Quite a day

When it rains, it pours, literally and figuratively.

For the family of Orange Coast College women’s basketball coach

Mike Thornton -- and the man himself -- March 16 marked not only one

reason to celebrate, but three.

First off, Thornton’s Pirates won their first state championship

with a win over Contra Costa, one day after a weekend storm had

pummeled into Southern California [note the pun in the lead].

I know, trying to be cute.

But it didn’t stop there.

Thornton’s oldest son, Brian, a senior setter on San Clemente

High’s boys volleyball team was named MVP of the 64-team San Diego

Tournament of Champions, while brother Keith, a sophomore setter on

the junior varsity squad, also took MVP honors at a tournament that

weekend.

Thornton’s daughter, Kelsey, celebrated her 9th birthday the day

Coast won the state title.

“It doesn’t get much better than that,” Thornton said.

Brian traveled with Keith and Kelsey to San Diego to witness

history for Coast, and then they all reveled in the day.

“We went to Round Table [Pizza] in Costa Mesa afterwards,”

Thornton said “Then, walking up the driveway of our home, Brian said,

‘This is the greatest weekend in Thornton history.’”

Hard to argue with that one.

*

Congratulations to Janice Maran and the women’s tennis team, which

wrapped up the Orange Empire Conference title with a 6-3 victory over

Saddleback -- last year’s conference champs -- Thursday. OCC last won

the OEC in 2001.

Ashley Nelson is the only sophomore on OCC (11-1, 9-0 in the OEC),

which includes freshmen Leah Becker, Leanna Burmood, Sabrina Tanamal,

Rachel Sessum, Kay Moriyama and Michelle Wenski.

Before the season, Maran was confident her top three singles

[Nelson, Becker and Tanamal] would be strong, she just wasn’t as sure

about her doubles combinations.

During the season, though, Maran’s shuffling of the doubles has

proven beneficial to Coast’s success.

Maybe change is a hidden common denominator in Coast’s winning

formula so far.

*

Through March 16, OCC’s men’s volleyball team has four players

among the top 10 in four statistical categories among competitiors in

the Orange Empire and Western State conferences, as seen on the

California Commission on Athletics (COA) website.

Freshman Kaimana Kamalani leads in digs per game (3.27) while

freshman utility Poyer Poia averages 2.04.

Freshman middle blocker Levi Luster is second in blocks per game

(1.50) and Poia is fifth in kills per game (3.96). Mike Murphy is

also fifth with 11.8 assists per game.

Collectively, OCC has amassed 500 kills (15.2 per game) and has

compiled a .311 hitting percentage, the best of the 14 teams

surveyed. Coast leads in assists, 422 in 33 games (12.79). The

Pirates have also recorded the most digs (338), good for a 10.24

average.

Coast headed into its game against Golden West Friday with a 12-4

mark, 7-3 in the OEC.

*

Coach John Knox’s Orange Coast College women’s cross country team

led the way of all 11 fall and winter sports in average grade point

average.

The state champions had a 3.25 average, the best of any men’s or

women’s team at the school.

Knox’s men’s cross country team, which finished second in the

state, recorded a 2.63 GPA, seventh among the 11 teams.

Coast’s women’s water polo team, coached by Mike Giles, took third

in the state and had a 3.14, while Barry Wallace’s women’s golf squad

registered a 3.12 average.

Thornton’s state-champion women’s basketball team clocked a 3.11

and OCC’s men’s soccer team, coached by Laird Hayes, logged a 2.64

after a 15-4-4 season. Mike Stachowski’s men’s water polo team had a

2.64 average.