Vanguard Advances in NAIA Tennis Tournament

Vanguard defeated 10th-ranked Oklahoma Christian, 5-0, Tuesday in the NAIA men’s tennis national championship at Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky. Stefan Johansson and Ollie Helminen defeated OCU’s No. 1 doubles team, 8-5, and Peter Skreczynski and Josef Stromberg won the No. 2 doubles match, 8-5. OCU (14-14) defaulted on the next three matches to give Vanguard the victory since NAIA tournament determines the winner by the first team that scores five points.

This afternoon, the Lions will play the winner of the Azusa Pacific-Graceland (Iowa) match.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Keith Calkins has resigned as athletic director at Saddleback College, a post he has held for 20 years. Calkins has asked that he be reassigned to a teaching position for the next school year.

TRACK AND FIELD

Meghan Atkinson of Santa Margarita High has accepted a track and fieldscholarship to attend Long Beach State, her high school announced.

Atkinson runs the 100, 200, 400 and both relays. Last weekend, she finished second in 400 final at the Southern Section Division III meet and sixth in the 200.

ACADEMICS

Johann Appell, a track and field athlete from Costa Mesa and Long Beach State, and Ed Ratledge, a volleyball player from Fountain Valley and UCLA, have earned places on GTE’s Academic All-America All-District VIII men’s at-large team for spring sports.

Darian Chappell, a tennis player from UC Irvine, made the women’s team.

The District VIII winners advance to the national ballot. Winners will be announced June 15.

To be eligible for the award, the athletes must have at least a 3.2 grade-point average, be a starter or top reserve, and in at least their second season at their current school. Schools from Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and British Columbia comprise District VIII.