Editorial

In these times of $250-million sports contracts, let’s take a few

minutes to talk about some of our own local heroes, young athletes who

proudly represent their schools and communities on the field, on the

court or in the water.

We’ll start, of course, with the Newport Harbor Sailors football team.

The Sailors capped off the end of a great season by falling just short

of winning their second CIF championship in a row, losing 14-0 to the

Irvine High Vaqueros on Friday night in a thriller at LeBard Stadium at

OCC.

Second place is not an easy spot to accept sometimes, just ask Al Gore

or George W. Bush.

But the gridiron Sailors were gracious and sportsmanlike in defeat and

certainly have nothing to be ashamed of this year with an overall 11-3

record.

The fact that they made it as far as they did deserves kudos alone

because the defending CIF champions were a longshot to even make it to

the final game this year, much less repeat.

But they played this season with the same spirit and pride that has

been a hallmark of teams coached by their leader, Jeff Brinkley.

The Sailors football team, however, isn’t the only one worthy of

praise this year. As usual, the local prep sports programs have a litany

of accolades and accomplishments to be happy about. Here’s but a few:

* Both Corona del Mar and Estancia high football teams made the CIF

playoffs;

* Newport Harbor’s water polo team took the CIF Division I crown;

* Corona del Mar’s boys’ water polo team took the Division II

championship;

* Newport Harbor’s girls’ cross-country team, and Amber Steen, became

two-time CIF champions;

* Corona del Mar’s girls’ cross-country team is CIF and state

champions;

* Newport Harbor’s girls’ tennis team was a finalist in CIF;

* Newport Harbor’s girls’ field hockey team is Sunset League champions

and second in the county’s tournament of champions (there is no CIF field

hockey competition);

* Corona del Mar’s girls’ tennis team took the CIF championship title,

and Corona del Mar’s girls’ individual CIF champion was Brittany Reitz;

* Estancia’s boys’ cross-country team took second at CIF;

* OCC’s football team came up short in the Strawberry Bowl

championship game, and the men’s soccer team went to the state finals;

* Costa Mesa High’s girls’ soccer team is on its way to a terrific

season.

For their efforts, these players deserve both congratulations and

thanks for all the exciting and memorable moments they provide.

Newport-Mesa has many reasons to be proud.