Jet Jam Is Set for a Return Engagement

The Santa Ana riverbed adjacent to the Pond of Anaheim will be filled with 20 million gallons of fresh water again this summer, when Jet Jam returns Aug. 15-17.

Jet Jam ‘97’s main event will be the “Race of Champions,” which features the world’s top professional personal watercraft teams racing in International Jet Sports Boating Assn. competitions.

New this year will be professional wakeboarding competition, which features towed riders performing acrobatic maneuvers on a small board with footstraps.

The festival includes live music daily, a headlining act each evening, a fun zone, car and truck show, Manufacturers Midway, Food Fair and a Lifestyle Expo. Last year, 45,134 attended the three-day event.

The complex will be open from noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Admission on Friday is $12.50 in advance, $15 at the door; on Saturday and Sunday, it’s $15 in advance, $17 at the door. A limited number of on-the-water reserved seats are available for $25 each day. Children ages 6-12 are half-price, under 6 are free.

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Rod Perry Jr., Mater Dei wide receiver, has been selected to play in the All-American Bowl, the July 4 weekend in Palms Garden, Fla., Monarch Coach Bruce Rollinson said.

Perry, a Times Orange County all-county selection and the state Division I player of the year, is among 70 graduating seniors selected for the game.

Perry, who is headed to USC to play football and baseball, caught 78 passes for 1,493 yards and scored 19 touchdowns to help Mater Dei finish 14-0 and win the section Division I championship.

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UCLA setter Brandon Taliaferro, from San Clemente High, earned Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men’s volleyball all-conference honors and was also named the freshman of the year, helping the Bruins win their fifth consecutive conference title.

UC Irvine’s Chris Harger earned third-team honors with Taliaferro and Long Beach State’s Gaby Amar earned second-team honors. Stanford’s Matt Fuerbringer, from Estancia High, and UCLA’s Paul Nihipali, from Esperanza High, earned first-team honors.

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The Anaheim Bullfrogs will hold a free-agent tryout for prospective professional roller hockey players May 19-21 at Stuart’s Roller World in Fullerton. Players must be at least 18, have their own equipment and pay a $60 registration fee. May 12 is the registration deadline. For more information, contact Darren Jessee at (714) 939-7663.

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Jon Chelesnik will call the play-by-play action on KPLS-AM 830 for the Piranhas of the Arena Football League this season. Chelesnik has been a sports anchor and talk-show host at XTRA Sports 690 since 1993.

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Kevin Staniec, a Los Alamitos basketball player, has agreed to attend Chapman, Griffin Coach Steve Brooks said.

Staniec had also considered Chico State and Humboldt State.

Staniec, 6 feet 3, averaged 12.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and three assists in helping Los Alamitos (23-4) win the Sunset League title. Staniec, who was among the county’s three-point leaders at 39%, was a first-team All-Sunset League selection.

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Tim Gerlach, a Santa Margarita middle blocker/outside hitter, has signed with Pacific, his father, Ron Gerlach, said. Tim Gerlach was an All-Sea View League selection this past season and played on the 1996 U.S. Youth National team.

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Marc Rodieck, from Fullerton College and Esperanza High, orally committed to play men’s soccer at Southern California College. Rodieck, a forward, was a first-team All-Mission Conference selection this season and was the Southern Section Division I player of the year in 1996.

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Linda Van Hook, a Calvary Chapel softball player, has accepted a scholarship to attend Drexel (Pa.) University, father Kris Van Hook said. Linda, 17, had also considered Campbell University in North Carolina, and Wayne State in Nebraska.

Van Hook has a 7-1 record for Calvary Chapel this season, which is a favorite to win the Olympic League.