Saddleback, Fullerton Big on Bowl History

Postseason experience won’t be a problem for either Saddleback Coach Ken Swearingen or Fullerton Coach Hal Sherbeck as they prepare their teams for bowl appearances Dec. 7.

When Saddleback (9-1) plays Cerritos (8-2) in the Simple Green Orange County Bowl at Orange Coast College, it will be the 12th time in 16 years the Gauchos have reached a bowl game under Swearingen.

Saddleback is 6-5 in bowl games for Swearingen, who took over the program in 1976. Swearingen started his career as head coach at El Camino in 1962 and twice led the Warriors to the state playoffs, winning the state title in 1971.

Fullerton (7-3) takes on Santa Barbara (9-1) in the Shrine Potato Bowl.

It will be the 13th bowl appearance for Sherbeck, who is in his 31st year at Fullerton. He has taken the Hornets to the state playoffs four times. Fullerton is 7-5 in bowl games under Sherbeck.

Other Bowl News: Palomar (9-1), the second-ranked team in the state, takes on No. 1 Chabot (9-1) in the Merced Bowl Dec. 7.

Palomar’s decision to go north has forced the cancellation of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Bowl scheduled for Southwestern College in Chula Vista. No other San Diego-area team had a record good enough to be considered.

The Western State Bowl, to be played Dec. 7, was split into two games to accommodate deserving teams. San Bernardino Valley (8-2) is at Santa Monica (7-3) in the Western State Bowl Classic, and Los Angeles Pierce (7-2-1) is at Moorpark (8-2) in the Western State Bowl. Both games are at 7 p.m.

Antelope Valley (8-2) plays host to Los Angeles Southwest (7-2-1) in the Southern California Bowl at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 7.

Football Poll: Palomar finished the season as the top-ranked team in the weekly Southland Poll.

Saddleback was second, Santa Barbara third, Cerritos fourth, Moorpark fifth, Pasadena sixth, Fullerton seventh, San Bernardino Valley eight, Santa Monica ninth and L.A. Southwest 10th.

All-Conference Teams: Here are some of the all-conference teams that have been announced:

Men’s Soccer: Goalkeeper Ken Langworthy of Orange Coast was selected most valuable player of the Orange Empire Conference.

Orange Coast’s co-coaches, Laird Hayes and Mauricio Claure, shared coach of the year honors.

The first team: Todd Biefeld, Scott Goldman, Jason Hooper and Brian Slayback (OCC); Brad Wilson, Giovani Mendiola and Aaron Ryan (Irvine Valley); Christopher Cardoza and Henry Crompton (Fullerton); Carlos Martinez (Rancho Santiago); Steve Buzzetta (Golden West); Charles Higley (Cypress), and Jason Stickley (Riverside).

Women’s Soccer: Palomar dominated the Orange Empire Conference selections, placing five players on the first team, including most valuable player Allison Gibson.

Ray Haas, in his first year at Cypress, was coach of the year.

The first team: Laurie Wilson and Amy Wagner (Cypress), Michelle Lutsch and Braidee Johnson (OCC) and Kymm Maniscalco (Irvine Valley).

Women’s Volleyball: Brenda Irby, an outside hitter from Golden West, was selected the Orange Empire Conference’s MVP.

Orange Coast’s Jane Hilgendorf was named coach of the year.

The first team: Tracy Schriber, Margaret Weese and Karen Jacobsen (Golden West); Kit Spath and Stacy Bekemeyer (OCC); Kartina Sullivan (Riverside), and Elainie Kollias (Saddleback).

Irby and Weese also were selected to the all-state team and Schriber was an All-Southern California selection.

Golden West and OCC play host to Southern California Regional first-round playoff games at 7 tonight. Golden West (22-0), the top-ranked team in the state, meets Antelope Valley (14-4), and OCC (15-4) plays Santa Monica (13-7).

The second round will be played Dec. 3 and the state tournament will be held Dec. 6-8 at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo.

Community College Notes

Fullerton’s 21-17 loss to Riverside marked the fifth time in six tries the home team lost its homecoming game in the Central Division of the Mission Conference this season. . . . Saddleback’s Doug Roberson made all 37 extra-point kicks he attempted this season.