Notre Dame Lands Transfer

Travis Johnson, a former Oak Park High football and basketball player, transferred to Notre Dame on Tuesday, Notre Dame Athletic Director Kevin Rooney said.

Johnson, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound sophomore, was a key reserve on the 1996-97 Oak Park basketball team that won its fourth consecutive Tri-Valley League title. He was also a standout on the Eagles freshman football team and was projected as a two-way starter this season for the Oak Park varsity.

Running back Justin Fargas of Notre Dame and quarterback Ryan McCann of Agoura were among 11 seniors from California chosen to the 100-member Reebok preseason All-American High School Football team.

The Simi Valley Swarm tuned up for its home opener by routing the Antelope Valley Crusaders, 42-6, in a Pacific Football League game Saturday at Palmdale High.

The Swarm (1-1, 1-0 in the Southern Division) held Antelope Valley (0-1, 0-1) to less than 50 yards in offense and scored on every possession through three quarters. Quarterback Cesar Parra rebounded from a poor opener by passing for 91 yards and two touchdowns and former UCLA running back Thaddeus Massey rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

The Swarm, a first-year minor league team, will begin a six-game home schedule at Simi Valley High at 7 p.m. Saturday against the Fresno Bandits, last year’s Minor League Super Bowl champions.

VOLLEYBALL

Hoover High volleyball Coach Judy Thomsen has resigned after 16 years with the Tornadoes.

Thomsen, who led the boys to the Southern Section Division I quarterfinals last season, is devoting more time to her role as the girls’ athletic director.

Thomsen began the girls’ volleyball program in 1981 and the boys’ program in 1987.

Chris Sang Hong, a former Hoover setter and a boys’ assistant last season, will take over both teams.

SOCCER

The Cal State Northridge women’s soccer team is picked to finish second in the inaugural season of the six-team Big Sky Conference.

Montana, ranked No. 6 in the preseason NCAA West Region poll, is picked to win the conference. The Grizzlies were 15-4-1 last season and received five first-place votes.

Northridge, 4-15-1 a year ago, received the remaining first-place vote. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

TENNIS

Paul Xanthos, formerly the tennis coach at Pierce College, has been inducted into the Athletic Hellenic Hall of Fame.

SOFTBALL

The Simi Valley Girls Softball 12-and-under and 10-and-under teams won Western National championships recently. The 12-and-under team, behind the pitching of Kirstie Kenton and Jordan McPherson and leading hitter Jenessa Allen, finished 11-1 at the national tournament in Canby, Ore. The 10-and-under team went 6-1 in winning the national championship in Sun City, Calif. The team also won state and district championships while compiling a 41-4 record this summer.

“Everybody contributed for us, that was the kind of chemistry we had,” said 10-and-under Manager Curt Howard.

“We weren’t going to be denied.”