Rabbitt Now Running a Classroom

Buffy Rabbitt, a two-time NCAA Region 8 cross-country champion at UC Irvine, is still on the run. But the course has changed.

Tuesday was her 100th day as a first-grade teacher at Fairhaven Elementary School in Santa Ana. Think running in the NCAA meet is tough? Try keeping up with first graders.

“Sometimes, after the day is done, I’m as exhausted as if I ran a race,” said Rabbitt, the top women’s distance runner in Anteater history. “But the kids are more and more endearing all the time. I have to start writing down some of the things they say.”

Those who know Rabbitt, 29, and those who will see her honored Saturday at Irvine’s homecoming brunch, might be surprised that she stands in front of people and speaks, even if it is only to children.

Rabbitt--who will be inducted into the hall of fame with former basketball coach Bill Mulligan, water polo player Jeff Campbell and golfer Jerry Wisz--was a five-time All-American in cross-country and track, a testimony to her determination as a runner. Away from the competition, her personality changed. “She was fierce when she ran,” track and cross-country Coach Vince O’Boyle said. “Away from the track, she was docile and always wanting to help. If you asked her to go wash your car, she would probably go do it.”

She has channeled the on-track and off-track personalities into teaching.

Rabbitt, a Newport Harbor High School graduate who ran for Irvine from 1986 to 1990, was forced to retire from competition because of a leg injury after the 1992 Olympic trials. Her next step was hard, down the career path.

She worked for the Boy Scouts of America as a field representative from 1994 to 1996, which led her to teaching.

“I recruited volunteers, set up pack units and troops, recruited kids, met with community leaders and helped raise money,” Rabbitt said. “I found out that my favorite part of the job was visiting with the kids.

“I’m not one of those teachers who knew they wanted to teach all their lives. I couldn’t imagine speaking in front of a group of potentially bratty, irksome kids like the ones I grew up with. But the last four years, I knew I wanted to teach.”

She went back to Irvine to get her credential and landed a job at Fairhaven.

“I really wanted to impact youth in regards to environmental issues,” Rabbitt said “I am concerned how the world is deteriorating. I knew we had to get to the youth in order to make a lasting difference. It’s too late with adults. We have to reach the younger generation.”

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The Irvine women’s basketball team is gathering no moss these days, rolling as it did a year ago, when the Anteaters reached the Big West Conference tournament championship game. They have won six of seven games, losing only to Western Division-leading UC Santa Barbara.

Two big reasons:

Forward Leticia Oseguera has recovered from a broken left hand and is dominating games again--she became the school’s career rebound leader Sunday. She was named the conference’s co-player of the week after averaging 19.5 points and 15.5 rebounds in two games against Fullerton.

Sophomore Megan Stafford is again playing like one of the bright point guards on the West Coast, as she did a year ago. She averaged 12 points and 7.5 assists last week. She is already fifth on the school’s all-time list in assists.

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What does women’s basketball Coach Mark Adams deal with daily? How about center Chelsea Mackey, who basically outwits him on a regular basis.

Recently, Adams complimented Mackey on her play in practice, saying it had improved from the previous day.

Mackey: “Coach, I have a fat final on Tuesday and another one on Wednesday.”

Adams: “You’re supposed to leave those things at the gym door.”

Mackey: “I do, but they have keys. They get in.”

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So, was the Irvine men’s team playing over its head when it won four of its first six conference games? Probably.

Have the Anteaters hit the wall in losing five consecutive games? Probably.

Does it make for an unsuccessful season? Probably not.

Even if the Anteaters don’t win another game--which is not a far-fetched notion--seven victories this season is a giant step forward. The unmasking of their numerous weaknesses in recent games only underscores that.

“Our youth and lack of ability might have finally caught up with us,” Coach Pat Douglass said after Saturday’s 85-66 loss to Cal State Fullerton.

Especially on offense. Other than forward Adam Stetson, finding the player or players who will contribute on offense is a biweekly game show. (Coach, do you want what’s behind door No. 3 or do you want to keep Lamarr Parker?)

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Despite the recent skid, student interest is on the rise. Larger clusters of occasionally loud fans are in attendance.

It is partly due to a marketing campaign that gives 200 free tickets to a student group for Thursday home games, provided they meet the dress code--painted faces, basketball on the head, net around the neck, etc.

Anteater Notes

The UCI Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is taking donations of usable shoes at Thursday night’s basketball game to help needy men, women and children. The first 10 people will receive a free lift ticket to Bear Mountain. . . . The men’s volleyball team was ranked 14th in the nation in the American Volleyball Coaches Assn. poll. Nine of the top 15 teams are from the Mountain Pacific Conference. . . . Irvine’s track team had solid performances in the rain-delayed Jack Rose Relays Monday. The men’s distance medley team ( Robert Frichtel, Peter Cifelli, Mike Murray, Doug Frichtel) finished first with a time of 10 minutes 17.2 seconds. The women’s 400-meter team (Florence Sterni, Anna Datta, Heather Perrin, Khara Covington) finished first in 48.57.

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Coming Attractions

Key events this week for UC Irvine:

* Men’s volleyball plays at Cal State Northridge tonight and hosts 10th-ranked UC Santa Barbara 4 p.m. Saturday. The Anteaters are ranked 14th in the nation.

* Men’s basketball hosts Long Beach State Thursday and Pacific Saturday. Both games begin at 7 p.m. The Anteaters need to win at least one to stay in the race for the conference tournament.

* Women’s basketball plays at Long Beach State at 7:30 p.m. Friday and at Pacific at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Anteaters have won six of seven games.

* Men’s and women’s swimming hosts the Big West Conference championships Thursday through Saturday at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach. Irvine junior Arika Earley is considered a favorite in the diving competition.

* Men’s tennis hosts Oregon at noon Saturday. Irvine has had three of its past five matches rained out.

* Women’s tennis plays at Cal State Fullerton at 2 p.m. Thursday. Darian Chappell and Liz Yim are 4-1 at No. 1 doubles.