At the first game of Venice’s football season Sept. 12, about 1,500 people looked at the lit up field of the gridiron. The big crowd saw 34 new occupants of the blue and white jerseys ready to fight against Carson High. Ryan Wichard from New York is a new defensive addition, as well as Sam Shipley from Utah who will also play offensive line.

Number one ranked receiver Ryan Graves from John Muir High School in Pasadena “will surely be paramount to the Gondo offense,” wrote the Los Angeles Times recently, as well as number-one ranked Quarterback Beau Davis, a 2nd semester transfer from Carson High School.

Palisades transfer Robert Ambers, another offensive addition for Venice, “has a great arm as well as great accuracy that will help us in the future,” said Defensive Coach Gifford Lindheim.

Defensive specialist Dontrail Cail “has much natural talent and will play an important role this season despite this will be his first high school season.” senior strong safety Mesphin Forrester explained.

Few people knew of these new players until the opening game Sept. 12, when Mr. Finegold, “the voice of the Gondos,” announced their names and rankings over the loud speaker. Before that night, students on campus had only heard stories, like about that new guy from New York, or that guy from Utah.

Several players have been called up from junior varsity. The team is currently the number 1 ranked team in the city. Venice is the only city team in Los Angeles ranked in the top 25 by Eric Sodenhiemer, a L.A. Times high school sports writer. They won the Western League last year and overall they were 10-3, losing to Taft High School in the city semi-finals.

Usually the visiting crowd is not that large, but because former Colt Davis, is now Venice High’s quarterback, many Carson football fans came to see him get sacked. Opposing fans hung posters that read “Sack the Beau.” Venice won the game 34-13.

At the second game against Loyola, the Gondolier defense caged the Cubs 17-13. Venice led the whole game but Loyola came back in the second half, but came up short in the end.

Venice has a real tough pre-season schedule this year because “it will help us prepare for the playoffs.” Coach Gifford Lindheim said. Fans wondered if the new players would fit in with the old players.

“The team has bought into the systems, they mix well, we are one team, not new and old,” Coach Gifford explained outside of the locker room.

Being the only ranked city section team by the L.A. Times is quite an accomplishment for Venice, said Coach Gifford. Every other team ranked in the top 25 is a part of the Southern Section, which is a larger and tougher set of teams and divisions from Los Angeles County. Coach Gifford thinks they have a chance to play in the City Championship game. “That’s something the Westside has not done,” ever in high school football, he said.

Other new players and top returnees are superb #5 wide receiver Gerold Rodriguez, top prospect and #4 ranked defensive tackle Eric Lobos, all-star ranked #5 defensive back Mesphin Forrester and #1 phenom running back Byron Ellis.

Upcoming Games

Sept. 25 a@ Santa Monica College

Oct. 3 vs. Granada Hills @ Venice

Oct. 10 vs. Franklin @Venice