Arena league’s Riptide will have OCC flavor

Former Orange Coast College quarterback and offensive coordinator

Sean Ponder has been hired as the head coach of the San Diego Riptide

of Arena Football League 2 and announced the signing of former Coast

gridders Vince Strang and Brandon Hall.

Ponder was chosen to take over the coaching ranks of the Riptide

to replace Mouse Davis after the team went 8-8 last season and

narrowly missed the playoffs. Ponder, who also acts as the interim

team president, came to San Diego after three years with the Wichita

Stealth.

His Coast coaching career spanned five years, rising to offensive

coordinator and running backs coach. His stint with the Pirates was

highlighted by leading the team to the 2000 Mission Conference

Central Division championship.

Bjargardottir lauded

* SWIMMING: UC Irvine junior Lara Bjargardottir, who won three

individual events at the two-day UCI/Ayres Hotel & Suites

invitational swim events completed Sunday was named Big West

Conference Swimmer of the Week.

Bjargardottir won the 200-yard breaststroke in 2 minutes, 18.51

seconds and the 200 individual medley (2:05.02) in the sprint

invitational. She later won the 400 IM in 4:27.56 in the distance

invitational.

The 200 breaststroke time is the fastest in the Big West this

season.

This is the third time Bjargardottir has been named Big West

Swimmer of the Week. Item