Anteaters Named to U.S. National Teams

Four UC Irvine water polo players and one Anteater volleyball player were named to the U.S. team for the World University Games, Aug. 23-30 in Palermo, Italy.

Omar Amr, Ryan Bailey, Dan Klatt and Craig Watson were named to the water polo team. Amr and Bailey were second-team All-Americans last season.

Chris Harger, who was named to the volleyball team, also was a second-team All-American last season.

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Former NBA players will be featured in an exhibition game against Athletes in Action at 7 p.m. Thursday at Aliso Niguel High.

The Local Pros team will feature former UC Irvine players Bob Thornton, Scott Brooks and Wayne Englestadt. All spent time in the NBA.

Laker forward Sean Rooks also is expected to play.

Tickets are $3 for adults and $1 for children, with proceeds to benefit Athletes in Action.

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The National Junior Water Polo Tournament, which features 284 boys’ and girls’ age-group teams from the United States, will be held daily in Orange County, beginning Sunday. The tournament, in San Jose last year, has three divisions: 13-under, 15-under and 17-under.

Preliminary rounds will be at El Toro, Newport Harbor, Corona del Mar, Villa Park, El Dorado, Brea Olinda, Esperanza, Valencia and Katella high schools. Game times are 7:15 a.m. and 8 a.m.

The girls’ championship games will be Aug. 6 at El Toro. The boys’ championship games will be Aug. 9 at El Toro.

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James Maldonado, who played wide receiver for the Orange Coast football team last year, has signed a letter of intent to attend Kent (Ohio) University, Coach Bill Workman said.

Maldonado tied Marquis Battle and Mike Knox for the team lead in receptions (20), including one for a touchdown last season.