Loyola Marymount

UC Irvine senior Nate White scored two goals to lead the No. 7-ranked Anteaters past No. 9 Loyola Marymount, 5-4, in the third-place game of the Triton men's water polo invitational in La Jolla Sunday. Dreason Barry, Andrew Dunn and Tim Hutten added a goal each for UCI, which improved to 3-1. In a championship semifinal game Sunday morning, UC San Diego's Chris Eichholz scored with 13 seconds left in overtime to give the eighth-ranked Tritons an 8-7 win over the Anteaters.

Hamlet Nalbandyan GLENDALE -- Kevin Witt has moved onto bigger and better things since leaving the Glendale High boys' water polo program in 1998. Not only has the 20-year-old, considered among the greatest athletes ever from Glendale High, led his college team, Loyola Marymount University, in scoring the past two years, but he's also made a big name for himself in the international circuit as well. Last summer, Witt was part of the U.S. team that participated in the Pan American Junior Championships in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan Kevin Witt (Glendale, 1999) senior driver, Loyola Marymount University men's water polo -- Witt ended his stellar record-setting career with his third All-America selection. Witt received a third-team nod by the American Water Polo Coaches Assn. Witt scored 42 goals for the Lions in 2002. Loyola Marymount (17-15) fell short in its bid to win a second consecutive Western Water Polo Assn. Championship, dropping a 5-4 decision to UC San Diego on Nov. 23. Witt's career spanned four seasons.

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan Daniel Paladini (St. Francis, 2002), junior forward, Cal State Northridge men's soccer -- Northridge's season came to an end Saturday at the hands of Loyola Marymount. Danny Williams' score in the 73rd minute proved to be the difference, as Loyola Marymount earned a 1-0 road win in the first round of the NCAA Championship Tournament. Paladini, who finished the season with three goals and 14 points, recorded one shot in the setback.

Erik Boal In an effort to keep track of local high school athletes who now compete in college, the News-Press will devote space twice a week, usually Mondays and Thursdays, to an update: Mele Misi (Crescenta Valley, 2000) junior opposite hitter, Fordham University women's volleyball -- The 1998 News-Press All-Area honorable mention selection carried the Rams (5-4) to the championship of the Drake Invitational on Sunday in Des Moines, Iowa, so it was only fitting that she be rewarded with tournament most valuable player honors.

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan Megan Hosp (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 1999) senior setter, University of South Carolina women's volleyball -- Hosp's outstanding season and career came to an end Dec. 6. The Gamecocks (22-7) were ousted in the second round of the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championships by the 11th-seeded University of North Carolina Tar Heels, 30-23, 28-30, 30-26, 30-23, at Chapel Hill, N.C. In the loss, Hosp had 65 assists, three kills and nine digs.

Erik Boal When ranking 233 teams, the difference between finishing ninth and eighth doesn't seem like much. But for Jillian Davis and Kacey Knauf, what appeared like only a minimal separation last summer wound up meaning everything to the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy graduates this year. After missing out on placing in the Elite Eight in the 18-and-under division at last year's Davis Volleyball Festival, the duo and the rest of their Santa Monica Beach Club teammates qualified among the best teams in the country Friday, earning the right to compete one more time at the Sacramento Convention Center.

The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level. Alex Sarkissian (Glendale Community College, 2011) redshirt junior, Pepperdine University men's tennis: After blowing away the competition with the Vaqueros, Sarkissian has shown he stacks up against NCAA competition at Pepperdine. The Waves are currently on a four-match winning streak and ranked sixth in NCAA Division I with a 14-4, 1-0 in West Coast Conference record and Sarkissian, a Glendale native, has also been in top form as of late with wins in his last four singles matches that have him at 11-3 on the year.

Erik Boal In an effort to keep track of local high school athletes who now compete in college, the News-Press will devote space twice a week, usually Mondays and Thursdays, to an update: Antonio Harrison (Flintridge Prep, 2001) sophomore defensive back, Grinnell College (Iowa) football -- The 2000 News-Press All-Area first-team all-purpose selection put together a strong all-around game in Saturday's 21-20 Midwest Conference win against Knox College (Galesburg, Ill.)

Jim Riggio Today the News-Press will run down No. 31-40 in its series of Glendale's finest sports figures of the 20th century. No. 40 Bob Reinhard: The Glendale High grad played five years of professional, all in Los Angeles. An extremely versatile player, Reinhard played a number of roles in his four years with the Los Angeles Dons. He began his career as a tackle and a punter, averaging 45.4 yards a punt in 1946. He also played fullback, returned punts and kickoffs.

The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level. Alex Sarkissian (Glendale Community College, 2011) redshirt junior, Pepperdine University men's tennis: After blowing away the competition with the Vaqueros, Sarkissian has shown he stacks up against NCAA competition at Pepperdine. The Waves are currently on a four-match winning streak and ranked sixth in NCAA Division I with a 14-4, 1-0 in West Coast Conference record and Sarkissian, a Glendale native, has also been in top form as of late with wins in his last four singles matches that have him at 11-3 on the year.

ENCINO — Placing fourth in the Mission League hasn’t exactly left the members of the St. Francis High soccer team downcast. They have recent history on their side after taking fourth last season en route to advancing to the CIF Southern Section Division I semifinals and then winning a CIF Southern California Division II Regional title. The Golden Knights would like nothing more than to follow that same script this season. First, they’ll need a way to find some offense.

summer/fallTragic deaths of Hanson, Johnson and Polizzotto put championship runs by area teams in perspective Editor's Note: The following is a recap of the 2005 local sports scene from the summer and fall seasons. SUMMER BIG DREAMS Trevor Bell got most of the headlines, but he wasn't the only one making the news. On June 7 and 8, eight area athletes were taken in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft. Recent high school graduates Tae Kwon of Hoover and Andy Marquardt of St. Francis joined Bell on the draft board, as did local college standouts Kris Krise, Brandon Higelin, Matt Hirsh, Al Quintana and Clay Young.

John Sciarra (St. Francis, 2001), redshirt senior, Wagner College football -- Two weeks after being tabbed the Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Week, Sciarra set a new school record with five touchdown passes in a 52-25 win against host Saint Peter's College on Thursday at Cochrane Stadium in Jersey City, N.J. Sciarra finished 22 of 32 for 298 yards, as the Seahawks improved to 3-0 for the second consecutive season....

UC Irvine senior Nate White scored two goals to lead the No. 7-ranked Anteaters past No. 9 Loyola Marymount, 5-4, in the third-place game of the Triton men's water polo invitational in La Jolla Sunday. Dreason Barry, Andrew Dunn and Tim Hutten added a goal each for UCI, which improved to 3-1. In a championship semifinal game Sunday morning, UC San Diego's Chris Eichholz scored with 13 seconds left in overtime to give the eighth-ranked Tritons an 8-7 win over the Anteaters.

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan Daniel Paladini (St. Francis, 2002), junior forward, Cal State Northridge men's soccer -- Northridge's season came to an end Saturday at the hands of Loyola Marymount. Danny Williams' score in the 73rd minute proved to be the difference, as Loyola Marymount earned a 1-0 road win in the first round of the NCAA Championship Tournament. Paladini, who finished the season with three goals and 14 points, recorded one shot in the setback.

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan John Sciarra (St. Francis, 2000), redshirt junior, Wagner College football -- Sciarra suffered his first blemish as a starting quarterback at the collegiate level. Despite completing 23 of 40 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns, Sciarra's team lost to host Central Connecticut State, 28-21, in overtime. Wagner fell to 3-1, 1-1 in the Northeast Conference. Wagner led, 21-7, in the third quarter, but couldn't hold off the Blue Devil attack.

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan Their dreams took an early hit, slowly slipped away in the third quarter, and were crushed in the fourth. The members of the Flintridge Prep boys' basketball team hoped to win a CIF Southern Section-Toyota Division IVA title for the first time in school history, but they quickly realized those dreams were far-fetched. L.A. Verbum Dei controlled the boards, tempo and what the Rebels did on offense and defense from the get-go, running away with a 73-48 victory Thursday night in the championship game at Loyola Marymount University's Albert Gersten Pavilion.

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan Lindon Pecorelli (Crescenta Valley, 2000), senior midfielder/forward, University of Connecticut men's soccer -- Pecorelli scored his first goal of the season, but the Huskies blew a two-goal lead and came away with a 2-2 tie against West Virginia on Saturday in a Big East Conference road match. Easton Wilson assisted on Pecorelli's goal in the 42nd minute, and the former Falcon standout helped a teammate score his first goal of the season, as well.

Erik Boal When ranking 233 teams, the difference between finishing ninth and eighth doesn't seem like much. But for Jillian Davis and Kacey Knauf, what appeared like only a minimal separation last summer wound up meaning everything to the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy graduates this year. After missing out on placing in the Elite Eight in the 18-and-under division at last year's Davis Volleyball Festival, the duo and the rest of their Santa Monica Beach Club teammates qualified among the best teams in the country Friday, earning the right to compete one more time at the Sacramento Convention Center.