Lewis captures Formula 3 race in Italy

Michael Lewis of Laguna Beach captured the Formula 3 Italia Championship Rookie title last weekend. The 20-year-old, driving for the Prema Powerteam, picked up his third victory of the 2011 Formula 3 Italia Championship season by racing to victory Saturday ( at Monza, Italy. A student at Cal State Fullerton, Lewis also won the rookie championship in the Formula BMW Americas series two years ago.

By winning the Italia series rookie crown, Lewis was awarded the chance to test drive a Ferrari Formula 1 race car at the Vallelunga Circuit, located north of Rome, on Nov. 15.

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Local cyclist second in Junior competition

Thurston Middle School student Massimo Lucidi of Laguna Beach took second place in the 10-12 Junior Cycling Men’s category of the Southern California/Nevada Cycling Assn. SoCal Cup Standings for 2011.

In previous competitions this year, Lucidi, 11, had a first-place showing at the Mt. Whitney two-day stage race and was third at the Death Valley two-day stage race. He was also the youngest participant to finish the 100-mile Solvang Century ride earlier this year.

Lucidi cycles for the Sho-Air Junior Cycling Team, which is based in Irvine.

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Laguna Beach teams ranked by CIF

Five Laguna Beach athletic teams are ranked again this week in CIF Southern Section polls.

By successfully turning back recent challenges from three ranked Division 3 opponents, the Laguna boys’ water polo team firmly stayed planted at No. 1 in the poll. The Breakers in the past week scored victories over No. 6 La Cañada, No. 4 Palos Verdes and No. 2 Damien.

Laguna’s football team took a tumble this week, falling from last week’s No. 5 ranking to ninth in the Southern Division. The Breakers (5-1) were handed their first loss of the season T Oct. 14 by Estancia. The win allowed the Eagles (4-2) to rise from sixth to fourth in this week’s poll. Corona del Mar (5-1) again heads the poll.

In girls’ volleyball, Laguna again is ranked third, behind No.1 Marymount and No. 2 Corona del Mar.

In cross-country, the Laguna girls’ team is No. 7 in Division 4 for a second straight week and the boys’ team fell a spot, going from eighth to ninth.