BRIEFS

SCANDONE FEATURED

Newport Beach sailor Nick Scandone, who won a gold medal with teammate Maureen McKinnon-Tucker in the SKUD-18 class at this year’s Paralympic Sailing Regatta in China, will be profiled in a documentary on NBC Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

Scandone and McKinnon-Tucker will be part of a 90-minute documentary narrated by Bob Costas.

Scandone, a former UC Irvine All-American, and McKinnon-Tucker were first-time Paralympians. Their win was also the first time the U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team has won a gold medal in the history of the Games.

Scandone suffers from ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Scandone was named the 2005 US SAILING Rolex Yachtsman of the Year.

UCI ATHLETES HONORED

UC Irvine sophomores Corey Attaway and Spencer Thompson have been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team in men’s soccer.

Thompson entered this week second on the team in scoring with 19 points on seven goals and five assists. Attaway is a key member of the Anteaters’ defense and has started 12 of the 13 matches in which he has played.

Attaway and Thompson were named Big West Conference Scholar-Athletes last year with Attaway also earning Big West All-Academic honors in 2007.

In order to be eligible for the award a student-athlete must be a starter or key reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) for his career. They must also be at least a sophomore academically and have completed at least one full year at their current school.

Both players will now be placed on the ballot for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American Team.

SIGNUPS AHEAD

Costa Mesa Pony League will have signups for the spring 2009 season Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at TeWinkle Middle School.

The Pony Division is for players 13 and 14. Fees are $185 per player. For more information, call (714) 318-3482.

— From staff reports