Haddan Wins County Title in Record Time

Junior Michael Haddan of Irvine Woodbridge set a course record to win the boys’ sweepstakes race of the Orange County cross-country championships at Irvine Regional Park on Saturday.

Haddan, the defending state champion in the 800 meters in track, clocked 14 minutes 37 seconds over the three-mile course to remain unbeaten and lower the previous course record of 14:45 set by William Feliciano of Cypress in 1984.

Senior David Napper of Cypress finished second in 14:50 and senior Juan Robles of Placentia Valencia was third in 14:58.

Haddan posted the fastest time in the county championships last year, but his 15:00 clocking came in winning the Division II title.

The sweepstakes races are usually reserved for the top 15-ranked boys’ and girls’ teams. But Orange County coaches voted earlier in the week to allow Haddan to run in the sweepstakes race because they wanted him to compete against the other top runners in the county.

Dana Point Dana Hills, the No. 8-ranked boys’ team in the Southland by The Times, won its first county title with a 76-point total in the meet. Anaheim Katella, ranked 10th, was second with 110 points and No. 2 Orange was third with 111.

Senior Alison Costello of No. 5 Anaheim Esperanza won the girls’ sweepstakes race in 17:30 to lead the Aztecs to their second consecutive title and third in five years.

Esperanza totaled 113 points, followed by No. 8 Dana Hills with 118 and No. 6 Fountain Valley with 138.

Senior Bethany Nickless and freshman Crystal Reed finished second and third for Fountain Valley with identical times of 17:42.

-- John Ortega

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The Long Beach Wilson boys’ water polo team didn’t let the tight confines at North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake ruin their mastery of the Wolverines. The Bruins defeated Harvard-Westlake, 8-6, in a nonleague game Saturday at Harvard-Westlake, its second victory over the Wolverines in eight days.

Wilson (17-0), ranked No. 1 by The Times, held the Wolverines to one goal in the second half after entering halftime tied, 6-6. The score was tied, 6-6, after three quarters. Thomas Hale scored his second goal with 4:53 remaining to break the tie and Paul Sherrin added an insurance goal with 2:11 to play. Matt Norris also scored twice to lead the Bruins.

Harvard-Westlake (14-2), ranked second, defeated Wilson, 9-7, in a nonleague game last season, its first win over the Bruins since 1991. But the Wolverines have been stymied since that victory, including a loss in the Southern Section Division I final last season and the S&R; Sport Cup tournament championship game last weekend.

--Dan Arritt

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Sarah Fansler, a freshman ranked No. 4 in Southern California in the U.S. Tennis Assn. girls’ 16 division, will not play any more matches this season for the Dana Hills girls’ tennis team, Coach Jim Wilson said Friday.

Fansler and her parents had agreed that she would play part-time for the Dolphins (8-2, 6-0 in South Coast League play), ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll and No. 4 in The Times’ rankings, primarily against stronger opponents.

“I didn’t know until two days ago,” he said. “She didn’t talk to me. Her stepfather just left a phone message that she wasn’t going to be playing and they were thinking of going in another direction.”

Fansler, who played only in matches against Palm Desert and Laguna Beach, could not be reached for comment.

There’s little doubt that it’s a new year and a new girls’ tennis team at Fullerton Troy.

The Warriors won the Southern Section Division II title last season with superior doubles strength and depth.

This season, Troy (8-3), ranked No. 2 in the Division II poll and No. 10 by The Times, has a stellar singles lineup but has been hurt by a lack of depth in its losses to No. 1 Palm Desert, No. 6 Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula and No. 8 Irvine University.

Freshman Cosmina Ciobanu, the U.S. Tennis Assn. Southern California sectional girls’ 16 division champion, and sisters Serena and Clare Fermin, who also compete on the junior circuit, bolster the singles lineup, but the Warriors lost five of six doubles players from last year’s team to graduation.

“It’s the opposite of what I’ve ever had,” Coach Donna Judd said.

The L.A. Washington girls’ tennis team forfeited two recent matches because of a lack of players, according to Athletic Director La Monte Peters.

“There was not enough players to field a team,” Peters said.

Marine League matches against San Pedro on Oct. 3 and Gardena on Oct. 10 were forfeited, according to Barbara Fiege, director of the City Section.

Washington was able to field a full team of 10 players for a Marine League match at Carson on Thursday.

--Lauren Peterson

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David Huff, a left-handed pitcher at Huntington Beach Edison, has committed to UC Irvine. ... Durrell Moss, a running back from Orange, has committed to Washington.

--Eric Sondheimer

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Fox Sports Net has added the football game between L.A. Loyola and host Bellflower St. John Bosco to its television lineup on Fridayat 7 p.m. on FSN2.