USC Receives Commitment From Guenther

Gregg Guenther, a defensive end and tight end at Taft High, has committed to USC.

A 6-foot-8, 255-pounder, Guenther said he chose USC over UCLA, Ohio State and Michigan.

“I really like Coach [Paul] Hackett and his staff,” Guenther said. “I really feel like they’re on the way back up.”

Guenther, who also cited proximity to home as a reason for his decision, is known for his ability to stop the run.

Also a top basketball player, Guenther transferred to Taft from Crespi after the last school year.

* Quarterback Casey Clausen of Alemany will announce his college choice Friday.

Tennessee remains the favorite over Colorado, according to recruiting observers.

BASEBALL

* Jason Wigginton, winning pitcher for Cleveland High in the City Division championship game in June, has been denied another year of eligibility by the City Section.

Wigginton, who will begin his fifth year of high school, overcame academic and personal troubles to play varsity baseball for the first time last spring, finishing with a 5-1 record and 2.54 earned-run average.

According to a Cleveland administrator, Wigginton probably will appeal to a three-person panel chaired by Willie Crittendon, City operations administrator.

* Mitch Miller has been hired to replace Josh Smaler as coach at Harvard-Westlake.

Miller has served as a private coach in West L.A. and worked with several professional teams.

GOLF

Brian O’Flaherty of Westlake Village overcame strong winds to remain in second place after two rounds of the Lucent Western Canadian Junior at Glencoe Golf and Country Club in Calgary.

O’Flaherty is at 72-75--147, four strokes behind Blake Brown of Atascadero entering the final round.

VOLLEYBALL

* Dave Arone, boys’ and girls’ coach at Calabasas High, has resigned to become an assistant women’s coach at USC.

Charles Gage, Calabasas junior varsity coach the last four years, will take over as girls’ coach.