Marina’s Yokouchi to Swim at California

Marina’s Kyoko Yokouchi, winner of the 100-yard backstroke at the Southern Section Division I finals last spring, has committed to swim at California, said David Salo, her coach with the Irvine Novaquatics.

Yokouchi, who also specializes in the individual medley, has posted senior national times in the 100 and 200 backstrokes. Her section final time was 56.19 seconds. She earned first-team all-county honors by The Times last season when she helped the Vikings win the Sunset League championship.

VOLLEYBALL

Michelle Kyman, who was hired in August as girls’ volleyball coach at El Toro High, also will be the boys’ volleyball coach, Athletic Director John Johansen said.

Kyman has helped turn the girls’ program around this season after the Chargers won only two matches last year. Her husband, Coley, an assistant coach with the girls’ team, will serve in the same capacity with the boys’ team.

Michelle Kyman, formerly Michelle Mauney, was an All-Orange County player in 1990 and helped El Toro reach the Southern Section 5-A semifinals before she moved on to play at UCLA. She returned to El Toro, where she is a substitute teacher, after playing professionally in Holland.

She replaces Harry Brooks, who took over last year for Doug O’Brien, who left the position to go into private business in 1998.

SOCCER

Cal State Fullerton soccer player Art Ramirez will be sidelined for the rest of the season because of a fractured clavicle, an athletic department spokesman said.

Ramirez, a junior midfielder from Huntington Beach who has six goals and four assists this season, suffered the injury during Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Air Force in the Pacific Soccer Classic at UCLA.

Fullerton (14-4, 5-1) plays UCLA (15-1, 6-0) Sunday at UCLA in the final game of the regular season.