Hometowns to Welcome Their Olympians

Sports fans across Ventura County are planning big celebrations for three returning U.S. Olympians. Two of them, Justin Huish and Kim Maher, are bringing home the first gold medals to be awarded to county residents in 32 years.

In Simi Valley, home to champion archer Huish, 21, his neighbors on Broken Arrow Street say they plan to throw a party Tuesday to rival the Fourth of July. And in Ventura, the City Council will issue a special proclamation to 24-year-old Maher, a former Buena High School softball star who helped the U.S. softball team win gold in a 3-1 triumph over China.

And residents of Oxnard intend to hold a homecoming parade today for the city’s two favorite hometown boxers--Fernando Vargas, the 18-year-old U.S. fighter who was eliminated in the second round of competition during a controversial bout against Romanian Marian Simion, and Carlos Martinez, who boxed for Mexico. Martinez was eliminated in the first round of competition.

To be sure, Olympic memories will forever be with both boxers, but Huish, a 1992 Simi Valley High School graduate, and Maher, who graduated two years earlier, will join that small group of Ventura County residents who have returned with Olympic gold.

Not since the 1964 Tokyo Games, where then 30-year-old Mike Larrabee Sr. won two gold medals--one in the 400-meter dash and the other in the 4-by-400-meter relay, has Olympic gold been mined by a resident of Ventura County.

Ventura High eventually named its sports stadium after Larrabee. Is there a Bulldog stadium in Maher’s future? Perhaps a Huish Pioneer Arena? That will be up to school officials to decide over time.

On Thursday, Huish defeated Sweden’s Magnus Petersson to win the men’s individual 70-meter archery event. The win came two days after a run by center fielder Maher helped her softball team win gold against China.

Maher, who pitched at Buena, is the school’s all-time leader in career wins and wins in a single season. She left Fresno State after four years as an all-time leader in doubles, runs batted in, runs and home runs.

Her gold medal in Atlanta “will bring a lot of prestige to Ventura,” said Madeline Jones, who is helping coordinate Maher’s welcome home party. A planning session for the event will take place at 10 a.m. today in the atrium of Ventura City Hall. Anyone interested in helping is encouraged to attend.

Jones called Maher an inspiration to other young people.

“I spoke to one girl who said, ‘I thought I was good, but when Kim came along I knew she was Olympic material,’ ” Jones said.

While at Buena, Maher also excelled at soccer. Pattie Leivas, 25, of Ventura, who played alongside Maher, was not surprised that she took gold in the Centennial Olympic Games.

*

“She was awesome at soccer,” Leivas said, “and she turned out to be even better at softball.”

Maher played softball as a way “to keep busy and keep out of trouble,” said her father, Bill. “We wanted to keep her away from any bad influences.”

There was no one in her family to model herself after when it came to sports, and only herself to rely on when it came to honing her skills. “She didn’t look up to anyone, she led,” said her father.

Former Bulldog softball coach Sharon Coggins heard about Maher’s abilities on the field before she even made it to Buena High. What set Kim apart from the other players, Coggins said, was her swing.

“She had a sweet swing. Just a beautiful, beautiful swing,” Coggins said.

If style set Maher apart from the other players, Huish has determination to thank for his success, according to Ed Lyneis, 60, of Simi Valley, an amateur archer who has known Huish and his family for about four years.

*

“Knowing his attitude and knowing what he wants to accomplish, I could almost see the gold medal coming,” Lyneis said.

What was surprising, however, is that “we beat the South Koreans,” Lyneis said. “The Koreans are ahead of us as far as training goes . . . They train day in and day out with such intensity that it isn’t any fun.”

Huish, who has been known to take his recurve bow across the street from his home and practice by shooting arrows at a target set up in his garage, is an entirely different type of sportsman.

“It comes down to his attire,” Lyneis said. “His hat turned backwards, his funny sunglasses and his baggy pants.”

Then there’s the ponytail, but no one questions any of it, Lyneis said. “His attitude makes it more enjoyable.”

When Huish arrives home on Tuesday, he’ll find flags flying on both sides of the street, said Win Wood, who lives two doors from the Huish family.

“Everybody in the neighborhood is excited, ecstatic,” said Wood.

Laura Herron, Simi Valley assistant city manager, said the City Council will likely present Justin with an honorary resolution at a council meeting.

“We’re pretty excited for him,” Herron said.

Huish’s father, Bernie, said he was surprised that his son won Olympic gold.

“The U.S. was favored in the team events, and not the individuals,” said Huish, who with his wife, Ona, once owned an archery supply store in Simi Valley.

The elder Huish, who was on hand in Atlanta for his son’s accomplishment, said by telephone: “He just overpowered his competition today. He just plowed through them.”

Best of all, his victorious son handled himself like a real pro.

“The amateur sports ranks need people like that,” said Huish, “It reinforces what the Olympics are all about.”

Times correspondent Jason Terada and staff writer Lorenza Mun~oz contributed to this story.