Orange Coast served up memorable state banners

Bryce Alderton

The continued success of a perennial cross country powerhouse coupled

with a tennis program that recaptured past glory highlighted Orange

Coast College women’s athletic achievements of 2004-05.

The cross country team won its fourth straight state title -- 12th

in program history -- in November at Fresno’s Woodward Park course,

keyed by sophomore Ludi Valdez. Valdez claimed her second straight

state individual title after completing the 3.1-mile course in 18

minutes, nine seconds.

Emilie Vo (18:51) and Jewel Butler (19:01) placed sixth and 10th,

respectively, for Coach Marco Ochoa, named Coach of the Year. Valdez,

an Estancia High product, was named Female Athlete of the Year at the

meet.

In the spring, Valdez shined for the track and field team, winning

the 5,000- and 10,000-meter races at the Orange Empire Conference,

Southern California and state championships. She also claimed the

1,500 at the OEC and Southern California championships before placing

second in the event at state as Coast finished sixth as a team.

Valdez completed the 5,000 in 18:22.46 and the 10,000 in 39:24.74

at the state meet.

Coast’s tennis team rolled to its seventh state championship in

shutout fashion with a 5-0 victory over Sierra College in the final

in May at Copper River Country Club in Fresno.

Sophomore Michelle Esquivel, the conference and Southern

California singles champion, finished the season undefeated in

dual-team matches following a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Sierra’s Jenny

Sperry in the final, one of Coast’s four singles sweeps in the match.

Freshmen Emily Paulson, Julie Haley and Jessica Rice tallied the

other sweeps while sophomore Rachael Sessum clinched the match with a

three-set victory. Ai Takamori also contributed during the season.

The Pirates (17-1, 9-1 in the OEC) rolled through the postseason,

posting three 5-0 victories in four contests. Coast defeated

top-seeded and host Saddleback, 5-2, in the Southern California

regional final to earn a berth in the state championship. The Gauchos

dealt the Bucs their lone loss of the season in conference play.

The swim team finished fourth in the state behind sterling

performances from sophomore Kimberlee Frith and Megan Rose. Frith

tripled, claiming 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyle races, the latter

two setting new school records. Frith, named Co-Swimmer of the Year

of the meet, won the 200 in 1:51.34, shattering the mark (1:52.73)

OCC’s Sherry Tsai set in 2003 and the 500 in 5:00.88, breaking the

former record of 5:03.75.

Rose clocked the second-best time in meet history in the 100

backstroke (57.13) while winning the 50 back in 27.47.

Frith and Rose both tripled as Coast won the conference team

title. Frith claimed the 50 free, 200 individual medley and 100 free

while Rose won the 500 free, 50 back and 100 back. The two also

teamed on winning 200 medley and 800 free relay teams. The 200 team

also included Erin Harvey and Ashley Maher while the Brittany Kane

and Jackie Palmero competed for the 800 squad.

OCC’s volleyball and soccer teams both reached the second round of

the Southern California regional playoffs while Mike Thornton’s

basketball team lost a play-in postseason contest.

The soccer team made its first postseason appearance since 2002

under the guidance of first-year coach Matt Tutton. The Pirates

halted many a scoring chance, allowing just 17 goals in 21 games,

including 12 shutouts.

The Pirates (13-5-2, 10-4-2 in the OEC) started the season 5-0-1

and defeated College of the Canyons, 2-1, in the first round of the

playoffs before bowing out to Cypress, 2-0, in Round 2.

Sophomore Sarah Ronquillo, a Costa Mesa High product, led the

Pirates with 13 goals, 12 in conference play, to go with 12 from

Christine Crosson, who tallied a team-high nine assists.

Freshman defender Taryn Flamson, a former All-Sea View League

product from Newport Harbor, along with Sarah Sanchez and Lindsey

Wood, were all selected to the All-OEC first-team.

Sophomore outside hitter Melissa Zapiain earned all-state

recognition for a second season after leading the Pirates into the

playoffs, where they defeated San Bernardino Valley in three games

before falling to Cypress in four in the second round.

Zapiain, who will continue her career at Cal State Los Angeles,

became the school’s career kills leader, finishing her two-year Coast

stint with 662. She tallied 299 this season, second to sophomore

outside hitter Donka Drozd’s 324. Zapiain led the Pirates (15-6, 10-4

in the OEC) with 42 solo blocks.

Drozd and Samantha Connor each tallied 25 blocks while Caitlin

Parker paced the Pirates, who finished second in the OEC, with 34

service aces.

Coast’s basketball team, which competed for several games with

only seven players, won six straight halfway through the season.

But, perhaps, the Pirates scored their most gratifying victory in

the third-to-last game of the regular season with an 84-76 triumph

against Cypress Feb. 11. At the time, the eventual-state champion

Chargers were ranked sixth in the state. Four starters scored in

double figures for Coast, including Crystal McCormick, who tallied a

game-high 31 points on 10-of-14 shooting.

The Pirates, who finished 17-13, 7-7 in the OEC, won two of three

to conclude the regular season, but fell to Moorpark, 77-69, in

overtime in a regional playoff play-in game. Four Coast players

scored in double figures, including freshmen McCormick (18) and

Christen D’Alessandro (15), along with sophomores Lauren Stepanski

(14) and Rhondi Naff (12).

Naff, a two-time first-team All-Golden West League selection at

Costa Mesa who committed to Cal State Bakersfield, was the only Coast

player to earn all-conference honors. She averaged 16.2 points and

6.0 rebounds while adding 45 steals.

Coast’s water polo team finished third in the Orange Empire

Conference tournament last fall after a 6-3 victory against Cypress

in the third-place game. Freshman Ann Marie Fisher scored three goals

while Erin Harvey, Laura DeMeneces and Lianne Todisco all tallied one

goal in the victory for the Pirates, who finished 19-9.

Coast finished the regular season 18-8, 5-1 in the OEC.

The softball team finished 2-31, 0-18 in the OEC. Kim Ensey and

Heather Walker each had nine hits. Walker led the Bucs with seven

runs scored.