BRIEFS

STOKKE COMMITS TO CAL

Allison Stokke, a Newport Harbor High senior, will have a lot less weight on her shoulders when she goes to pole vault this season.

That’s because she no longer needs to worry about which college she will attend.

Stokke gave a verbal commitment to UC Berkeley on Oct. 12.

She chose the Golden Bears over UCLA.

Stokke, who set a national freshman record when she won a state title with a vault of 12 feet, 8 inches, finished second at the state meet last year.

She missed her junior postseason due to a broken leg.

Stokke said various aspects factored into her decision, including the team’s new vault coach, Scott Silver, the amount of vaulters on the team (two), and the scholarship offer which Stokke called a “substantial amount” among others.

“It was a big factor that it is one of the top public schools in the nation,” Stokke said. “I can’t really go wrong. It’s going to be good athletically and academically.”

Stokke took an official recruiting trip to Cal earlier in the month.

“I liked the people there,” Stokke said.

— Dominic Perrone