Valley College Plays Through Fashion Maize

Out with the old and in with the new has several meanings this season for the Valley men’s basketball team.

The Monarchs are under first-year Coach Doug Michelson, who took the men’s program after six successful seasons with the women’s team. He replaced Jim Stephens, who retired after last season.

Valley also has several talented freshmen and, to cap it all, new home duds that to some might be a fashion risk. Not to Michelson or his charges.

Just color them maize.

That’s right, the Monarchs have taken a page out of the Michigan dress manual.

“We like the Michigan look,” Michelson said. “We wanted a new look. It’s all part of a new era.”

Michelson said the idea for the new uniforms was a collective effort in which he was included. He said the players are a little unhappy with one part of the outfits.

“They don’t think they are long enough,” Michelson said. “I asked them what they thought would be too long and they didn’t know.”

What happens if the Monarchs (5-8) hit a nasty losing streak? Would the maize uniforms disappear? “Oh, no,” Michelson said. “They are here for good.”

JUNIOR COLLEGES

Sayles Are Up

What are the chances?

Two sisters are named most valuable players of their respective volleyball leagues--and a third wins all-league recognition, all in the same season.

What are the chances? For Aimee, Brandee and Lori Sayles, it is a done deal.

Aimee, a 5-foot-7 sophomore setter at Antelope Valley College, was named the player of the year in the Foothill Conference after leading the Marauders to the title with an 18-0 record. The Marauders lost in the second round of the Southern California regional and finished 19-1, their best single-season record.

Brandee, a 5-8 1/2 middle blocker and setter at Antelope Valley High, was voted the Golden League player of the year. Her twin sister and teammate, Lori, a 5-8 1/2 outside hitter and middle blocker, made the all-league squad.

Their individual success on the court, Aimee says, is appreciated by one another.

“We support each other 150% in everything we do,” she said. “There’s no competition between us at all.”

The three probably will be with different teams next season.

Aimee said she has been offered a scholarship to Ft. Hays State, an NAIA Division I school in Hays, Kan., and is leaning toward accepting it. Brandee is talking with Cal State Bakersfield, an NCAA Division II school, and Lori plans to play at Antelope Valley College.

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No one was happier to see the matchup in the championship game of the Glendale men’s basketball tournament last week than Coach Brian Beauchemin of the host Vaqueros.

Actually, Beauchemin would have been a little happier if his Vaqueros had made it to the game, but they lost in the first round and had to settle for the consolation title with a 96-72 victory over Trade Tech.

Nevertheless, the tournament booked itself a dandy when Ventura was nearly upset by L.A. Southwest in a terrific title game won by the Pirates, the No. 1 team in the state, 74-68.

“Boy, am I glad I put Southwest and Ventura in different brackets,” Beauchemin said.

Around the Campuses . . .

* Sophomores Richard Beatie of Glendale and Ryan Lasagna of Antelope Valley have been named to the All-America football team selected by the California Community College Coaches’ Assn. Beatie is a 6-6, 295-pound offensive tackle who has committed to play at USC next season. Lasagna is a 6-2, 240-pound center.

* Beatie and Lasagna also were named by the coaches to the Region III All-California offensive team, along with Valley quarterback Sean Fitzgerald, Glendale running back Pathon Rucker and Moorpark running back Gil Carrillo. Fitzgerald was voted the offensive player of the year. The defensive team included Glendale linebacker Mike Stewart and defensive backs Ron McKelvey of Pierce and Marlan Bacon of Antelope Valley.

* Besides Ventura at No. 1, Moorpark is ranked 17th in the latest state men’s basketball poll. Ventura is seventh in the women’s poll.