BRIEFS

OCC’S JOHNSON COMMITS

Orange Coast College sophomore Eva Johnson, who helped lead the Pirates to back-to-back state titles in women’s volleyball, has verbally committed to continue her career at Hawaii Pacific University.

Johnson, a 6-foot middle blocker, amassed 161 career kills and 93 blocks while helping Coach Chuck Cutenese’s squad post a 51-2 record. She hit .293 as a sophomore, which ranks No. 13 all-time in school single-season annals.

Her blocks rank seventh on the all-time list.

Johnson said she chose Hawaii Pacific over Central Connecticut, UC San Diego, Lewis and Clark and Cal State Monterey Bay, because it gave her the best offer and had the best location.

“I remember seeing the university when my family went to Hawaii and I can’t wait to go there,” Johnson said in a statement.

“She’s a very gifted athlete who has really developed into a solid player, both offensively and defensively,” Cutenese said.

SAILORS FINISH SECOND

The Newport Harbor High sailing team placed second and third at the 22nd annual Rose Bowl Regatta, held Jan. 6-7 in Long Beach.

The Sailors lost to their rivals, Point Loma High.

In the Gold Division, the varsity team, consisting of Charlie Buckingham with senior crew Blair Belling, and Michael Menninger with crew Brooke Thomson, had a combined score of 71 points to place second overall.

Newport Harbor’s team of Cole Hatton with crew Kayla McComb, and Chris Barnard with crew Caitlin Beavers, was third in the regatta.

Sage Hill School placed fourth in the Gold Division with a total of 91 points, led by Skipper Ryan Ramming with crew Cameron Stuart, and skipper Mac Mace with crew Andrew McKinsey .

Some of America’s best young sailors representing 27 colleges and 57 high schools participated in the event, the largest combined high school-college sailing regatta in the country. The two-day event was organized by the US Sailing Center with support from the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club.

The College division was won by St. Mary’s of Maryland, led by skippers Justin Law and Adrienne Patterson, both from Newport Beach.

The Newport Harbor High junior varsity team of Wade Hatton with crew Alisha Gordon and Dane Butera, and crew Lindsay Beavers, also took home a title, winning the Silver Division.