Viewpoint's Football Team on Course of Improvement

After struggling through a 2-6-1 football season last year, should be a lot better this coming fall.

“We look like a whole new team,” said Adam Markun, Viewpoint’s standout running back who is coming off a sophomore season that included 1,009 yards rushing, eight touchdowns and 22 tackles.

Markun, a 5-10, 180-pounder, has put on 15 pounds while retaining his blinding speed that made him one of the fastest in 10-man football last season.

“Adam has worked pretty hard in the weight room, and he looks good. We’re excited,” coach Chris Adamson said.

Viewpoint has welcomed a new quarterback, Joey Verhaegh, a senior who has transferred in from Crespi in Encino, a top program that competes in the Pac-5, the Southern Section’s most competitive division. He’s 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, and that makes Verhaegh one of the Prep League’s biggest players.

“He’s a big, strong kid and a very good student,” Adamson said. “We’re lucky to have him. He has good arm, and he throws the ball real well.”

Verhaegh, who moved from Iowa after his sophomore season, is attending his third school in three years. He did not play at Crespi last season because of an injury, Adamson said.

Viewpoint has a pair of gifted returning receivers, Darian Fardghassemi (24 receptions) and Amir Karian (12 receptions), both of whom have come a long way since last season, Adamson said.

“Amir is a little bigger, one of our strongest kids and little more physical, and Darian has great hands, and he’s fast,” Adamson said. “Both do a good job catching the football. They had their moments last year, and they’ve really improved for their senior seasons.

“We’re going to score some points and move the football this season.”

Karian also was Viewpoint’s leading tackler last season with 50.

The focus is on improvement, and Markun believes Viewpoint is on the right track.

“We’re rebuilding and getting better each year,” he said. “I think this season is going to be a good step forward.”

Some of Calabasas’ other top returning players are lineman Charlie Fries and Lev Khodaverdy and linebacker David Cutler. Cutler, a junior, had 45 tackles last year.

Overall, Viewpoint has 46 players on the roster and 39 are underclassmen.

HOOPIN' IT UP FROM LONG DISTANCE

Calabasas High basketball coach Jon Palarz and key returning forward Josh Cohan have been reunited this summer in AAU ball on the team BTI Pump N Run. They’re in Milwaukee competing in the tournament through Saturday, then they move on to another tournament in Chicago on Sunday and Monday.

“It’s nice out here,” Palarz said. “We won yesterday in Minnesota, and Josh scored eight points.”