Glendale’s Rucker Opts for Emporia St.

Pathon Rucker, an All-American tailback last season at Glendale College, will play at Emporia State next season, the Kansas school announced Wednesday. Emporia State plays at the NCAA Division II level.

Rucker, 6 feet and 200 pounds, is the Vaquero career leader in yards rushing with 2,900 and touchdowns with 33. Last season, the Glendale High graduate set the school single-season rushing record with 1,684 yards.

“He’s an outstanding football player with tremendous speed,” Larry Kramer, Emporia State coach, said in a release. “His totals on the junior college level tell you he has the ability to take an ordinary gain and turn it into a touchdown.”

Emporia State plays in the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Basketball

Sarah Hagman, a standout guard for Crescenta Valley High, has made a commitment to attend Cal State Northridge.

Hagman set Southern Section records for three-pointers in a season (121) and in a game (13) while averaging 25.1 points a game. She will play either point guard or shooting guard.

“I liked the enthusiasm of the coaches and they really seem committed to turning the program around,” Hagman said.

The Matadors were 3-22 last season.

Wrestling

Chad Payne, a senior from Agoura High, has been invited to walk on to the wrestling team at Ricks (Ida.) Junior College.

Payne finished second in the Southern Section Masters Meet at 125 pounds and placed in the top 12 in the state championships last month, finishing with a 40-5 record.

“It’s hard to get a scholarship as a freshman but they have a great athletic tradition,” Payne said.

Ricks is considered to have one of the best junior college wrestling programs in the country.

Volleyball

Robert Haar, boys’ coach at Newbury Park High, has been named girls’ coach at Thousand Oaks. Haar replaces Ron Bieck, who has announced that he will resign at the end of the season and move to Oregon.

Haar also is assistant director of admissions at Cal Lutheran and a student-teacher at Agoura High.

Tennis

Kerry Gallant, a senior at Louisville High, has committed to UCLA. Gallant was the Mission League’s most valuable player last season.