Mission Viejo Regains Title

The Mission Viejo boys’ swim team reclaimed the South Coast League title Friday at Lake Forest El Toro.

The Diablos scored 451 points while San Clemente totaled 404. The Tritons, making their first title defense, were weakened by a “clerical error” that caused one of their top swimmers to be ineligible for his individual events.

Larsen Jensen and Justin Johnson won two events each for Mission Viejo.

Jensen, the U.S. record-holder in the 800-meter freestyle, won the 200 freestyle in 1 minute 41.51 seconds and the 500 freestyle in 4:25.59, which surpassed his meet record of 4:26.38 set in the preliminaries.

Johnson, a 6-6 senior, won the 50 freestyle in 21.61 and the 100 backstroke in 52.82.

Pat Cary was a double winner for fourth-place Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley, taking first in the 100 butterfly (51.05) and 100 freestyle (47.42).

San Clemente posted victories in the freestyle relays, including a time of 3:12.62 in the 400 freestyle relay, which broke a nearly 20-year-old school record of 3:14.82.

San Clemente senior Kenny Yamamoto, the two-time defending champion in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke, was one of the swimmers who was left off the starting lineup at last week’s seeding meeting.

“I don’t think it affected the outcome,” said San Clemente Coach Marc Parker. “It’s just unfortunate for the kids.”

San Clemente didn’t have any trouble defending its girls’ title. The Tritons scored 499 points to defeat Mission Viejo (440) and Capistrano Valley (291).

Mission Viejo’s Nicolette Teo set a meet record of 1:03.38 in the 100 breaststroke, breaking the previous mark of 1:03.62 set by San Clemente’s Kristen Caverly in 2001.

-- Dan Arritt

Tom Lewis, the Southern Section 5-A boys’ basketball player of the year in 1985 at Santa Ana Mater Dei, has been hired as boys’ basketball coach at San Juan Capistrano Serra, which will open in September with freshmen and sophomores.

Lewis, who played for USC and Pepperdine, has served as an assistant at Mater Dei and as a personal coach for Chicago Bull center Tyson Chandler.

James Larson, who had previously accepted the job at Serra, said other time commitments forced him to give up the job, though he will remain involved with the school as part of its athletics committee.

Adam Jacobsen resigned as Crescenta Valley boys’ basketball coach after two seasons to accept an assistant coaching position at an undisclosed NCAA Division I university. He had a 39-16 record and led the Falcons to consecutive Southern Section playoff appearances.

Jacobsen, 28, played for Crescenta Valley in the early 1990s and was the program’s fourth coach in 40 years.

Alex Lopez, a 6-foot-8 center who played at North Hollywood Campbell Hall and Santa Clara, has been chosen boys’ basketball coach at Woodland Hills El Camino Real. He also played professionally in Australia and Europe.

Jeff Green has been selected football coach at San Bernardino High, pending school board approval.

Green, the former San Bernardino Cajon coach who is currently at Hesperia, replaces Sam Stahlheber, who resigned after the 2002 season and is expected to be named the new coach at San Bernardino Pacific.

Green had a 5-15 record in two years at Hesperia and a 12-28-1 record in four seasons at Cajon. San Bernardino has a 5-14 record the last two years.

Matt Koffler is the new football coach at La Puente, replacing Rick Ward, who took a similar position at Baldwin Park. Koffler, who was the head coach at Rosemead for three seasons, was an assistant at Downey Warren last fall.

Jim Harris, veteran boys’ basketball coach at Huntington Beach Ocean View, has been named girls’ basketball coach at the school as well. He replaces Adara Newidouski, who resigned after four seasons to take a similar position at Long Beach Jordan.