Sports DIGEST : Elliott Will Try to Swing CSUN a Title

The Cal State Northridge women’s gymnastics team, led by sophomore All-American Janine Elliott, will begin competition today in the three-day NCAA Division II National Women’s Gymnastics Championship at Springfield (Mass.) College.

One of three teams to receive at-large bids, the Matadors are making their third appearance in the championship in the last six years. CSUN won the Division II National Championship in 1982 and finished second in 1983.

Averaging 35.65 points out of a possible 40 in four events, Elliott is CSUN’s best bet for an individual national championship. She finished fifth two weeks ago in the Western Regional at CSUN. The team title went to Seattle-Pacific.

Other CSUN performers expected to battle for individual titles are Stacy Baker, considered the most consistent performer, Monica Mayes, Peggy Bayless and senior Laura Ross, competing in her final college gymnastics event.

Regional champions battling for the national title are Southeast Missouri, Seattle-Pacific, Winona, Southern Connecticut, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and at-large representatives Jacksonville State and Southwest Texas State.

Moorpark Polo Players Advance in N.Y.

Three Moorpark youths defeated a team from Cape Cod (Mass.) High, 12-1, Thursday to advance to the second round of the interscholastic arena polo competition at Cornell University in New York.

Trails Hale, 14, his sister, Sunny, 16, and Rima Akkad, 14, are representing the Moorpark Unified School District in the 12-team invitational arena polo tournament. Arena polo is played with three players on a team, instead of the usual four. Moorpark’s team, which has a 2 handicap, is only the second public school squad ever to compete in the tournament.

Sunny, who is considered one of the top-rated juniors in the sport, had eight goals Thursday. Trails and Akkad scored two goals each.

The Moorpark team’s next match is Saturday.