Newport Harbor boys scrapbook: MOURNING GLORY

NEWPORT BEACH - Even with two CIF team titles, two section

runners-up and a third-place section finisher, six Sea View League titles

and abundant individual accolades, the 1999-00 boys athletic year at

Newport Harbor High will always be remembered for one tragic loss.

The death of senior football star Andre Stewart, in a May 14 car

accident, cast a shadow of grief which put sporting triumphs in their

proper perspective.

But as students, athletes and those in the community cling to memories of

the CIF Southern Section Division VI Offensive Player of the Year and

Newport-Mesa District MVP, they may also reflect on moments of glory.

The Stewart-led football team went 13-0-1 and won the CIF Division VI

crown. Water polo, a CIF Division I semifinalist, and cross country,

eighth at CIF Division II finals, completed the Tars’ fall-sport league

title sweep.

Volleyball, track and field and golf also won league, and golf was the

CIF (South Coast Region) champion.

Volleyball and track were both CIF runners-up, while swimming, paced by

likely Olympian Aaron Peirsol, was third in CIF.

Billy Clayton, All-CIF in football and volleyball, was Sea View Athlete

of the Year, while Trevor Jones was the state 300-meter hurdles champ.

Dustin Illingworth (basketball), Peter Belden and Tim Birdsong (water

polo), Nick Langsdorf (baseball) and Kevin Olson (golf) were league or

district MVPs.

-- by Barry Faulkner