San Diego Mesa College has tabbed two local high school coaches to guide its men's volleyball program.

John Landicho, an assistant with the Francis Parker boys and girls teams, will take over the Olympians squad. He will be assisted by former San Pasqual head coach Matt Wilkinson.

Landicho, who has been at Francis Parker since 1998, will continue to assist with the Lancers girls program. He has helped the school in Linda Vista to multiple state championships and section titles. Wilkinson led the Eagles to three section championships.

Track honors

Former Serra High track and field standout Desi Burt was named the Division II West Region Field Athlete of the Year for the second straight year.

Burt, a Cal State Los Angeles senior, scored 50 points for the Golden Eagles at the California Collegiate Athletic Association championships. He won the 110-meter high hurdles and high jump and was second in the long jump, triple jump and javelin throw.

Burt has scored 7,529 points in the decathlon.

Top freshmen

Hoover High's 6-foot-9 Angelo Chol was selected to the 2008 EA Sports All-America freshman basketball team. Chol was one of 10 players honored and one of two from California.

State academics

The Bishop's School led the way as three San Diego Section schools had five teams earn state academic honors this school year.

The Knights had the state's No. 1 combined team GPA in baseball (3.66), field hockey (3.80) and girls golf (3.80). La Costa Canyon earned top honors for gymnastics (3.58), and Santa Fe Christian was tops in boys lacrosse (3.47).

Seeking coaches

Scripps Ranch High is seeking a varsity boys and girls cross country coach and a varsity wrestling coach. Contact Athletic Director Denny Morrow at dmorrow@sandi.net or (858) 621-9020, ext. 1115.

McClanahan to retire

Dennis McClanahan, who helped open Mt. Carmel High in 1973, said he's planning to retire as a teacher and athletic director.

“I won't deny it,” said McClanahan, 59.

There has been no official word from Mt. Carmel on McClanahan, who will become an assistant coach for cross country and track.

McClanahan, a teacher for 36 years, has taught honors U.S. history, special education, physical education and geography at Mt. Carmel.

Youth track

Many of the high school athletes who competed in last week's San Diego Section track and field championships – and even some who will be participating in the state meet tomorrow and Saturday at Cerritos College – are expected to move on to the AAU district championships June 14-15 at San Ysidro High.

The AAU meet, which draws from four West regions, offers competition in nine age groups from 8-under to 18. The top four finishers qualify for the AAU Junior Olympic Games.

For information, call Michael Brunker of the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA at (619) 977-0774 or visit aaupacificsouthwest.org. Registration will be taken online at CoachO.com.

For information on volunteering, visit aaupacificsouthwest.org/volunteers.

The next step

Local high school athletes continuing their careers in college:

BOYS TRACK: Monte Vista's David Spates, Cal State Fullerton.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Santa Fe Christian's Faith Steinwedell, Mississippi State; Santa Fe Christian's Chelsea Oemcke, Montana State.

BASEBALL: St. Augustine's Colin Hofmann, University of Southern California; Patrick Henry's Ryan Livingstone, Division III Chapman; Fallbrook's Sonny Hughey, NAIA Hastings.

BOYS SOCCER: West Hills' Andrew MacKenzie, Division III U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

FOOTBALL: Lincoln's Edlen Hernandez, Division II New Mexico Highlands.

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