Calling the Shots:

It’s safe to say the players of the Estancia High girls’ basketball program are big fans of quarterback Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets. They’ll most likely be rooting for the quarterback known as, “The Sanchize,” and maybe even cheer, “J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets!” today when New Yorks plays at Indianapolis.

Before the basketball season began, Sanchez donated 15 pairs of shoes to the junior varsity and freshman teams at Estancia, varsity coach Xavier Castellano said.

The Estancia coach said Sanchez’s agent, Ash Narayan, is a member at Big Canyon Country Club, where Castellano’s father, Miguel works. Narayan offered a possibility of charity to Miguel, who then asked his son. Because a great number of the players at Estancia come from low-income households, Castellano asked for shoes.

“They’re the ones who have the most trouble,” Castellano said of his girls on the junior varsity and freshman teams. “I had girls playing in Vans and Converses last year.”

The Estancia girls’ basketball teams are planning to send Sanchez a thank-you card with team pictures when their photos arrive. Until then, they’ll continue to support Sanchez and hope the Jets can win a Super Bowl.

“I’ve been pulling for the Jets all season,” said Castellano, whose varsity team beat rival Costa Mesa, 53-38, Thursday to improve to 11-11, 3-1 in the Orange Coast League. “I love me some Mark Sanchez.”

 Ally Krikorian made a name for herself at Costa Mesa as a track and field athlete, as well as a cheerleader. But she was also a skilled gymnast, and she’s showing that at the University of Maryland.

She is off to a hot start for the Terrapins.

Krikorian was recently named the East Atlantic Gymnastic League’s Rookie of the Week.

The freshman scored 9.950 on the vault in the Terps’ home-opening win over Temple, Cornell and Bridgeport Jan. 15. The vault score was the highest of the meet and tied the highest individual vault score in school history.

It is the highest vault score in the region so far this season and puts her at No. 3 in the region for vault average. She is also ranked No. 17 nationally in the event.

“Ally’s vault was impressive and the landing was perfect,” Maryland Coach Brett Nelligan said in a release.

Krikorian and the Terps open their EAGL competition season today at 1 p.m. when they head to Morgantown, W.Va. to take on West Virginia and No. 23 North Carolina State.

 If Ally’s last name looks familiar that’s because she is from the Krikorian family of athletes. Her older brother, Dan, was a standout basketball player for the Mustangs.

Dan Krikorian, known as Danny in high school, coaches the junior varsity basketball team. When he’s not breaking down the fundamentals for young athletes, he’s belting out his own music.

He was featured as a musician in the Daily Pilot in September. The Dan Krikorian Band will be playing at the Gypsy Lounge in Lake Forest Feb. 6 and later at the Costa Mesa High Theater Feb. 26.

More information about his music and upcoming shows can be found on his website: www.dankrikorian.com.

 Bill Staengel, the new boys’ and girls’ track and field coach at Costa Mesa, came to know about the job in a scenario that would be similar to the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.

Staengel has been coaching the throws for the track and field teams at Santiago Canyon College, where Shawn Cummins is the head coach. Cummins competed at Fullerton College, where Jim Kiefer Sr. was the coach.

Kiefer’s son, Jim Jr. is the boys’ athletic director at Costa Mesa, where he also coaches the baseball team.

Cummins told Staengel about the opening with the Mustangs.

Staengel knew Jim Kiefer Sr. before Cummins did.

Back in the day, Staengel competed as a thrower for San Jose State. When the Spartans competed against UCLA, he learned plenty about the elder Kiefer and the Bruins. Jim Kiefer Sr. was an assistant under Jim Bush at UCLA back then.

Staengel said he’ll have six assistants for Costa Mesa’s upcoming track and field season. Only one from last year’s staff was retained. That would be Eugene Day, who coaches the jumps.

Rachel Ronquillo, who played soccer and competed in track and field at Mesa, will also be on the staff, coaching the sprints and hurdles.