Michigan

Jessica Ball, a second-team CIF Southern Section Division I selection for Newport Harbor High last year, signed her letter of intent Wednesday to play water polo for the University of Michigan next year. Ball, also a two-time All-Sea View League performer for the Sailors, visited the Michigan campus at Ann Arbor two months ago. She said she was impressed with the school spirit and the attention to academics. She said she will also be eased into the college life because her older sister, Erin, attends Michigan.

Newport Harbor High product Leah Robertson, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, was named Collegiate Water Polo Assn. Western Division Co-Player of the Week recently. Robertson helped Michigan clinch the Eastern Championship on April 27 with a 10-7 victory over Hartwick. The win gave the No. 11-ranked Wolverines an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships that begin Friday at Stanford. Robertson became Michigan?s all-time career steals leader with 214 in the Eastern Tournament.

Bryce Alderton The last time Bob Jensen strapped on the shoulder pads and draped a cardinal and gold jersey over them was the 1970 Rose Bowl game pitting USC against Michigan. The 55-year-old Newport Beach resident, who owns a dental practice in the city, played linebacker for USC on New Year's Day in 1970 and will be on the sidelines again to watch the top-ranked Trojans battle the Wolverines Jan. 1. USC defeated Michigan, 10-3, to go undefeated (10-0-1)

NEWPORT BEACH — Raul Olivas didn't just want a University of Michigan victory in the Rose Bowl on Monday. He also wanted to be contrary. The Long Beach resident, who coaches basketball at Millikan High School, has been a Michigan fan for much of his life. Three years ago, he and his wife even journeyed to the Midwest to watch the Wolverines play a home game. When Michigan went up against USC in the Rose Bowl, though, he opted to watch it in a city that he imagined was a Trojans haven.

Danette Goulet COSTA MESA -- With less than a week to make up her mind, high school senior Nikko Gallardo has yet to choose a college. It's crunch time for seniors who are making the huge life decision of where to go to school, and 18-year-old Gallardo is no exception. She is one of seven Class of 2000 students from Newport Harbor High School that the community has watched for the past four years. Now, as she prepares to graduate, the question on everyone's mind -- including her's -- is where will she go next year.

Susan Simpson Hauck was a class act.  She was born on April 21, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan to Richard and Beatrice Roach and was the oldest of six children.  While attending the University of Michigan, she met and fell in love with Richard Simpson and they married in 1956 shortly after she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature.  After medical school, Richard was a Navy physician and they were stationed in Hawaii, The Philippines, San Diego and Bethesda, Maryland.

Leah Robertson, a former Newport Harbor High standout, recently earned All-American honorable mention recognition for her performance on the Michigan women’s water polo team. Robertson became the seventh player to receive All-American honorable mention in the program’s history. Robertson set the single-season record for steals at Michigan this past season, her sophomore year, with 121, which surpassed her previous record of 109. She added to her career record of 230 steals and helped the Wolverines appear in the NCAA tournament for the third time.

Junior Sam Mikulak, a Corona del Mar High alumnus, won his second career NCAA all-around crown and helped the University of Michigan men's gymnastics team capture its fifth NCAA title in program history Saturday at Penn State. Mikulak, a U.S. Olympian and the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, won the all-around with 91.150 points, ahead of teammate Adrian de los Angeles' 88.350. Mikulak, the 2011 NCAA all-around champion, won the high bar (15.65) and finished second in the parallel bars (15.350)

Carrie LeeAnn Widder and James Richard Robertson, Jr. Mark and Tracy Widder of Newport Beach are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter Carrie LeeAnn Widder to James Richard Robertson, Jr. son of James and Nancy Robertson of Wolverine Lake, MI. The bride to-be graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. She is currently an Associate Copywriter at Enlighten Agency in Ann Arbor, MI. The groom-to-be graduated from the University of Michigan and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics and Math.

IRVINE — About 700 community leaders and business owners gathered at the Irvine Marriott for breakfast, networking and to hear the latest economic news — good or bad — at Wednesday's 2012 Irvine Business Outlook. Chamber of Commerce President Tallia Hart had nothing but good things to say about the city's economy. "This is like writing vows," Hart joked before the crowd. "I have so much to say in so little time. " More than two-thirds of Irvine businesses reported that they do not expect to reduce operations this year, and 22% have plans to expand, Hart said, citing statistics from a just-released survey completed by the chamber, the Orange County Register and the MacKenzie Corp.

MEN'S BASKETBALL Central Michigan 82, UC Irvine 72 ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Daman Starring scored 20 points and Michael Wilder had 19 points for the Anteaters in the Great Alaska Shootout at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage Friday. Will Davis II grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds and Wilder had 10 rebounds for UCI (0-5). Central Michigan is 3-2. * Vanguard 99, Concordia (Ore.) 98 COSTA MESA - Christopher Kupets had 21 points, including the game-winning jumper with five seconds for the Lions in the Thanksgiving Classic game Friday.

Newport Harbor High senior Presley Pender has committed to play water polo at the University of Michigan, the Newport Harbor Aquatics program announced Tuesday. Pender will be a team captain this winter for the Newport girls' water polo team. Last year the driver had totals of 34 goals and 41 steals for the Sailors. She will be the third Newport Harbor girls' water polo product in the last several years to play for Michigan, joining Leah Robertson and Sarah Roberts. Pender can sign her national letter of intent with the Wolverines on Wednesday, when the early signing period for women's water polo begins.

Robert Clayton Woodruff, M.D. July 1, 1920 – July 19, 2008 Born and raised in Bay City, Michigan, and a graduate of the University of Michigan in 1948. Robert specialized and was Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Married for 65 years to Phyllis Bushbaum whom he met in college while Phyllis was studying nursing. He served in the United States Army and was discharged to pursue medicine. In 1954, Robert moved his young family to California. The Woodruff family settled in Newport Beach where Robert’s OBGYN practice continued to grow for the next 42 years including service as Chief of Staff at Hoag Memorial Hospital in 1971.

BARBARA JOAN MARTIN-ELLS Barbara Martin-Ells, born June 19, 1921, in Detroit, Michigan, passed away on June 27, 2008 (at 87 years of age). Barbara was born in Michigan and came to California as a young adult. Most of her early life growing up was spent in or around Detroit, Michigan. In her early married life, she and her husband and their three children lived in Sherman Oaks in a very nice mansion; and after their divorce, she and her mother subsequently moved to Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley.

AURORA, Colo. — As far as first impressions go, John Chin, an incoming junior for UC Irvine, is making a sensational one at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. Chin, who is playing in his first U.S. Amateur, won twice Friday at Murphy Creek Golf Course to advance to today’s 36-hole final against Jack Newman of Michigan State. Today’s final begins at 6 a.m., Pacific Standard Time. Traditionally, the champion receives an invitation to the following year’s Masters and is exempt for the current year’s U.S. Amateur Championship.

Leah Robertson, a former Newport Harbor High standout, recently earned All-American honorable mention recognition for her performance on the Michigan women’s water polo team. Robertson became the seventh player to receive All-American honorable mention in the program’s history. Robertson set the single-season record for steals at Michigan this past season, her sophomore year, with 121, which surpassed her previous record of 109. She added to her career record of 230 steals and helped the Wolverines appear in the NCAA tournament for the third time.

Newport Harbor High product Leah Robertson, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, was named Collegiate Water Polo Assn. Western Division Co-Player of the Week recently. Robertson helped Michigan clinch the Eastern Championship on April 27 with a 10-7 victory over Hartwick. The win gave the No. 11-ranked Wolverines an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships that begin Friday at Stanford. Robertson became Michigan?s all-time career steals leader with 214 in the Eastern Tournament.