Martin Chooses N. Arizona Over Fullerton for Football

Lance Martin, The Times’ Ventura County Lineman of the Year, made an oral commitment Saturday to attend Northern Arizona.

Martin, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound middle linebacker who led Thousand Oaks High in tackles last season, chose between offers from Northern Arizona and Cal State Fullerton after visiting both campuses.

“I liked Fullerton too, but the difference was the college-town look at NAU,” Martin said.

Deena Drossin, a junior from Agoura High, placed third in the junior girls’ division of the U. S. World Cross-Country Trials in Seattle on Saturday.

Drossin placed third in 13 minutes 44 seconds over the four-kilometer course. Melody Fairchild, a junior from Boulder, Colo., who won the Kinney national cross-country title last fall, was first in 12:47. Jamie Park, a freshman at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, was second in 13:07.

By finishing among the top six individuals, Drossin will advance with the U. S. Junior National team to the world championships in France on March 24.

John Johnson of Palmdale High has made an oral commitment to play football at Washington State.

A defensive back and wide receiver, Johnson was the only player in the Golden League to be named to the all-league first team on offense and defense.

Tisha Walker of Thousand Oaks finished ninth in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which ended Saturday in Salt Lake City.

The 15-year-old Walker placed eighth in free skating among 16 competitors in the senior women’s division.

She improved from 15th place in the compulsory figures earlier in the week.