Reyna Will Take His Act to Pros, in Italy That Is

Willie Reyna will soon try on a pair of Italian shoes. No slip-ons, these, though. They will be Italian cleats.

Two years after opening up La Verne’s offense, Reyna has opened Division III eyes to professional football. Starting in February, Reyna will play for the Ancona Dolphins in an Italian league.

He hadn’t even heard of the league until three weeks ago, when he got a call from former Harbor College Coach George Swade.

Swade, who has coached American football in Finland and Italy, signed on to coach Ancona this coming season and needed a quarterback.

Since the Italian league’s level of play is similar to that of U.S. small colleges, Swade talked to some old friends in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and they all recommended that Swade talk to Reyna.

Reyna was one of the premier quarterbacks in Division III football the last two seasons. He led the SCIAC in passing both those years and broke his own Division III record for passing percentage last season.

Although no other players from the SCIAC have played in the league, teams are allowed to have one American player.

Swade decided to try to make Reyna his one player. Reyna was caught unawares.

“I think he was a little surprised,” Swade said.

Before the call, football opportunities seemed to have run out for Reyna.

Before going to La Verne, he had been on Pasadena City College’s squad for two seasons. But Reyna played only one series there in his sophomore year and hoped he could have it declared a redshirt season, thereby gaining another season of eligibility at La Verne.

When that didn’t work, Reyna considered other options.

“Looking back, I think I did a pretty good job and I was hoping that maybe I could try to play in Canada,” Reyna said. “But I’m not 6-4, so (until the call came) I was going to suck it up and get on with my life.

“I mean, if I was a scout, I probably wouldn’t have looked too hard at the small colleges. The players are good, but it’s still a lower level of competition.”

Seemingly out of football options, Reyna, 5 feet 11, decided that he would get his degree in Spanish and pursue a career in education.

So when Swade came along with his offer, he didn’t have to talk too hard. Reyna will receive modest money compared to what the NFL pays, but at $1,500 per month, plus housing and living expenses, the package is sweet. Reyna’s contract runs through one season.

But Swade points to other reasons for staying.

“It’s different living some place and knowing the local people,” he said. “You go where you should and not to the tourist places where you get rip-offs. I’ve picked up on the language. It’s hard to replace experience and the opportunity to travel.”

Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball team is off to a quick start, which doesn’t bode well for the rest of the California Collegiate Athletic Assn.

Pomona has won all 11 titles since the CCAA was formed and there are no signs that this year will be any different. Coach Darlene May’s teams have lost only five conference games, ever, and she has a conference record of 35-1 in the last three years.

So when she lost the team’s top two scorers, Leslie Ellis, the CCAA co-player of the year, and Carrie Stritenberg, she had some work to do.

Fortunately for her, first-team All-Conference selection Mildred Conston returned to give Pomona strength under the boards. Conston figured to be the go-to person on offense this season, and has been, with an 18-point average. But how effective the team might be without help for her was a concern, since Pomona struggled with perimeter shooting last season.

But junior college transfer Jennifer Harney has stepped up to help carry the load and is averaging 17 points.

Harney and Michelle Kerzie have spread sagging defenses. Harney, in particular, has been an outside force and is second in the conference in three-point field goals.

The next two spots in the conference tournament will probably be filled by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UC Riverside.

Riverside is led by 6-1 center Rachel Rosario, who will again be a national leader with nearly 15 rebounds per game. Rosario is also leading the conference in scoring with a 21.7-point average. Coach Debi Wolke will rely heavily on the three-point shooting of Debbie Fischer and Valerie Ruiz to spread defenses.

Carrie Schmidt leads a balanced San Luis Obispo squad. Schmidt averages 21 points and nearly three steals per game. Shelby Taketa runs the offense effectively and Christine Rodness and Nicole Lowry are outside shooting threats.

The race for the final tournament spot figures to be between Cal State Los Angeles and Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Cal State L.A.’s Holly Keeton and Cameron Inouye would be welcome on nearly any team and Pam Ross and Ugochi Nwamuo work hard in the front court, but the team is still inconsistent and does not have depth.

Dominguez Hills must overcome youth at the guard position to compete. Dionne Van Landingham and Karey Bonde can be counted on for a combined 31 points per game and youth abounds everywhere else. The Toros got off to a 3-3 start but the first run through league play should be more indicative of the team’s ability.

Chapman’s Melody Earle may be as complete a guard as any in the conference, averaging 16 points and leading the conference with nearly five assists per game. Chapman is preparing to move down a division, however, and could not recruit enough help for Earle to be competitive.