Santa Margarita’s Giroux Signs With UCLA

Santa Margarita midfielder Norman Giroux has signed a letter of intent to play soccer at UCLA, Eagle Coach Curt Bauer said Wednesday.

Giroux didn’t play for Santa Margarita last season and was out most of this season with a knee injury. But since he returned to the lineup, the third-ranked Eagles have gone 6-0.

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Nick Sparks, a Times second-team all-county kicker from Santa Margarita, will attend Harvard next fall, Eagles football Coach Jim Hartigan said.

Sparks holds 20 school records, including single-season PATs (75 of 77, county record) and field goals (12 of 16). His 111 points is a state record for kickers; he was a first-team All-Southern Section. His longest field goal was 46 yards.

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Jason Hitchens has been hired as El Modena’s football coach, Athletic Director Don Mott said Wednesday.

Hitchens was the Vanguards’ defensive coordinator last season. He spent the previous five seasons as an assistant at Santa Margarita.

Hitchens replaces Steve Howard, who resigned as coach but remains at the school as a teacher.