Varsity

Katie Wells is a rarity in high school girls' volleyball. The senior is one of the top players on a Newport Harbor High team that finished the season as co-champions of the Sunset League and ranked No. 6 in the CIF Southern Section Division I-AA. But unlike the other elite players on the Sailors roster, Wells didn't start her varsity career as a freshman or sophomore. Wells did not even play on the varsity team as a junior. But in her first varsity season, as a 6-foot middle blocker Wells made an impact and became a captain on a team full of players with more experience.

Braden Ross only needed one varsity letter for his letterman's jacket. But, just to be safe, he stacked up 10 of them during his four years at Sage Hill School. "That's pretty rare in high school," said Lightning boys' athletic director Nate Miller. "Even at a small school." Ross, who was named the Lightning Male Athlete of the Year for 2007, certainly earned all of them. He was a four-year varsity athlete in football and soccer, and also played baseball during his freshman and sophomore years.

Deirdre Newman NEWPORT BEACH -- Newport Harbor High School has finally filled the two cheer coaching vacancies left by the departure of Lisa Callahan earlier this year. Hiring the coaches brings some closure to the controversy that consumed the school late last year, when Callahan accused judges of inconsistencies during the cheer tryouts. Callahan, who had been at the school for 13 years, was essentially fired in January by notice of a memo that prohibited her from interacting with students on campus because improper procedures were used to hire her. The new coaches hired this week will bring needed stability to the cheerleading program, said Kathy Slawson, assistant principal.

COSTA MESA - Costa Mesa High is seeking interested applicants for the vacant girls volleyball coaching position and Mustangs Boys Athletic Director Kirk Bauermeister said the job may include a full-time teaching assignment. Bauermeister said Tuesday there have been no applicants to replace Darlene Bailey, who resigned after one season to devote time to other interests. Girls volleyball practice is scheduled to begin Aug. 20. Applicants should contact Bauermeister at school: (714)

Pacific Coast League administrators have voted to deny Northwood High the option of playing a free-lance varsity football schedule next fall, Rick Curtis, Northwood's athletic director and football coach, said Monday. Curtis said he could decide as soon as Friday whether to play a varsity or junior varsity schedule next fall in the PCL. "I'm disappointed about not being able to play free-lance, but these are the rules and we'll abide by them," said Curtis, who invoked ire from some PCL coaches last month by announcing plans to play as a free-lance team.

The Corona del Mar High frosh/soph boys volleyball team went undefeated in the University tournament and claimed the title following a victory over Santa Margarita in the championship match March 19. The Sea Kings defeated San Clemente in the semifinal match to advance to the title showdown against the Eagles. Coached by Steve Conti, the team includes Greg Stone, Tyler Johnson, Matt Greene, Alex Johnston, David Ensign, Gavin Ball, Dillion Flinn, Spencer Price, Michael Tanzer, Will Ho, Steven Deverian and Tyler Stinehart.

A wind brushed through Newport Harbor High Wednesday just before noon. A small group of students and teachers huddled near a table where senior JB Salem sincerely thanked them for their support. Salem, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive tackle, then signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at Stanford. Salem's family watched with great joy. His father, Jesse Salem, choked up a bit when he talked about watching his son's special moment that took place in front of his friends, teammates and high school coaches.

Bryce Alderton Jim Huffman likes to include everyone when he can. This season the first-year girls volleyball coach at Estancia High wants to establish consistency by meeting with leaders of the frosh-soph and junior varsity squads to ensure players at each level are learning similar techniques. "We go over what drills to do and how to emphasize coaching techniques so players can make the transition from frosh-soph to varsity fairly easily," said Huffman, who guided the women's team at Cal State Fullerton from 1989-92 and led the Estancia junior varsity team a year ago. Huffman wants to establish consistency to a varsity program that has had four different coaches the last five years.

SAN DIEGO - Orange Coast College men's crew went 1-2-4 in freshman eights Sunday at the San Diego Fall Classic. Also with strong efforts were the Pirates' varsity eights, which were third and fourth in the varsity category. The "A" varsity, which was third in a field of nine to the University of San Diego and UC San Diego, consisted of Ieo Shook, Mike McGuiness, Dan Toth, Alan Twigg, Gints Salaks, Brian Scheele, Lucas Ridinger, Ryan Davidson and coxswain Sam Yoest.

Steve Virgen When Bill Wetzel wanted to begin his basketball coaching career, he had to wait. If coaching were a basketball game, Wetzel was on the bench. But that's just how things started. Soon after his brief lesson of patience, he was in the game and he was on fire. In 1962, Wetzel began teaching at Western High. He wanted to coach basketball but there wasn't a job opening for that. The varsity head coach was Leroy Stevens and Ezra Van Horn occupied the junior varsity coaching position.

GOLD RIVER - The Orange Coast College men's crew team won three titles at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Assn. Championships on Lake Natoma last weekend. The Pirates claimed the varsity eight, novice eight and novice four categories. They also won the bronze in the second novice eight. OCC, which competed against four-year schools from Washington, Oregon and California, saw 32 of its 41 rowers at the regatta earn medals. OCC's varsity eight came from behind in the final moments of its race to win the club varsity grand finale.

Sierra Michaelsen took up kenpo-style karate in October. She's an orange belt. But her time in the dojo is currently on hiatus as she focuses on a more pressing matter, her senior year for the Newport Harbor High girls' lacrosse team. "Right before I left I was going to reach the intermediate level," Michaelsen said. "I get to wait until the summer now. " She doesn't mind the break. She wants the Sailors, who play Corona del Mar in the Battle of the Bay Friday night at 5 at Newport Harbor, to extend their season as long as possible.

A wind brushed through Newport Harbor High Wednesday just before noon. A small group of students and teachers huddled near a table where senior JB Salem sincerely thanked them for their support. Salem, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive tackle, then signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at Stanford. Salem's family watched with great joy. His father, Jesse Salem, choked up a bit when he talked about watching his son's special moment that took place in front of his friends, teammates and high school coaches.

IRVINE — Monica Venturini usually just crosses the ball for the Corona del Mar High girls' soccer team, giving a teammate a scoring opportunity. On Thursday afternoon at Harvard Athletic Park, Venturini again had the ball at the top right side of the box. This time, it was a shot, and the sophomore lofted it across the goal and into the net. Venturini's first varsity goal helped the Sea Kings cross off an important Pacific Coast League victory, too, as they escaped with a 1-0 win over Beckman.

When Sarah Wilkey entered the Newport Harbor High girls' water polo program as a freshman four years ago, she said she spent time making a list. But just four games into her first season as the Sailors' starting varsity goalie, she is not only checking it twice, but forced to begin anew after checking off each item on the suddenly outdated agenda. "I had clear goals set for myself to achieve and I did," said Wilkey, a senior who had 14 saves to help lead the Sailors to a 6-5 overtime win over Back Bay rival Corona del Mar on Dec. 17. Among those goals were to become a varsity starter and secure a college scholarship.

A UC Irvine alumna has become the first Rhodes Scholar in university history. Megan Braun, 23, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in history in 2009, said she plans to attend Oxford University in the fall for two years, where she plans to work toward a master's degree in international relations. "Eventually, I hope to go to law school and become an attorney, either for the State Department or the United Nations," Braun said in a telephone interview from her Coronado home.

Some of the best memories of Amanda Boyer's high school days come from being part of a team affectionately known as, "Chix with Stix. " Boyer, formerly Amanda Wittman, was the goalie for some of Newport Harbor High's best field hockey teams. Now she's looking to make some new memories as the team's varsity head coach. Boyer is in her first year, after taking over for Devon Kelly, who stepped down after nine years as head coach. High school field hockey proved to be a special time for Boyer.

CORONA DEL MAR — It was a sort of passing of the torch – make that a baton – from one generation to the next. The Corona del Mar High School's Sea Kings dominated the gymnasium floor on Thursday as dozens of varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders performed alongside elementary school children in what has become a popular fundraising event for the squads. Varsity and junior varsity coaches Lauren Anderson and Cami Marseilles had a full day organizing the event while throngs of proud parents looked on from the sidelines of the gym. It was quite the scene as tykes performed stunts in sync with the older, more experienced cheerleaders.

Jamie Darling figured rowing was in her plans. Mom and dad rowed in college and her sister rows. When Darling began the fall season with the Newport Aquatic Center, she started as a novice. Family encouraged her to stick with the sport until she improved and gained experience. The first year turned out to be a life-changing experience for Darling. "[Rowing] is physically demanding," said Darling, a Newport Harbor High freshman. "I had to be organized. I was physically tired and then I had homework.

Jamie Darling figured rowing was in her plans. Mom and dad rowed in college and her sister rows. When Darling began the fall season with the Newport Aquatic Center, she started as a novice. Family encouraged her to stick with the sport until she improved and gained experience. The first year turned out to be a life-changing experience for Darling. "[Rowing] is physically demanding," said Darling, a Newport Harbor High freshman. "I had to be organized. I was physically tired and then I had homework.