Skieresz, Seven-Time NCAA Champ, Says College Career Over

Distance runner Amy Skieresz of Arizona, a seven-time NCAA champion in track and cross-country, won’t run for the Wildcats this season and says her college athletic career is over.

Skieresz, a 1995 graduate of Agoura High, won the women’s 5,000 and 10,000 meters in the 1997 and 1998 NCAA outdoor track championships, but she has been slowed by injuries since the end of cross-country season.

Skieresz, who is two NCAA titles short of the record set by Wisconsin’s Suzy Favor, is eligible to compete in indoor and outdoor track next year. But she expects to graduate in December with a bachelor’s degree in English.

“I’m ready to move on,” said Skieresz, the 1996 NCAA cross-country champion. “I’ve had an absolutely wonderful career here at Arizona. The last few months haven’t gone how I would have liked, but I have no regrets.”

SOCCER

* Ashley Scott, a junior midfielder for the Cal Lutheran women’s team, has been selected a scholar athlete by the National Soccer Coaches Assn. of America.

Scott, from Phoenix, had a 3.77 grade-point average and was the only nonsenior on the 11-person team, which included members from NCAA Division I, II and III programs. Scott also was selected to the NSCAA West Region third team.

Dan Kuntz, sixth-year coach for the Regals, was chosen NSCAA West Region coach of the year. Kuntz is 89-26-2 with the Regals and has coached the Kingsmen to a 73-40-7 record.

Oskar Kantoft, a Kingsmen senior forward from Malmo, Sweden, was a third-team NSCAA scholar athlete.

NSCAA all-region award winners for the Kingsmen were: Charlie Noble, sophomore forward, first team; Scott Porter, senior midfielder, first team; Jose Melgoza, junior midfielder, first team; Luis Alcaraz, senior defender, second team.

Other NSCAA all-region honorees for the Regals were: Christina Rasmussen, sophomore forward, first team; Betsy Fisch, sophomore midfielder, first team; Jennifer Agostino, sophomore forward, second team; Alia Khan, sophomore midfielder, second team; Holly Roepke, senior forward, third team.

* Jennifer Preston, a defender for Newbury Park High, has committed to play at Ohio Wesleyan, an NCAA Division III school. Preston was an All-Marmonte League selection the last two seasons.

BASKETBALL

* Alan Thomas, an All-Western State Conference guard at Valley College, has accepted a scholarship to Hawaii-Hilo. Thomas, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, averaged 14.8 points for the Monarchs and was selected team most valuable player.

* Sammy Delrahim, a sophomore who averaged 35.5 points for Stoneridge Prep, a small school in Tarzana, said he has been accepted to Harvard-Westlake and will transfer there in the fall.

* Three players from Southern Section Division III-A champion Chaminade have decided on their college choices. Cayce Cook and Darren Tarlow will attend Redlands and Clarence Mitchell will enroll at Pomona College.

* The Cal Lutheran three-on-three youth basketball tournament is scheduled for Saturday at the university.

Kingsmen Coach Rich Rider will conduct two sessions of students in five divisions of officiated games.

Fee is $12 per player. Information: (805) 493-3404.

BASEBALL

* Crescenta Valley High will distribute free Dodger souvenirs to the first 250 children wearing their elementary school T-shirt at the Falcons’ Pacific League game against Hoover on Friday night at Stengel Field in Glendale.

VOLLEYBALL

* Brandan Butchart, a 6-4 outside hitter for Quartz Hill High, has committed to Cal State Northridge.