Former OCC standout dies

Ryan Bousquet, who won a state championship in men’s cross country as a sophomore for Orange Coast College in 2001, died in a motorcycle accident on Aug. 27.

Bousquet, 25, was dead on the scene in Anaheim and speed was believed to have been a factor, according to various reports.

Bousquet transferred to OCC from Arizona State and competed for the Pirates for one year. He then transferred back to Arizona State.

Recently, he had been an assistant coach for Esperanza High’s cross country program. He was a former standout runner at Esperanza.

Bousquet graduated from Esperanza in 200. As a senior he became the nation’s fourth-best miler with his time of 4 minutes, 6.97 seconds.

With the Pirates, Bousquet made the most out of his one year with Orange Coast.

His individual state championship proved to be meaningful, as he captured it after finishing second at the Orange Empire Conference finals. His state title helped the OCC men finish fifth in the state.

— From staff reports