Verdugo Hills’ Gossard Top Academic Football Player

Neil Gossard of Verdugo Hills High has been selected the academic player of the year by the Los Angeles Football Coaches Assn. Gossard graduated with a 4.16 grade-point average.

Two other football players finished with a 4.0 or better--Jacob Canales of Carson at 4.1 and Jose Hernandez of Franklin at 4.0.

Sixteen more finished at 3.5 or higher: Gene Wei of Granada Hills (3.99); Eric Geegun of Palisades (3.8); Mel Malele of Carson (3.75); Luke Sniewski of Granada Hills (3.75); Brian Walsh of San Pedro (3.64); Joshua Cole of Carson (3.61); Julius Roberts of Grant (3.6); Jose Flores of Garfield (3.57); Aaron Perez of Granada Hills (3.53); Robert Reedy of San Pedro (3.52); Andrew Butler of Eagle Rock (3.5); David Freeman of Granada Hills (3.5); Douglas Mejia of Franklin (3.5); Michael Mendoza of Franklin (3.5); Pedro Romo of Garfield (3.5) and Adrian Vazquez of Bell (3.5).