SCC’s McLeish Plans to Return to Marina

Southern California College men’s soccer Coach Dave McLeish confirmed Wednesday that he will return to coach the boys’ soccer team at Marina High, a position he relinquished two years ago.

McLeish said he is nearly recovered from open heart surgery, which he underwent last spring, and feels up to coaching both teams. He said he talked with Edison Athletic Director Bruce Belcher about the Chargers’ vacant boys’ soccer job, but felt comfortable at Marina, where he teaches Spanish.

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Dana Hills has not renewed the contract of girls’ basketball Coach Carolyn Waltman for the 1997-98 season.

Waltman, a walk-on, coached the Dolphins three years. Her record was 15-60.

“We wanted to go another direction and hire a teacher who is also a coach,” Athletic Director Tony Tubbs said.

Tubbs said that in addition to hiring a teacher as girls’ basketball coach, the school also will have a teaching position available for an assistant football coach.

“Our philosophy is that we would like to get more on-staff coaches,” he said. “Things seem to run smoother when there’s a teacher on staff to work with the kids.”

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Colin Shaughnessy of San Clemente, 18, a first-team Times all-county water polo selection, has agreed to attend Stanford this fall, his father, Mike Shaughnessy, said.

Shaughnessy scored 108 goals this season and helped San Clemente reach the Division I semifinals. He was named league MVP.

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Paul Nihipali of UCLA, Gaby Amar of Long Beach State and Matt Fuerbringer of Stanford have been named to American Volleyball Coaches Assn. All-American first team.

Nihipali is from Yorba Linda and Fuerbringer from Costa Mesa.

Two other UCLA players, Brandon Taliaferro of San Clemente and Adam Naeve of Westchester, were named to the second team. Chris Harger of UC Irvine also was chosen to the second team.

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The Fullerton boys’ basketball team, with a combined 3.71 grade-point average, has been named the scholastic state champion for its sport for 1996-97. The Indians, under first-year Coach Bill Czech, finished 11-15, 3-7 in the Freeway League.

The Calvary Chapel and Laguna Beach boys’ basketball teams tied for third with 3.59 GPAs. Biggs High is the state’s top wrestling team (3.87 GPA) and Santa Maria Righetti (3.85) is the top girls’ basketball team.

The scholastic state championship program, begun last spring, is for teams and individuals competing in sports that offer state championships.

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Alison Johnsen of Arizona was recently named national player of the week by the National Fastpitch Coaches Assn. for her performance against No. 4 UCLA and No. 25 Cal State Northridge. Arizona won all four games and moved from second to first in the national softball rankings. She also was named Pacific 10 Conference player of the week.

Johnsen, the 1994 Times Orange County player of the year while at Woodbridge, went 10 for 15 with two home runs and five RBIs. She also scored seven runs and had one stolen base.

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Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley will be the setting Sunday for the annual Run for the Roses 1K and 5K races.

The 5K run/walk starts at 8:30 a.m. with the 1K, designed for runners 12 and under, starting at 9:15. Proceeds will benefit Fountain Valley High’s football program.

Cost is $20 for the 5K, which includes a T-shirt, and $13 for the 1K. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. Sunday. For more information, call (714) 962-3301 ext. 295.