PREP NOTES : Edison’s O’Bric Finalist for National Honor

Kerry O’Bric, a senior at Edison, has been selected as a California finalist for the 1995 Heisman High School Award, Bill Darnell, vice-president of Wendy’s, said Thursday.

The national program was created by Wendy’s, the National Assn. of Secondary School Principals and the Downtown Athletic Club of New York. It recognizes prep athletes who also have shown a commitment to academics and service.

O’Bric became a two-time All-American this summer by winning the heptathlon at the AAU National Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, for the second consecutive year.

She was a Times Orange County first-team selection in the triple jump last spring. O’Bric finished eighth at the State championships, but had her personal-best jump (37 feet 8 3/4 inches) at the Masters Meet.

O’Bric, who has a 4.2 grade-point average in Edison’s honors program, also is the point guard on the Chargers’ basketball team and was the No. 2 runner for the 1993 State champion cross-country team.

Principals at each of the nation’s 23,000 high schools were asked to nominate one male and one female to participate in the awards competition. O’Bric is one of 1,020 finalists. Judges will select the two winners, who will be honored during the national telecast for the Heisman Trophy award.

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The Huntington Beach girls’ volleyball team is ranked No. 1 in the nation this week in the USA Today rankings, which appeared Thursday.

The Oilers, 9-0, 3-0 in the Sunset League, took over the top spot from Chicago Mother McAuley, which lost its first match of the season last week. Huntington Beach also is ranked No. 1 in the state rankings.

Mater Dei (6-1, 2-1 in the South Coast League) fell two spots to No. 6 in the national rankings after losing a league match at No. 17 San Clemente (8-1, 3-0) on Tuesday.

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The Southern California Invitational water polo tournament begins today at 9 a.m. with top-seeded Foothill playing Novato and Corona del Mar playing Los Alamitos at Heritage Park in Irvine.

The tournament, which features four defending section champions--Long Beach Wilson (Southern, Division I), South Pasadena (Southern, Division III), Clovis (Central), Coronado (San Diego), continues Saturday at Heritage Park.

The semifinals are scheduled for 2:50 and 4 p.m. Saturday with the title game at 8:40 p.m.