PREP NOTES : Seven O.C. Athletes Are Finalists for CIF Scholar Award

Three Orange County girls and four boys are among 20 finalists for the 1994 CIF scholar-athlete of the year award.

The top two winners--one boy and one girl--will receive a $2,500 scholarship courtesy of Channel 9-KCAL TV. Winners will be announced Monday and will receive recognition at the State track and field championships June 4 at Cerritos College.

The county’s girl representatives: Romy Christensen, Laguna Hills; Melissa Kuser, Mission Viejo, and Jennifer Stroffe, Corona del Mar.

The boys: Carl Daucher, Brea-Olinda; Crosby Grant, Corona del Mar; David Hay, Foothill, and Brendan Mahon, La Habra.

Finalists were selected from 624 candidates throughout California who were nominated by high school principals.

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Valencia linebacker Chris Draft, The Times Orange County back of the year, is among five county players who will play in the 43rd North-South Shrine California Classic football game, July 23 at Citrus College in Azusa.

Draft, who will attend Stanford in the fall, is joined on the South team by Los Alamitos running back Enrico Bozman, Mater Dei defensive lineman Derrick Ford, Villa Park defensive back Grant Pearsall (USC) and Los Alamitos defensive lineman Steve Tramell (Colorado State).

Huntington Beach tight end Tony Gonzalez (California), The Times Orange County lineman of the year, was selected to the team but is unable to play.

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The 12th annual “Shake for Sportsmanship” awards will be presented May 11 at Dodger Stadium before the Dodgers play the Houston Astros at 7:35 p.m.

The awards, sponsored by the Dodgers and Adohr Farms Dairies, honor high schools singled out by a vote of their peers--members of their respective leagues--for outstanding sportsmanlike conduct displayed during the past school year.

Though participating leagues could establish their own criteria, the Southern Section office recommended judging be based on the actions of competitors, school band members, drill teams, pep squads, cheerleaders and student-rooting sections.

The leagues and their winning school:

Arrowhead--Southern California Christian; Empire--Loara; Express--Huntington Beach Claremont; Freeway--La Habra; Orange--Anaheim; Pacific Coast--Century; Sea View--Corona del Mar; South Coast--Mission Viejo.

Leagues not listed have yet to respond to the section office.