AIR-IT-OUT FIRST, TONSILS OUT SECOND.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

How important was it to compete in the NFL Air-It-Out four-on-four flag football competition this weekend at Balboa Park in Encino? Westlake High School quarterback Kjell Nesen thought so much of it that he delayed getting his tonsils taken out by a week just so he could play.

Nesen, the Warriors' future starting quarterback, has been ill on and off for the past three months and doctors told him he'd have to have his tonsils taken out to alleviate the problem. But he threw a flag on them when they scheduled the operation before the Air-It-Out competition.

``I'll just get it done next week,'' said Nesen, who led the Warriors to three wins Saturday and will be in action again today in the playoffs.

More than 570 teams competed Saturday, with players ranging in age from 7 to 61.

Nesen is using the event to get a jump start on directing the Warriors' sophisticated offense. He brought plenty of help with him, as wide receivers Joey Cuppari and Kevin Howard were on hand and each made a number of spectacular plays.

``Those guys are just great athletes,'' Nesen said. ``They make my job a lot easier.''

The 6-foot-1 junior has grown an inch since last year and has his weight up to a solid 175 pounds. After his operation next week, he hopes to add another 10 or 15 pounds. On Saturday, the smooth left-hander showed a nice touch on his medium-range throws as well as a powerful arm on a number of long throws.

Among the high school teams competing was a surprising group from Crespi, which won both its games, beating Chatsworth and Hart. Celts quarterback Kevin Cork, a 6-3 junior who missed most of last season with a knee injury, looked good in his first extended action since last summer. His top receiver was Ron Lauer.

``It was great to get him out there and play with (Cork),'' said Crespi fullback Mike Dillon. ``We have a lot of confidence in him.''

Dillon isn't surprised that the Celts made such a strong showing Saturday.

``We felt we could come out here and do well and we did,'' he said. ``This is a real good opportunity for us to get to know each other and play together.''

A four-team single-elimination tournament begins at 1:20 p.m. today, with the winners advancing to the 2:15 p.m. final.

For sheer size, nobody came close to the team Chatsworth entered. The Chancellors' lineup included 6-5 Kevin Doty, 6-2 Cameron Ajaye, 6-2 Nicholas Lott and 6-foot Ryan Martinez.

Doty stood out in more ways than just his impressive size. He's a terrific athlete who plays both tight end and defensive end. Next year he should be recruited heavily.

Not everyone in attendance was taking the event as seriously as the high school players. Terry Daggi was on hand with her sons Christopher (5) and Michael (2) to watch dad Lawrence play for the Fading Legends, a team composed of five friends from the Valley.

``They're definitely fading fast,'' Terry said of her 36-year-old husband and his buddies.

The Fading Legends lost their first two games, but Terry wasn't fazed by the performance.

``That's not what this is all about,'' Daggi said. ``It's a beautiful day and the guys get to come out here and do their male thing. There's a lot of ex-jocks out here having a good time.''

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Photo

Photo: Westlake quarterback Kjell Nesen, right, avoids Newbury Park's Russell Thomas during Air-It-Out football competition at Balboa Park.

Hans Gutknecht / Daily News