Former Sailor Manderino earns top JC accolades

Long Beach City College sophomore Calli Manderino, a Newport Harbor High product, was named All-American, first-team All-Southern California and was the South Coast Conference Player of the Year in women’s water polo for the 2007 season.

Manderino, the Vikings’ primary center, was the team’s leading scorer and the focal point of the offense, according to Coach Chris Oeding, a former star at Corona del Mar High who lives in Costa Mesa.

“She was the type of player other teams really had to modify their defenses to stop,” Oeding said. “She was really a game-changer for us.”

Manderino, who said she is considering future options at Cal State Northridge, Long Beach State and Colorado State, played one season at LBCC. She played the 2006 season at Cypress College.

Long Beach City finished third in the state.

— Barry Faulkner