Seniors’ Day in the Sun

The Class of ’99 includes those seniors who, because of their talent, potential or other circumstances, make them the ones to watch in the coming school year.

BASEBALL

* Pat Manning, Mater Dei--Hard-hitting shortstop was the only county player named to the 17-and-under USA Baseball Junior National team. All-county player recently committed, orally, to USC.

BOYS’ BADMINTON

* Tam Nguyen, Garden Grove--Went 61-7 after an 11-5 start, including an upset of the SoCal Badminton Assn. player of year. Led Argonauts to Division I finals.

GIRLS’ BADMINTON

* Cynthia Tran, Garden Grove--Tran was 48-0 before losing in the section individual finals but avenged that loss a week later, though the Argonauts fell short in the team finals.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

* Tony Dow, Ocean View--Division III player of the year led Seahawks to III-AA title and is regarded as one of the most complete point guards in Southern California.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

* Colleen Turnbull, San Clemente--Dominant start and finish as a junior, now tries to put together a solid middle for team trying to win its first section championship.

BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

* Jose Herrera, Loara--Avenged his only league loss by beating Katella’s Danny Mejia in the Empire League finals, took fourth at Division II finals, ninth at state.

GIRLS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

* Allyson Marquand, University--Two-time Times Orange County runner of the year returns after dismissal from team last season in a dispute with coaches.

FIELD HOCKEY

* Ann Wiles, Edison--Poised and speedy, a great stick-handler with a phenomenal drive to the goal. Wiles can take over a game.

FOOTBALL

* Bernard Riley, Los Alamitos--Many colleges want a piece of Riley, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive tackle who gets a piece of a lot of ball carriers. Has helped put the Griffins on top again.

BOYS’ GOLF

* Alex Oh, Brea Olinda--Oh was The Times player of the year after he shot 69 to take second in the finals of the CIF-Southern California Golf Assn., and 70 in the regionals.

GIRLS’ GOLF

* Candie Kung, Fountain Valley--Won the Southern California Golf Assn., girls’ title last spring with five-stroke victory. Will compete on Barons’ boys’ team in spring but is eligible for girls’ section title this fall.

BOYS’ SOCCER

* Kevin Friedland, Woodbridge--Not only a scoring threat, Friedland is an athletic, acrobatic defender who helped Woodbridge to county-high 18 shutouts.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

* Lauren Orlandos, El Toro--Orlandos, a Times all-county performer, may have been a defender, but she scored 13 goals for the Chargers last season.

SOFTBALL

* Marissa Young, Mater Dei--Pitcher tries to return to her pre-injury form that made her a freshman phenom and The Times Orange County player of the year.

BOYS’ SWIMMING

* Daniel Kim, Irvine--Two-time section champion (100 breaststroke) is one of the few county swimmers who already has a senior national qualifying time (200 breaststroke).

BOYS’ TENNIS

* Cody Jackson, Los Alamitos--Reached Round of 16 in section tournament last season but tries to regain the form he used to win the Ojai 16s championship two years ago.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

* Danielle Hustedt, Woodbridge--Reached the section doubles semifinals with Adriana Hockicko, and helped the third-ranked Warriors reach the Division I semifinals.

BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD

* Christian Kemp, Mission Viejo--Kemp was second to teammate Mark Gleason, Times O.C. track athlete of the year, in Division II 880 meters final, but beat him in league finals.

GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD

* Amanda Shanklin, Santa Margarita--Shanklin took eighth in the state in the 300 low hurdles, and won the section Division II title in the triple jump.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

* Dennis Alshuler, Corona del Mar--An effective hitter, tough blocker and strong all-around player, the 6-foot-5 Alshuler helped his team win its first section title since 1989.

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

* Chanda McLeod, Marina--One of county’s premier players who led underdog Marina to section and state titles last fall, then led basketball team to section title in winter.

BOYS’ WATER POLO

* Nick Pacelli, Villa Park--A two-meter man instrumental in Spartans’ success, Pacelli is next in line of Villa Park standouts, including Kyle Baumgarner and Gavin Arroyo.

GIRLS’ WATER POLO

* Ashley Stachowksi, Capistrano Valley--Versatile all-county two-meter player with great balance and reach, this highly regarded club player is one of the county’s best defenders.

WRESTLING

* Jose Najera, Santa Ana--The Times Orange County wrestler of the year took second in state at 112 pounds (losing 4-3), finished 49-7, and defeated the defending state champion.