Four Former UCI Players Join National Team

U.S. national men’s water polo Coach Ratko Rudic Thursday announced the team for the Pan American qualification tournament next week in the Dominican Republic. The top two finishers qualify for the FINA World Championships this summer in Japan.

The team has a strong UC Irvine presence. Ryan Bailey, a former Anteater two-meter man, is among five former Olympians on the team, which is rebuilding after a sixth-place finish at Sydney. Three other former Anteaters--Omar Amr, also formerly of Sunny Hills High, goalkeeper Genai Kerr and Jeff Powers--and Larry Felix, a former El Dorado High and Pepperdine player, will make the trip, their first appearances on the U.S. team for a major international event.

TRACK AND FIELD

The county’s top-ranked boys’ and girls’ teams will compete Saturday at the Surf City Invitational at Huntington Beach High.

Tustin, which took over the top spot in the boys’ poll after winning the Irvine Invitational two weeks ago, is led by Alex Marbley, who cleared 6-10 in the high jump twice in the last six days, the best mark by a county athlete since 1997.

Mission Viejo will be led by Dana Bethel, The Times’ Orange County girls’ track athlete of the year in 1999, who went 18-10 in the long jump Saturday at the Katella Relays.

Woodbridge, ranked second in the county behind the Diablos, is also entered in the meet and is led by sophomore Michelle Sanford, the defending state champion in the long jump.

BASKETBALL

Kyle Egkan, a Villa Park forward, has signed with Point Loma Nazarene, according to his coach, Kevin Reynolds. Egkan is the second Spartan to sign with the San Diego school, joining teammate Matt MacGinnis.

Also, Villa Park guard Tommy Stankan has signed with Vanguard. Stankan averaged nine points and two steals this season for the Spartans.

Egkan averaged nine points and eight rebounds. MacGinnis averaged 14.4 points and 4.5 assists.

TENNIS

Natalie Braverman, a junior at Newport Harbor High, advanced to Saturday’s semifinals of Long Beach girls’ 18 tournament with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over sixth-seeded Anne Yelsey of Corona del Mar.

In the first round, Braverman upset third-seeded Lauren Perl of San Diego, 6-1, 6-4. Braverman will meet top-seeded Kim-Ahn Nguyen of Saddleback in the semifinals.

SOCCER

Alie Nunez, the all-time leading scorer for the Cypress women’s soccer team, has signed with UC Irvine. Nunez, a graduate of Valencia High, scored 71 goals in two seasons at Cypress.

MARTIAL ARTS

The California State Taekwondo Assn. will host its 21st Junior Olympic Championships from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Participants must be between 6 and 17 years old and have black belts and color belts.

Winners will represent the state at the National Junior Olympics, July 2-7 in Tampa, Fla.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for children 6-17 and free for children 5 and under.

For more information, call (949) 348-2977.