Golden West, Cypress Face Big Challenges

The Golden West women’s volleyball team and the Cypress women’s soccer team have been targets much of this season.

Both have been the top-ranked in the state most of the way, offering opponents added incentive. But to this point, both have beaten back all challenges.

Each can take a major step today toward finishing on top.

Golden West, the top-seeded team in Southern California, plays host to No. 8 Antelope Valley at 7 p.m.

The Rustlers (22-0), coached by Albert Gasparian, blew past Rio Hondo in three games in the first round of the playoffs Friday. Antelope Valley (19-0) needed five games to beat San Diego Mesa.

Golden West has dominated its opponents, winning 77 of 83 games.

Jaimie Torromeo leads Golden West with 222 kills. Heidi Emmrich has 202 and Becki Gehlke 201. Becca Foltz is next at 196. Jessica Lee tops the team in assists with 828.

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The Cypress women’s soccer program, in just its third season, is trying for its first berth the State championship game. The Chargers (19-0) beat Mt. San Antonio, 2-1, in overtime Saturday to move into today’s 2 p.m. regional final against visiting El Camino. El Camino (14-1-1) advanced by beating Orange Coast, 3-0.

The Chargers, under Coach Ray Haas, are led by Lori Van Herk with 12 goals. Pam Prine and Leah Russell each has nine goals.

Lori’s sister, Tracy, has 12 assists and Carrie Fair eight.

The State title game is 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Orange Coast.

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Busy, busy: There is little question that this weekend Orange Coast will be busier than any other community college campus.

The Pirates are playing host to the Simple Green Orange County Bowl Saturday when Riverside (6-4) plays Cerritos (6-3-1) at 1 p.m. and Orange Coast (7-3) takes on Antelope Valley (6-4) at 7 p.m. The State soccer championships for men and women are there Saturday and Sunday.

Irvine Valley (17-3-4) plays Ohlone (18-1-2) at 11:30 a.m. and Santa Rosa (11-4-5) takes on Santa Barbara (18-0-1) at 2 p.m. The championship is at 2 p.m. Sunday.

For good measure there is an eight-team men’s basketball tournament starting Thursday.

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Wrestling: Rancho Santiago has shown consistent improvement all season and the Dons are ranked second in the state behind Fresno.

The Dons won the South Coast Conference title with a 20-19 victory over Cerritos last Wednesday. Rancho Santiago next assignment will be to qualify wrestlers at the Southern California tournament Saturday at Golden West.

The top eight from each weight class move on to the State tournament Dec. 10-11 at Santa Rosa.

Five Rancho Santiago wrestlers are ranked in the top four in the state. Matt Padgett is No. 1-ranked at 167 pounds. Shane Holloway (126) and David Niedringhaus (134) are second, Bobby Campos (118) is third and Navif Abdullah (177) is fourth.

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Quick start: Orange Coast, which won only five of 28 men’s basketball games last season, is off to a 5-0 start this season. The Pirates, under second-year Coach Tim O’Brien, are averaging 83 points a game, 11 better than last season.

Chauncey Woolridge, a sophomore swing-player from Cal State Fullerton, is averaging 20 points. Damion Morbley, a forward from Pomona High, is averaging 16 points and a team-best 12.5 rebounds. Derek Roche, a freshman from Tustin High, averages 16 and Todd Loewe, a sophomore from Woodbridge High, 15.

The Pirates next play in the Orange Coast Kiwanis tournament, which starts Thursday. In the first round: Long Beach plays Mt. San Jacinto at 2 p.m.; Cerritos plays Imperial Valley at 4 p.m.; Orange Coast and Chaffey meet at 6 p.m. and Irvine Valley takes on Santa Barbara at 8 p.m. The semifinals are at 6 and 8 p.m. Thursday and the title game is at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Community College Notes

Laura Hollis, a member of the 1991 and 1992 Saddleback women’s volleyball teams, was recently named to the Wilson Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll for 1992-93 academic year. Hollis was one of 19 students, out of about 20,000 eligible, to receive the award. Hollis, a UCLA student, had a 3.85 grade-point average at Saddleback. She is a graduate of Dana Hills High.