Locals visit White House

USC senior and former Newport Harbor High standout April Ross, who

earned national Player of the Year honors after leading the Trojans

to the NCAA women’s volleyball championship, will be honored by

President George W. Bush on March 23 at the White House.

The ceremony, part of the White House’s 2003 NCAA Fall Sports

Champions Day, will also include USC football.

The USC football team includes a trio of walk-ons who starred at

Back Bay high schools.

Junior defensive end Jay Bottom, a Corona del Mar High product,

was named a captain for the Trojans’ Rose Bowl victory over Michigan.

Former Newport Harbor quarterbacks Morgan Craig and Michael

McDonald are also walk-ons.

Also included in the celebration will be the 2003 national

championship teams from LSU football, Indiana men’s soccer and North

Carolina women’s soccer.

The USC men’s water polo team, which won the 2003 NCAA title, will

be honored by Bush later this year when he visits California.

Newport Harbor product Robert Weiner is a junior two-meter man for

the Trojans.

The White House annually invites only the national championship

football, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer teams to

its NCAA Fall Sports Champions Day.

The Trojan football and women’s volleyball teams will tour the

White House before Bush meets with each team individually to pose for

photos.