UC IRVINE NOTEBOOK / MIKE REILLEY : Ventura Center Considers UCI

If all goes as planned, UC Irvine basketball player Todd Whitehead might soon see a familiar face in the Anteaters’ recruiting class.

UC Irvine is one of five finalists pursuing Michael Tate, a former teammate of Whitehead’s at Los Angeles Fremont High and a standout center at Ventura College.

Tate, 6 feet 5 and 215 pounds, visited Irvine last weekend, said Phil Mathews, Ventura’s coach. Tate also has visited Utah and Utah State, and is planning visits to San Diego State and Pacific.

Mathews said Tate plans on making all of his recruiting visits before making a decision, meaning he won’t be signing Wednesday, the first day of the spring signing period.

“He really doesn’t have a front-runner (choice),” Mathews said. “But he did say that he liked Irvine a lot.”

Tate played at Ventura in 1991-92, then sat out the 1992-93 season as a redshirt, concentrating on academics.

He started 22 of Ventura’s 36 games this season, averaging 11.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and two steals.

He sat out 14 games because of a stress fracture in his right ankle but returned to average 20 points and 11.3 rebounds in three State tournament games. Ventura lost to Long Beach College, 63-61, in the State title game.

“He’s a great athlete,” Mathews said. “He’s only 6-4 1/2, but it doesn’t matter. He hits the boards like Dennis Rodman. Irvine would be a nice place for him.”

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Add recruiting: Women’s Coach Colleen Matsuhara has only one scholarship free, and doesn’t anticipate filling it until next week.

Matsuhara also will have to fill an assistant coach’s position. She relieved Marcus Carroll of his one-year contract in March.

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Stop the presses: Peter the Anteater will get a hip new look this weekend.

The UC Irvine Alumni Assn. has donated a $1,300 Anteater mascot costume to the athletic department.

It will be unveiled at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the “Zot Trot” five-kilometer run walk.

The public also is invited to compete in several athletic-related contests with Irvine athletes throughout the day at the Student Center terrace on campus.

Anteater Notes

The track and field teams will be split this weekend, with some athletes competing at the Mt. SAC relays and others at the Pomona College Invitational. Freshman Laura Monson remained undefeated in the 3,000-meter run, winning in a career-best 9 minutes 49.54 seconds last week in a triangular meet with UCLA and Cal State Northridge. . . . Junior Chris Tontz moved into the national tennis rankings (No. 86) for the first time in his career. . . . The men’s tennis team moved from 36th to 30th in the national rankings this week. . . . Senior Drew Sells finished second at the Anteater Invitational golf tournament last week, which Irvine won. . . . The men’s volleyball team gained its first conference victory of the season, beating UC San Diego in five games at Crawford Hall. Irvine broke a 17-match losing streak. . . . Irvine’s sailing team finished third in the Frils Trophy Regatta at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., last weekend. The competition was split into two divisions. Peter Wells and Jonathan Posner won Division A for Irvine.