COASTERS: What’s really going on

Steve Virgen

So by now, you’re probably thinking Steve Virgen can only write

about Orange Coast College football. You’re wrong.

I’ve been writing about OCC football because that’s the only show in

town. Right? Wrong again.

There’s plenty of other sports news happening at OCC...

First off, congratulations to Sam Felsenfeld, sports information

director at OCC. He found out Saturday night that he’ll be a father in

nine months.

During halftime of OCC’s 55-21 victory over Golden West, Sam’s wife,

Tiffany, called to his cellular phone to tell him the good news. Just

five minutes before receiving the phone call, Sam was joking with friends

about his wife’s habit of jumping the gun on pregnancy news.

“If I had a child for every time my wife said she was pregnant,” Sam

said. “I could fill up the stands in this stadium.”

Well, reserve at least one seat at LeBard Stadium for the little

newcomer. Congratulations Sam and Tiffany.

More good news is expected from OCC’s cross country teams.

For the first time in Coach John Goldman’s tenure, the men and women

have a chance to take home Orange Empire Conference titles Saturday.

After taking first place at the Irvine Invitational, Oct. 7, the men’s

team is improving at just the precise moment. The men took first in the

18-team event with 83 points, beating out two of the top teams in the

state -- San Diego Mesa and Mt. San Antonio -- by a single point in

Irvine.

Last year, the OCC men won the state title without winning the OEC

championship because, just as this season, the men are peaking as the

schedule draws to a close.

Goldman is confident the men can win the OEC and then make a run for

the state title with runners Tony Magana, Allen Childress, Victor Lopez,

Shawn Ebeta, Manuel Orozco and Steve Milchiker.

Though they won the state title last year, this season’s Pirates have

shown to be different, and perhaps better.

“There’s a noticeable difference this year,” Ebeta says. “We’re a

younger team. The maturity is lower, but it just makes things more

exciting. We have a whole different running style. We seem to be bonding

more this year and running as a group.”

Meanwhile, in OCC women’s cross country, the winning tradition

continues. Heather Shurtleff, one of the top runners in the state, should

lead the Pirates to an OEC title Saturday. And runners Christiane Reimer,

Lindsay Allen and Laura Weaver should make the difference for a state

title.

One final note: OCC women’s water polo is ranked No. 2 in the state

with a 22-3-1 record. Second-best is not so bad when you consider who’s

on top. The Pirates’ three losses have come to No. 1 Golden West, the

perennial water polo powerhouse. OCC lost to the Rustlers, 9-1, last

weekend in the Long Beach Tournament championship final.