Sports

PREPS

The San Gabriel Valley’s reputation as a hotbed of girls soccer talent has been embellished this season by several high school teams that will figure prominently in the Southern Section playoffs.

Pasadena Poly appears headed for its fourth consecutive Division 1-A title. The Panthers, under Coach Steve Freeburg, entered the week 18-2-1 and 9-0 in the Prep League.

Pasadena Poly is led by a trio of three-time All-Southern Section players: center-fullback Maricela Oceguera, the 1993 division player of the year; center-halfback Beth Freeburg and forward Blanca Fromm.

Senior center-forward Jennifer Giampaolo, a first-team All-Southern Section selection last season, is also having another outstanding year for Pasadena Poly.

“(Those players) came in, we started winning, and they haven’t lost a CIF championship yet,” said Freeburg, in his fifth season as coach.

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Walnut took a psychological step toward a Division III championship by defeating defending Division III champion Los Altos, 1-0, in a Miramonte League game at Walnut last week.

Sarah Chavez scored the lone goal as Walnut beat the Conquerors for the second time this season. Walnut entered the week 8-0 in league.

Los Altos, Diamond Bar and Arcadia are a few of the other area schools that are expected to challenge for section championships.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Mt. San Antonio, Citrus and Pasadena City colleges will send numerous football players to four-year schools next season.

Mt. SAC players and their destinations include: lineman Jason Bradley (Benedictine, Kan.); receivers Mark Butler (Pittsburgh), Steve McHenry (Nevada), Roddy Layton (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) and Carl Caston (Lewis & Clark); offensive lineman Danny Cervantes (Portland State); tight end Talley Christopher (Ohio); running back Leonard Green (USC); cornerback Bill Ivey (Montana); linebacker Tom Merrill (San Diego State) and quarterback Ryan Merrill (Sonoma State).

Citrus players include: quarterback Curtis Robinson (USC); defensive backs Aaron Wilson (Wyoming), Jason O’Neil (Idaho), Roman Holston (Eastern Missouri) and Nick Baiz (Sacramento State); offensive linemen Chris Calnon (Iowa Wesleyan), Jeff Rudy (Iowa Wesleyan) and Mark Odin (Rocky Mountain College); running back Kirk Compton (Sacramento State); receiver Matrice Stephens (Northern Arizona) and kicker Kevin O’Leary (Northern Arizona).

Pasadena players include: defensive linemen Anthony Sanford (USC) and Todd Wright (Utah State); quarterback Demetrio Williams (South Dakota); tight end Peter Tiechmann (Boise State); linebackers John Evans (Mississippi) and Kelly Edwards (Boise State); and defensive backs Thad Culpepper (Pittsburgh), Matthew Moody (Nevada Las Vegas), Thomas Geter (Northern Arizona) and LaRon Bond (Utah State).

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Peter Bjornlund, a Citrus College freshman from Visby, Sweden, finished second in the Santa Barbara Community College tennis tournament, defeating four of the state’s top 13 players along the way.

Bjornlund lost to Alex Sugai of Foothill, 6-1, 7-5, in the final.

COLLEGES

The University of La Verne will induct the first members of a new Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Sheraton Suites Fairplex in Pomona.

The eight inductees include former coaches and athletes Nancy Diviney Blickenstaff, Daryl Brandt, John Brooks, Carol Smith Clum, Dwight Hanawalt, Ben Hines, Larry Kennan and Roland Ortmayer.

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The Azusa Pacific women’s basketball team entered the week with a five-game winning streak after defeating Southern California College, 73-70, in a Golden State Athletic Conference game Saturday.

Jessica Opfar scored 22 points for the Cougars (16-7).

PREP OF THE WEEK

Sarah Chavez, Walnut-- Chavez’s unassisted goal during the second half gave Walnut a 1-0 victory over defending Southern Section Division III champion Los Altos.

COLLEGE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

LaTaya Woods, Citrus--Woods, a freshman from Pasadena, scored 31 points Friday in the Owls’ 49-44 victory over Victor Valley.

The victory improved Citrus’ record to 12-7, 6-1 in the Foothill Conference.

MISCELLANY

The Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a wrestling club and tournament competition for participants 10 to 18 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Rowland Heights Park. Information: (909) 865-2401 or (818) 912-6774.

Registration is also open for adult softball leagues at Rowland Heights Park. Information: (818) 912-6772.

The San Gabriel Valley Kids Wrestling Club is conducting sign-ups on Mondays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the small gym at Arroyo High in El Monte. The program, open to boys and girls 5 to 14, teaches fundamentals and offers the opportunity to compete in tournaments. Information: (818) 338-6864.

Westridge School in Pasadena is sponsoring a summer opportunities fair on Saturday. The fair will include exhibitors from sports camps, wilderness adventures and traditional summer camps that feature many recreational opportunities. Information: (818) 799-1153, Ext. 248.