BRIEFS

LOCALS WIN TOURNEY

Club Split OC, an Orange-County based water polo club, won the championship at the 2006 Speedo Cup at the University of Missouri. The club, which includes Newport Beach boys Charlie Howarth, Jon Walters, James Walters and Ben Zepfel, beat Stanford Water Polo Club, 12-9, in the championship game.

The team defeated water polo clubs from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sammamish, Wash., Chicago and San Diego on the way to the national title.

The Speedo Cup, in its 14th year, brings together the top eighth-grade-and-under water polo teams from around the country. Each club must win a local qualifying tournament to be invited to the national tournament, traditionally held in Missouri in November.

Club Split OC lost a game to Stanford earlier in the tournament, but came back to beat San Diego to set up a rematch with Stanford in the championship game.

Against Stanford in the final, Howarth scored the first goal, and Club Split OC never lost the lead behind stellar two-meter defense from Jon Walters.

Walters and Zepfel delivered some heroics in the earlier games, with Zepfel scoring a buzzer-beater from half-tank in the victory over Sammamish, Washington.

CDM’S WILSON SIGNS

Corona del Mar High senior Kate Wilson has signed a letter of intent with Southern Methodist University’s equestrian program.

Wilson, a four-year starter with a 3.8 grade-point average, received a full scholarship.

NEWPORT HOCKEY WINS

Richard De St. Jean scored three goals and Ryan Panella added two goals, helping Newport Harbor High’s junior varsity-A roller hockey team beat Marina 7-1.

Goalie Cam Monahan stopped 38 shots, including three breakaways, for Newport (3-0).