Knee Problems Cause Bennett to Step Down

Dave Bennett has resigned as football coach at Harvard-Westlake High because of pain from knee problems.

He’ll be replaced by assistant Chris Johnson, who has been with the program for seven years.

Bennett, Wolverine coach since 1993, is moving back to his hometown of Wilbraham, Mass. He guided the Wolverines to three league championships, five playoff appearances and a record of 43-37-1.

TENNIS

* Top-seeded Ryan Heinberg of Agoura advanced to the boys’ 18 singles semifinals of the 98th annual Southern California Junior Sectional Tennis Championships by defeating Scott Spencer of Rolling Hills, 4-6, 7-6, 6-0, at Los Cabelleros Sports Village in Fountain Valley.

Unseeded Gary Sacks of Calabasas advanced in boys’ 14s by defeating Jonathan Sanchez of Fullerton, 6-2, 6-4.

Jessica Nguyen of Chatsworth advanced to the semifinals in girls’ 12s with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Kristen McVitty of Woodland Hills.

In doubles, the No. 2-seeded team of Quinn Borchard of Camarillo and Paul Warkentin of Santa Barbara defeated Tim Mullane and Amir Nejad, both of Westlake Village, 7-5, 6-4, in the quarterfinals.

The fourth-seeded team of Heinberg and Amir Mirandy of Woodland Hills defeated Chris Dennis of Redondo Beach and Ari Rosenthal of Pacific Palisades, 7-5, 6-2.

No. 3-seeded Jieun Jacobs of Valencia and Meagan Caldwell of Encinitas will play in a girls’ 18 doubles semifinal at 3:30 today.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

* Miami third baseman Kevin Howard of Westlake was named freshman co-player of the year by Collegiate Baseball, along with relief pitcher Zane Carlson of Baylor and second baseman Mike Fontenot of College World Series champion Louisiana State.

Howard, 1998 Times’ Ventura County player of the year, hit .414 with 29 doubles, four home runs and 47 runs batted in.

Howard was voted most valuable player for the Hurricanes.

MOTORSPORTS

* Bryan Herta of Valencia, provisionally qualified 22nd for Sunday’s Freightliner/G.I. Joe’s 200 at Portland International Raceway, clocking 115.593 mph in a Reynard-Mercedes despite having never driven the car before Friday.

Herta is substituting for injured Tony Kanaan.

Final qualifications are today.

SWIMMING

* Buena High graduate Ian Prichard of Buenaventura Swim Club placed ninth with a time of 8:22.76 in the men’s 800 meters in the only event of the day Thursday in the Mission Viejo Meet of Champions at Marguerite Recreation Complex.

The race was won by Japanese Olympic team member Masato Hirano in a meet-record time of 8:01.88. Notre Dame High graduate Joel Everman of USC’s Trojan Swim Club placed 15th in 8:30.49.

Granada Hills High graduate Jennifer Parmenter was 15th in the women’s 800 meters in 9:09.53.