Girls water polo: Spanley resigns

COSTA MESA - Michele Spanley resigned as girls water polo coach at

Estancia High, Eagles Girls Athletic Director Nancy Ferda announced

Wednesday.

Spanley, a third-year coach who could not be reached for comment, was

replaced immediately by John Carpenter, the school’s boys coach.

Carpenter guided the Eagles in Wednesday’s Pacific Coast League road game

against Northwood and will coach the team the remainder of the season

(three additional games).

About five Estancia players, two of whom later said they had

disagreements with Spanley, threatened to boycott the Jan. 24 game

against Corona del Mar. Ferda, concerned the team would not have enough

players, forfeited the PCL contest to the Sea Kings. Two players told the

Daily Pilot they had been suspended for the Jan. 25 game against Savanna,

a 22-4 nonleague loss, though school officials denied anyone had been

suspended.

Ferda, Principal Tom Antal, Spanley and players met Friday to discuss

the situation. Ferda said Monday that the meeting went fine and that

everyone was on the same page.

-- by Barry Faulkner