Gina Heads Sets Weightlifting Marks

Gina Heads of Newport Harbor High set two national junior records in weightlifting late Sunday at the U.S. Open Championships in Kansas City, Mo., where she finished fourth in overall competition in the 167 1/2-pound class.

Heads lifted 95 kilos (209 pounds) in the clean and jerk for her first record, and combined with her 70 kilos (154 pounds) in the snatch competition, her overall score of 165 kilos (364 pounds) set another record.

Cara Heads, Gina’s sister, finished fourth in the 154-pound class with lifts of 67.5 kilos (149 pounds) in the snatch and 85 (187 pounds) in the clean and jerk.

The sisters qualified for July’s Olympic Festival.

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Eric Vallely of Newport Harbor signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at UCLA, Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said Monday.

Vallely, a 6-foot-2 setter, also considered Pepperdine and UC Santa Barbara. His father, John, played basketball for the Bruins on two of Coach John Wooden’s national championship teams, 1969 and ’70.

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After taking a one-year sabbatical, Jon Borchert will return to coach the Edison boys’ basketball team, said Larry Hirst, who coached the team last season.

Under Hirst, Edison finished fourth in the Sunset League but advanced to the Southern Section Division I-A final before losing to Mater Dei, 65-59.

Hirst, who previously was Borchert’s assistant, said he is content to resume his those duties.

“I was lucky to have that opportunity last season,” Hirst said. “I was blessed to have such a great team.”