Evidence of lacrosse’s growth in Orange County was plentiful at the Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic, which was held last weekend at Towson University in Baltimore.
Seven county players were on the West boys underclassmen team, which made an appearance in the event’s semifinals for the first time ever.
“It’s a great statement for how far West Coast lacrosse has come in such a short time,” Corona del Mar coach G.W. Mix said.
The county players were: Corona del Mar’s Hoyt Crance, Hugh Crance and Jason Simaan, Foothill’s Nate Marano, JSerra’s Jake Schleppy and James Yanes, and St. Margaret’s Payton Fales.
Those players helped the West beat New Jersey, 13-11, to advance to the semifinals where it lost to Philadelphia, 13-7.
Crance, who recently committed to Yale, was one of the main standouts for the West team with his play in goal.
“They (the Corona del Mar players) all did a great job and represented us and the county very well,” Mix said of the Sea Kings players who made the team.
– ANTONIO MORALES
TRACK AND FIELD: TRUONG RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL
Just a little more than a month after he sustained a broken neck in a trampoline accident, Esperanza football and track and field standout William Truong has been released from the hospital, Aztecs throws coach Bill Pendleton said.
Pendleton also confirmed that Truong is able to walk on his own as well. But it has been suggested he use a cane for stability. Initially, Truong had feeling in his arms, but not in his legs according to the school.
He eventually gained feeling back in his legs and was able to stand and move with the help of a walking stand by late June.
Esperanza coach Rich Medellin said Truong is still wearing a temporary neck brace, which he hopes to have removed next week. …
Mater Dei boys and girls track and field coach Rick Martinez was named the CIF-Southern Section boys coach of the year by the California Coaches’ Association this week.
Martinez led the Monarch boys to the program’s first CIF-SS Division 2 team title and CIF State championship.
He was also named the Register’s girls track and field Coach of the Year after leading Mater Dei’s girls team to a fourth consecutive county championship.
– ANTONIO MORALES
BOYS WATER POLO: TOP PLAYER LOOKS TO JOIN MATER DEI
U.S. national team water polo player Thomas Dunstan of New Canaan High in Connecticut said Tuesday at the Junior Pan American Games in Riverside that he has applied to attend Mater Dei but hasn’t heard the results from the school and isn’t sure that he will transfer.
“I applied but I’m still not sure if I’m moving or if I got in,” he said.
As for his reasons for considering a transfer, the 16-year-old said, “I just want more training closer to (U.S. national team coach) Dejan (Udovicic) and the senior team … so I don’t have to fly everywhere.”
Dunstan, a 6-foot-4 left-handed junior-to-be, made his senior team debut in the spring and helped the U.S. youth team claim gold Tuesday. The U.S. senior national team trains at Segerstrom High. …
High-scoring Sunny Hills water polo player Kate Vera, who netted 121 goals last season, has committed to Whittier College, Lancers girls water polo coach Keith Nighswonger said.
Vera, a class of 2014 graduate, was an All-CIF Division 4 selection last season.
– DAN ALBANO
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: NEW COACH FOR TRITONS
Tom Beard is the new girls volleyball coach at San Clemente. Beard, who helped lead the Tritons to their only CIF title (1976) replaces Rob O’Rear.
Beard played in college at Pepperdine University under former U.S. Olympic team coach Marv Dunphy.
O’Rear resigned after last season.
– DAMIAN CALHOUN
BOYS VOLLEYBALL: TUANIGA, DEFALCO COMPETE FOR U.S.
Huntington Beach boys volleyball players Josh Tuaniga and T.J. DeFalco, the Register’s boys volleyball player of the year, have helped the U.S. boys’ youth team advance to the semifianals of the NORCECA U19 Continental Championships.
The tournament is currently taking place in Oklahoma.
Tuaniga earned first-team All-County honors last season for the CIF-SS Division 1 and SoCal Regional champion Oilers.
– DAMIAN CALHOUN
