time and weighed only 165
Like all top athletes, Martinez pounds.
works for his glory. Twice a day he His coach soon discovered his
and teammates run a grueling com- extraordinary running ability, how-
bination of sprints, intervals, and ever, and switched Gary to offense,
hill and distance runs totalling about alternating him between running
15 miles. fullback.
In between, he lifts weights. Mike Underwood (left), offensive center, and Randy Kruska, offensive Gary developed into a top
He was inspired to take up the guard, with Dan Minyard, offensive tackle, in background. They're league player, and at the end of his
lung-boggling sport of distance run- Cougar refugees from the Pit, that tumultuous battleground in which senior year his coach recommended
ning by Jim Ryan , world record opposing linemen struggle for the ultimate glory or demise of the ball him to COC's Head Coach Don
holder for the outdoor mile, and carrier. Kloppenburg, who was delighted to
was encouraged to continue when invite the elusive back to Valencia.
he did well in the 600 yard run in In his first year as a Cougar,
junior high. Hamilton averaged 7-plus carries
Mike has set ambitious goals per game and scored six touch- ·.
for himself for the next several downs, a fine record for a fresh-
years, but is too modest to talk man.
much about them. Friends, how- This season already speaks
ever, tell you that one is to break for itself. Gary missed the first
4 minutes in the mile. scrimmage because of an ankle in-
This is not an unreasonable jury, and played only one quarter
goal at all. Mike ran the mile last in the second.
year in 4: I O ... and he's still a grow-
ing boy. But then came the Cal-
"Our team has a very good Lutheran game. Gary ignited fans
chance of winding up as one of the by demonstrating that he is per-
top three in the state," says Mike. haps the most exciting runner in
As of press time, COC's har- COC's short history.
riers remained undefeated. He weaved in and out of the
Martinez, a physical education opposing defense like a ghost, mak-
major, hopes to become a teacher ing it all look simple. He scored
after college. four times.
The Mt. San Jacinto game was
more of the same. Gary scored three
PR Experts touchdowns. A week later at Im-
perial Valley, Gary scored twice.
Hamilton, who with his com-
Visit Class Mike Martinez, distance running star, heads COC's cross country team edic bent is probably the Cougars'
which is undefeated in regular meets so far this season. most effective morale booster, gives
The Public Relations class credit to his offensive line for
which meets on Wednesday nights LEACH GOMEZ whatever success he has had on the
in G-1 has scheduled a number of field.
key local and Los Angeles area ex- (Cont'd from Page 1 ) (Cont'd from Page 1 ) "Our line is the best I've ever
perts in the field as guest speakers. be a logical thing to do," said had in front of me," he said.
They include Vig Hall, area Leach. At Hart, she was a member "They're doing a great job of block-_
representative for one of the larg- Leach, 22, is a member of the of the softball, track, and volley- ing and opening holes for me to
est printing companys in the nation ball teams, served as statistician for waltz through."
and president of his own manu- Ecology, Veterans, Chess and Ball the varsity baseball and basketball Hamilton hopes to continue
facturers representative firm; Craig and Cue Clubs. teams, and was a member of the playing football at a four-year
Altschul, director of public relations He served four years in the Lettergirl Club. school after leaving COC.
for YMCA of Metropolitan Los navy as a communications techni- She said she decided to run His future looks bright in-
Angeles which supports the largest cian and formed many of his politi - for office because last year she deed.
youth program in the world, and cal views during this period. made recommendations to student
Paul Berthelot, community affairs "The service was a great cata- government representatives and S.U.R.E. PRESIDENT
manager for the four Forest Lawn lyst in the sense that it awoke me nothing happened.
cemeteries in Southern California. politically," he said. "I decided, then, to get things Dick LeClair has been elected.
Other speakers are Charles Leach plans to attend law done, I had better try to do them president of S.U.R.E., the campus
Donaldson, Los Angeles Times re- school at Stanford University and myself," she said. ecology organization. Other officers
porter; Jay Rodriguez, manager of Harvard University after which he "T don't like to see a candi- are Richard Hunter, vice president;
community relations for KNBC will enter private practice. date run uno~osed. I believe vo- Maggie Moore, treasurer; Donna
( channel 4); Don Kelley, vice presi- ters should at least be given a Scearce, secretary, and Ann Moore,
dent of the Newhall-Saugus Jaycees, choice." corresponding secretary.
and Oscar Adams, assistant vice The International Folk Dance Juanita's ambition is to be- Monthly paper, bottle, and
president and manager of the Santa Club will meet from 3:30 to 4:30 come a high school teacher. can reclamation drives will continue
Clarita National Bank. p.m. each Monday in Room PE-1. this year, said Le Clair.