Smith’s Football Eligibility at Washington in Jeopardy

University of Washington safety Tommie Smith of Antelope Valley High withdrew from summer school classes this week, a move that might cost him his eligibility this fall.

“In terms of grade point, Tommie is OK with the university. It is just that he has failed to complete enough units to meet NCAA requirements,” said Coach Don James, who confirmed Smith’s withdrawal from the first session of summer school.

“He still has a chance to make them up, but I have no idea if he will,” James said.

Smith could enroll in the second summer session. He also is taking extension classes.

“I haven’t a clue how he is doing in the extension classes,” James said. “We’ve tried awfully hard to help him. But he’s missed five of six tutor appointments we set up. There is only so much we can do.”

Smith, a 6-foot-2, 212-pound senior who led Antelope Valley to a Southern Section title in 1988, started nine games as a free safety for Washington as a sophomore and eight games last year at strong safety, a position he had been expected to start at this season.

“Tommie had a great fall with us and a great spring. He has a tremendous work ethic on the field, he shows great leadership; but he has a tradition of being irregular about going to class,” James said.

If Smith is ineligible, the Huskies would look at sophomores Louis Jones and David Killpatrick, James said.

Bob Stachowiak of Reseda won the Kona Ahi Marlin tournament in Hawaii, landing a 532-pound blue marlin in only 13 minutes after the fish wrapped its mouth shut with the fishing line and was unable to breathe.

Stachowiak, 36, said the fish fought hard for the first 10 minutes and then went limp. As Stachowiak hauled the fish alongside the boat, the crew noticed the line wrapped around the fish’s bill and mouth, suffocating him.

“But then the line came unwrapped, the fish took a few gulps of oxygen from the water and just went crazy,” Stachowiak said. “Like an explosion.”

The fish was quickly gaffed, however, and hauled aboard the boat by Stachowiak and four deckhands.

The tournament was held July 11-12.

The Warner Center Club in Woodland Hills is the site for the Southern California Sportsfest that runs Friday through Sunday.

Sportsfest teams will compete in eight events: swimming, tennis, volleyball, basketball, distance running, windracer biking, tug-of-war and an obstacle course.

All proceeds will benefit Camp Good Times.

Information: Paul Holbach, 818-884-1100.