Breitbard Stars of the Month, July, 2005

July, 2005

Breitbard Stars of the Month

PROFESSIONALS

JULIA CHRISTIAN (Surfing, Carlsbad) – The Carlsbad resident won the women’s division of the 12th annual U.S. Open of Surfing on July 30 at the Huntington Beach Pier. It was the 23-year-old Christian’s first victory in a six-star World Qualifying Series event, which is the highest rated level in WQS surfing. Christian earned $4,500 for the victory. In poor surf conditions, she managed a 7.33 and 4.50 on a scale of 10 with her two best waves in the final 30-minute set.

JERRY COLEMAN (Baseball, Padres) – The San Diego icon was inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps Hall of Fame on July 29 and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., on July 31 as the winner of the Ford C. Frick Award, an honor for baseball’s distinguished broadcasters. Coleman, a World War II and Korean War combat pilot, played on six World Series championship teams with the New York Yankees before beginning his broadcasting career that is now in its 33rd year with the Padres.

JOHN HYDEN (Beach volleyball, San Diego) – The two-time Olympian from Mt. Carmel High and San Diego State teamed with Mike Lambet to win the Cincinnati Open on the AVP Nissan Series. Hyden and teammate Mike Lambert earned $28,000 and won by the scores of 17-21, 21-12, 15-10. They were playing together for the first time and knocked off the defending champions en route to the title despite entering the tournament as the 12th seed. Hyden was a six-time member of the U.S. National team and its Most Valuable Player in 1996. The 6-foot-5 Hyden was a two-time All-American for the Aztecs in 1995-96. He now makes his home in Sherman Oaks.

AKINORI OTSUKA (Baseball, Padres) – The Padres second-year reliever, after some inconsistent appearances to begin the season, finished the month of July without allowing a run in his last 11 appearances, a streak that covered 11.2 innings. The setup man for closer Trevor Hoffman gave up only five hits while walking four and striking out eight over that span. The stretch included his longest appearance of the year when he pitched 2.2 shutout innings in an 8-5 win on July 10 at the Colorado Rockies. The 33-year-old veteran of Japan’s pro baseball leagues finished July with season totals of 11 holds, a 1-3 record, one save and a 2.40 ERA.

JOEL TUDOR (Surfing, Del Mar) – The Del Mar resident won the longboard division title at the U.S. Open of Surfing of July 30 at the Huntington Beach Pier. It was the 30-year-old Tudor’s eighth longboard title in 12 years. He won with a combined two-wave score of 17.84 and earned $2,500 for the victory.

BARRY ZITO (Baseball, A’s/San Diego) – The Oakland A’s pitcher finished July with a seven-game winning streak that improved his season record to 10-8. Zito’s pitching helped the A’s recover from a slow start in April and May to move into contention for the American League West title or a wild-card playoff berth. His ERA during the 7-0 streak was 2.33 and opponents were batting just .199 against him.

AMATEURS

RYAN GAMBRELL (Karate, San Diego) – The San Diego State student and University of San Diego High School alumnus won the gold medal in July at the Japan Cup. Gambrell, who earlier this year earned a berth on the U.S. national team that will compete in the World Championships, beat a Japan national champion en route to the title. Gambrell competes in the kata form of karate.

BOLDIZSAR KOCSOR (Track and field, UCLA/University City High) – The 2004 University City High graduate, a UCLA redshirt freshman in the 2006 season, unleashed a lifetime best in the hammer throw of 223 feet, 7 inches to win the Junior Pan American Games title July 31 in Windsor, Ontario. Kocsor has set a personal best in three straight meets. Earlier in the summer, he qualified for the Junior Pan Am Games by winning the USATF Junior National Championships with a then-personal best throw of 214-6. Kocsor improved to another personal best on July 16 with a throw of 219-5 in a meet at Azusa Pacific.

JAMIE LOVEMARK (Golf, Torrey Pines High) – The 17-year-old Torrey Pines High student, a senior in the fall, became the youngest winner of the Western Amateur in the 103-year-old event that includes past champions as Jack Nicklaus and San Diegan Phil Mickelson. Lovemark defeated Northwestern junior Chris Wilson 3 and 2 in the final on July 31 at Point O’ Woods Country Club in Benton Harbor, Mich. Lovemark also won his semifinal match earlier in the day be defeating Vanderbilt junior Luke List, the 2004 U.S. Amateur runner-up who placed 33rd in the 2005 Masters Championship. Lovemark’s victory earns him exempt status for the PGA Tour’s 2006 Western Open in Lemont, Ill.

CAMILLE MEDINA (Over-The-Line, San Diego) – The City of San Diego Parks and Recreation employee led her OTL team to the Women’s Open title of the 52nd annual OMBAC Over-the-Line World Championship. It was the 11th title of her OTL career, but her first since 1997. Her previous open titles were in 1976, 1977, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996. Her team, Flash Sportswear, won the winner’s bracket of the 200-team, two-weekend, double-elimination tournament to reach the finals. Flash Sportswear lost one game in the finals before clinching the championship in the second game of the finals.

PREPS

DAX DANNS (Boys track and field, Helix High) – The Helix High sprinter, who will be a senior in the fall, placed fifth in the 100 meters on July 14 in the IAAF World Youth Championships at Marrakech, Morocco. Danns, representing Guyana, finished with a time of 10.63 seconds. As a junior, Danns swept the CIF San Diego Section sprint titles in the 100 and 200 meters.

JON TOLEDO (Football, Spanos All-Star Classic/La Costa Canyon High) – The La Costa Canyon High senior, a San Diego State freshman in the fall, led the North to a 27-7 win over the South in the 15th annual Alex Spanos All-Star Classic on July 15 at Mesa College. The 6-foor-4, 205-pounder’s 102 yards in total offense led all players in the game. He caught four passes for 82 yards, including a 47-yarder to set up a touchdown, and ran a reverse 20 yards for a 14-0 lead early in the third quarter. Toledo was a first-team All-CIF pick on the Breitbard team in the fall.

FERRARI WELCH (Football, Spanos All-Star Classic/Sweetwater High) -- The Sweetwater alumnus was named the South MVP in the 15th annual Alex Spanos All-Star Classic on July 15 at Mesa College. Welch, playing safety, intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned a kickoff 45 yards to set up the South’s only touchdown. The score trimmed the North’s lead to 14-7 in a game won by the North 27-7. Welch also sparked a late drive that came up short as time expired.

HILARY WHITE (Basketball, The Bishop’s School/San Diego) – The 5-foot-9 senior guard/forward led Bishop’s to the highest finish among the San Diego County schools competing in the 19th annual San Diego Classic. The 348-team event is the largest summer tournament for girls high school teams, as opposed to club teams, in the nation. Bishop’s placed fifth in the 2A division while posting a 5-1 record. White was among Bishop’s leading scorers while also breaking the press and responsible for defending the opponent’s best player each game. She is receiving recruiting interest from lower level Division I teams.