Del Campo, Skieresz Are Honored as Cross-Country Runners of Year

Brandon Del Campo of Thousand Oaks High and Amy Skieresz of Agoura have been selected as Ventura County boys’ and girls’ cross-country runners of the year.

Del Campo, a senior, won the Ventura County, Marmonte League and Southern Section Division I titles this season. He also finished fourth in the state Division I championships and 13th in the Foot Locker West regional.

Skieresz, a junior, earned runner of the year honors for the second time in a row. She successfully defended her county, Marmonte League and Southern Section Division I titles in addition to winning her first state Division I championship.

Jack Farrell of Thousand Oaks and Ken Reeves of Nordhoff were selected as co-boys’ coaches of the year with Farrell and Bill Duley of Agoura sharing the girls’ coach of the year award.

Farrell guided the Thousand Oaks boys to an undefeated season, capped by a record-setting victory in the state Division I championships last month.

The Lancers won the team title with an all-time low of 23 points and their team time--cumulative time of their top five runners--of 77 minutes 59 seconds over the 5,000-meter Woodward Park course lowered the previous best set by Arroyo (1987) by 24 seconds .

Thousand Oaks’ record lasted only a week, however, as Mead High of Spokane, Wash., posted a team time of 77:20 in the Foot Locker West regionals.

The Thousand Oaks girls struggled during the first half of the season but closed with a flourish, finishing third in the Southern Section Division I championships and sixth in the state Division I meet.

Reeves guided the Nordhoff boys to the state Division III title two years after the Rangers won the Division IV championships. Nordhoff also finished second behind Thousand Oaks in the county championships.

The Agoura girls won their seventh consecutive county title and fourth consecutive Marmonte League title under Duley. They also won their fourth consecutive Division I title--and seventh in a row overall--at the Southern Section championships before finishing fifth in the state Division I finals.

Water Polo

Ventura College driver Pedro De Lima was named the Western State Conference player of the year, and the Pirates’ Larry Baratte was named coach of the year. De Lima, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, led the state in scoring with 161 goals. De Lima and goalie Paul Krueger, a WSC first-team selection, were named All-Americans.

Baseball

Cal State Northridge will play host to its annual holiday camp for children ages 6 to 17 from Dec. 27-30 at Matador Field.

Northridge assistant Mike Batesole will serve as camp director.

Registration is $90 when paid in advance, $100 the first day of camp. A family discount of 10% will be offered when two or more members register.

Information: 818-885-3233.

Fishing

The Sierra Pacific Flyfishers are offering a free five-week course in beginning fly-tying starting Jan. 19. The classes will be conducted from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Senior Citizens Center, 5040 Van Nuys Blvd. The course is limited to 20 students.

Students are required to supply their own materials and tools.

Information: 818-845-5656.

Miscellany

The Burroughs High baseball booster club will conduct a one-day workshop titled “College Athletic Scholarships: All Sports--Learn How to Earn One.”

The workshop is scheduled for Jan. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school, 1920 Clark Ave. in Burbank. Registration fee is $25, $70 for a family of three.

Information: 818-845-5992 or 818-842-7950.