Sooner or later, Geoff Schwartz knew the day would come when he would have to decide what sport he wanted to play in college. Or, to put it more accurately, what sport he would play. Whether it’s on the court, on the diamond or on the gridiron, Schwartz loves to be in the midst of the action. That love, coupled with a drive to succeed, has won the 6-7, 330-pound senior the respect of his teammates and earned him this year’s Post Cup Award as the outstanding senior athlete at Palisades High. ‘It’s not easy for someone to be that good at one sport, let alone three,’ says PaliHi assistant football coach and head baseball coach Kelly Loftus. ‘But Geoff is one of those kids who works hard and he’s proving that it is possible to excel in more than one game.’ Schwartz played offensive and defensive line and was the long snapper on Pali’s varsity football team, played center on the varsity basketball team and was the ace pitcher of the Dolphins’ varsity baseball team. Though each sport required him to learn a unique set of skills, Schwartz says he is a more well-rounded athlete as a result. ‘Playing three sports can be done. I’m not going to say it’s easy. You have to work really hard, but I wouldn’t trade what I did for anything.’ A fierce pass rusher and steady pass blocker, Schwartz was one of the captains of the football team last fall and was on the field for almost every play. He rotated from left to right tackle and left to right guard on offense and nose guard, defensive end and defensive tackle on defense. The game that stands out foremost in his mind is beating league rival Westchester near the end of his junior year. ‘That was huge because it had been like 10 years since we had beaten them,’ Schwartz says. ‘We were so fired up for that game and I remember splashing coach with gatorade at the end. I was exhausted but elated at the same time. That is the best I’ve ever felt on the field.’ Though he chose to play football at the University of Oregon next fall, Schwartz caught the eye of dozens of major league baseball scouts with his effectiveness on the mound this season. The burly right-hander was the workhorse of the Dolphins’ pitching staff and led the team with 51 strikeouts in 57 innings while posting a 1.23 earned run average. His fondest baseball memory, though, is one from his junior year. ‘Without a doubt, going to Dodger Stadium was a big thrill,’ Schwartz recalls. ‘But I’d have to say the game before that was more awesome for me because I was a big part of that one. The whole dog pile at the end was cool.’ Schwartz held Gardena scoreless in the middle innings of last year’s City semifinal game, allowing the Dolphins to stage a late-innings rally that propelled Pali into the Invitational finals. But because he had pitched the game before, Schwartz never got a chance to play in his team’s blowout victory over Granada Hills four days later. ‘I was a little disappointed, but I’m just glad we won and I know I contributed.’ When football season ended, Schwartz turned his attention to the low post, working on his jump shot as the starting center for the basketball team, an activity he had to give up his senior year in order to focus on baseball. ‘Basketball helps me a lot in terms of conditioning, stamina and footwork,’ Schwartz says. ‘You have to be able to jump, so it’s good for building strength in the legs and that helps my pitching, too.’ One of the top five offensive line recruits in California and amongst the top 35 in the nation, Schwartz considered several schools but settled on Oregon because of the college environment and the coach’s sustained interest in him. ‘I really want to play in the NFL and I think a good Pac-10 school like Oregon can get me there,’ Schwartz says. ‘The whole coaching staff has been very supportive and I like the family environment up there. I’m really looking forward to getting up there and hopefully getting a chance to play.’ Oregon doesn’t have a baseball team, but that won’t stop Schwartz from playing. He has already signed up to play for the Aloha Knights, a college travel team based in Portland. Knowing Schwartz, he may even find time for pick-up hoops with guys from his dorm. After all, when it’s time to play, Pali’s three-sport star is ready.
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