Volleyball:

It has been my fortune to have coached the boys’ volleyball teams at both Newport Harbor High and Corona del Mar.

Along the way, we won a couple of championships and developed some great players. The most memorable times have been the yearly Battle of the Bay matches which always have had a capacity crowd and are always closely contended.

As a fund raiser to help both Newport and CdM volleyball programs, the schools are holding the inaugural Battle of the Bay “A Night of the Decades” Alumni Night March 6 at Corona del Mar High.

While both schools have a long history since the early 70s, the excitement of the Battle of the Bay did not really emerge until the late 80s when Dan Glenn started coaching the Newport boys and I was coaching at CdM. He stressed the importance of this crosstown battle, which has grown into the most competitive intracity boys’ volleyball rivalry in the United States. The success of the sport in our area coupled with the natural draw of the Battle of the Bay has created a yearly event which is legendary.

John Weyrauch, who taught Advanced Placement mathematics at Corona for years, was the driving force behind CdM boys’ volleyball in the 70s. His early teams had some great players like Pete Ashley, John Klug and Rich Jeffs.

Newport’s team was getting support from coaches Neal Cline, Jeff Pierose and Ron Coon. Greg Kelly, Mike Blanchard and Mark Slevcove were the stars of the early years as well as an emerging player named Steve Timmons, who went on to play in three Olympics (I hope that Steve will attend the game).

How great would it be to see these guys?

As you talk to players over the years, they all brag that their team was the best. The squads include: Peter Helfrich’s 1980 Newport CIF champs, Chris Allard and Dave Johnson at CdM, Jon Schisler and Brian Lewis’ CIF champs in 1985, as well as Glenn’s 1987 CIF champs at Newport featuring Hugh Foster, Drew Sheward, Mike Curci, and John Alstrom.

It will be a great experience to see all of these former players attempt to revive it on the court. I know that Corona’s 1989 CIF champs led by Ty Price, Jason Perkins and Matt Herrington, feel that their year was very good.

The format on March 6 will start at 4 p.m. with the 70s and 80s alumni match. Those who do not want to play are encouraged to attend.

At 4:45, the 90s CdM vs. Newport alumni will play.

The 2000’s alumni players will play at 5:30, although there are a number of players who are presently playing for their college teams.

At 6:15, Newport’s 2010 team will play all the alumni that still have it in them to play, while CdM’s 2010 team will battle with its alumni. There will be lots of great volleyball and even more laughs.

The post-game festivities will be held at the Newport Beach Tennis Club with food, dancing and music by the famous Ho Daddies.

Please contact Anne Yardley ( AnneYard@aol.com) or Mary Ann Haly ( Halyfamily@cox.net) for more information.

All proceeds will go to help the boys’ volleyball programs at Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar.

There are so many great players that fill the history of these programs. It would be so special to see as many as possible.

How about CIF 1999 Player of the Year, Newport’s Ty Tramblie, or 2000 CIF Player of the Year, CdM’s Kevin Hansen, back representing their school?

Hansen was a setter on the 2008 gold medal-winning Olympic team, while Tramblie is currently battling on the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Tour.

While the games will be entertaining, it will be so great to see how this season’s teams are at Newport and CdM. I always enjoy watching the seasonal progress that the teams realize under the great coaching from Dan Glenn and CdM’s Steve Conti. Even better than all of that, I have always felt that the greatest thing that we take from athletics beyond the life lessons are the relationships that we build. Those are the most special part of it all.

Hope to see all of you March 6, as we celebrate 40 years of Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor boys’ volleyball.