Alcorn makes college choice

Published online on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009

Buchanan volleyball player Jessie Alcorn, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker/outside hitter, has given an oral commitment to Bethany University in Scotts Valley, a NAIA school that plays in the California Pacific Conference.

Alcorn plans to sign her letter of intent for Bethany coach Reed Duffus on Saturday before the Bruins host Mills College.

Alcorn averages more than 2.5 kills per game for Buchanan, which is 16-3 overall, 2-0 in the Tri-River Athletic Conference and is top ranked in the section.

Alcorn is the daughter of former women's world lightweight boxing champion Jenifer Alcorn.

Water polo showdown

A big game in the North Yosemite League boys water polo race looms this week as three-time defending champion Sunnyside hosts Memorial.

The Panthers topped the Wildcats 6-5 at Memorial during the first round of NYL play. For Sunnyside (6-1 in league) to have any shot at a sixth NYL title since 2002, it has to win the rematch against Memorial (7-0), which is set for 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.

The NYL crowns its champion through a system that awards one point for every league win and a point for every team a school finishes ahead of at the regular season-ending tournament, scheduled for Nov. 3-5 at Sunnyside.

Memorial could all but wrap that up with a win Wednesday.

That Sunnyside has a shot at another title is surprising considering it lost eight seniors off last year's team. Wildcats coach Rick Eoff is giving extensive minutes to six sophomores this season to complement senior Matt Boogaard, who is averaging 4.0 goals a game, with a high of 11.

"They know how fast Memorial is and how much depth they have," Eoff said of Sunnyside's previous meeting against Memorial. "But [the close loss] gave them confidence they can play with and beat Memorial. We're looking forward to Wednesday's game and to putting ourselves in position for an exciting league championship tournament."

Wachter out at Mt. Whitney

Linda Wachter won't be coaching the Mt. Whitney High girls basketball team after all.

Pioneers athletic director John Perez told The Bee on Sept. 28 that the former Exeter coach -- who had a successful and controversial six-year run with the Monarchs -- would be taking over at Mt. Whitney.

But on Monday, Perez said Wachter would not be coaching the Pioneers and that the search for a new coach continues. Perez declined to comment further.

Wachter went 108-55 while leading Exeter to the Central Section Division IV title in 2006 and runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2008.

But she was not retained after the 2007-08 season, when six players chose not to go with the team to Santa Monica for a Southern California Regional playoff game, a matchup the Monarchs lost 51-41 to Crossroads.

In a written statement, the players said their decision was based in part on their support for teammates "who have been mentally and verbally abused." The statement did not identify the source of the alleged abuse.

Wachter subsequently filed a gender-discrimination lawsuit against Exeter Union High School District, saying she was fired because she complained about unequal treatment of the girls and boys basketball programs. In June, Wachter was awarded a $75,000 out-of-court settlement in which the district admitted no liability and Wachter agreed to never seek re-employment at any Exeter public school.