Following extensive summer competition, players and coaches of the Malibu High School football team are eagerly looking forward to the upcoming season. With many players hitting the weight room over their summer break, the team is up for its first season as a freelance team in CIF Division XII. Shark football formerly played in the Frontier League, along with most of MHS’s other teams.
The preseason begins Aug. 26 with two-a-day practices at 8 a.m. Head coach Rich Lawson said he expects the largest turnout in the program’s seven-year history. An estimated 25 incoming freshmen will join 30 returning players, including 15 seniors. The program welcomes all interested freshmen and returning students to attend tryouts.
With eight Saturday afternoon home games on its schedule, Shark players and coaches are hoping for great fan support from the Malibu community. Lawson has attributed disappointing turnout in past seasons to Malibu’s unique geography as well as to a general lack of support for high school-as opposed to youth-athletics. However, with so many home games, the Sharks hope that all would-be fans will welcome the opportunity to support the team.
Key returning Shark starters include quarterback Karsten Demers (6′-1″/180 pounds), running back Jeremy Kent (5’11″/ 210) and Matt Pieper (6’2″/ 195). On defense, Tommaso Trento (6’3″/195) and Lars Edman (5’11″/215) are expected to deliver another standout effort during the upcoming campaign. Daniel Curtis (6’1″/195) and Sean Conrad (5’10″/190) will anchor both the offensive and defensive lines. Lawson will also look for outstanding play from seniors Sean Flynn (6’1″/180), Derek Simpson (5’10″/180), James Harding (6’2″/235) and Justin Purucker (6’1″/190), along with junior Thomas Kirby and sophomore Nick Savas.
Despite fewer than 10 alumni classes, the Malibu football program has developed players who went on to play on college teams, including Dane Skophammer, who, as a freshman, was part of the UCLA Bruin football team.