Dwyer surf team earns second place The...

Dwyer surf team earns second place

The Dwyer Middle School surf team lived up to its powerhouse image

last weekend by claiming second place at the National Scholastic Surf

Assn. State Championships.

The Oilers entered two teams in the competition, with its “B”

squad finishing in fifth place.

Sowers Middle School also entered two teams in the competition.

It’s “A” team placed sixth while its “B” team finished 11th.

Eleven middle schools from San Diego to Santa Cruz competed at

Church Beach in San Clemente in 2- to 3-foot surf.

Dwyer was trailing by just four points heading into the final

round, but couldn’t pull out the victory, as Bernice Ayer of San

Clemente maintained its lead en route to an eventual 101-82 victory.

Dwyer placed three surfers in the finals: Alex Gullet in the boys’

middle school division, Sara Taylor in the girls’ middle school

division, and Anthony Viday in the middle school longboard division.

“We brought two talented teams to the state championships, and

with the “A” team taking second place and the “B” team in fifth, it

shows our depth and how hard the team riders have worked this year,”

Dwyer Coach Eric Ekberg said. “This is an excellent showing and I am

very proud of our team riders. We were very strong all day and are a

power to be reckoned with at the national championships coming up in

June.”

The final middle school standings: 1. Bernice Ayer-Red, 101; 2.

Dwyer-A, 82; 3T. Shorecliffs, Diegueno, 76; 5. Dwyer-B, 57; 6.

Sowers-A, 52; 7. Marco Forster, 50; 8. Oak Crest 49; 9. Bernice

Ayer-Blue, 29; 10. Talbert, 24; 11. Sowers-B, 23.

Local coaches, players selected

Two coaches and six players from three local high schools have

been selected to participate in the Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club 2004

Orange County High School All-Star Basketball Game.

The North vs. South boys and girls doubleheader will be played

April 17.

Greg Wood, director of the game, announced on Monday the

selections to the 2004 contest.

Jim Harris of Ocean View will coach the South and Bill Czech of

Fullerton will coach the North in the boys game, which is in its 39th

year.

Greg Okwudibonye and Bear Wurts of Ocean View, along with Marina’s

James Lambert and Stephen Becker, will play for the South.

Corey Kelly of Edison will coach the South and Garth Anderson of

Pacifica will coach the North in the girls game, which is in its 27th

edition.

Valerie Katayama and Jessica Harris, both of Edison, will play for

the South.

Proceeds from the games help support Orange County charities and

organizations.