Marina Fires Embattled Bonny; Valbuenas Return to Estancia

Pete Bonny was fired Friday as girls’ basketball coach at Marina High School, Athletic Director Paul Renfrow said.

In nine seasons, Bonny had a record of 223-58, guided the Vikings to at least a share of six Sunset League titles and took them to the 1998 Southern Section Division I-A title. But he had been under fire from Principal Carol Osbrink since February over a series of incidents in which he criticized referee Tom King, including comments made about King’s performance at a summer junior varsity tournament in late July.

Renfrow said a search is underway to find a replacement and that no decision has been made as to whether to retain assistant coaches Ron Uehle or Angie Kiel.

Bonny and Osbrink were unavailable for comment.

FOOTBALL

Twins Kenny and Danny Valbuena, who played football at Estancia High last season before transferring to Fountain Valley, are returning to Estancia, according to Eagle Coach Dave Perkins.

“They’re good athletes. They’re good kids and they are big,” Perkins said of the 6-foot-5, 220-pound juniors. “The day they checked out of Estancia they were in tears. They left because of a family situation.”

Kenny Valbuena started eight games at quarterback for Estancia and completed 89 of 215 passes for 1,154 yards. Danny Valbuena, a reserve receiver last season, is likely to start at tight end.

BASKETBALL

Laker Executive Vice President Jerry West will discuss the upcoming season for the NBA team at a press conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Arrowhead Pond. Laker forward Rick Fox also will attend the press conference, during which the Lakers will announce plans for an exhibition game against the Utah Jazz at the Pond on Oct. 28.

OLYMPICS

Three area coaches have been honored by the U.S. Olympic Committee for their work with American athletes.

Ignatius Rusli of Orange has been named national coach of the year for badminton. Hongping Li of Aliso Viejo was named developmental coach of the year for diving, and Larry Mays of La Palma was honored as developmental coach of the year for softball.

SOFTBALL

Eight county athletes will compete with 31 others for a spot on the 2000 U.S. Olympic softball team Sept. 2-4 in Midland, Mich.

Fifteen spots are open for the team that will represent the United States in Sydney, Australia. The team will be announced at a press conference Sept. 6 in San Diego.

The eight county players are: Suzy Brazney (Buena Park), Jennifer Brundage (Irvine), Lindsey Collins (Fountain Valley), Amanda Freed (Cypress), Michele Granger (Valencia), Nina Lindenberg (Canyon), Jenny Topping (La Habra) and Natasha Watley (Woodbridge).