ISLE FILE
Garcia wins first surf heat in comeback
Advertiser Staff
Former world champion Sunny Garcia of Wai'anae made a long-awaited return to top form yesterday on the opening day of the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, Australia.
Garcia, surfing for the first time in more than a year after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right knee, won his first-round heat in 4- to 5-foot waves.
"I'm still out of shape and my leg is not strong, so fortunately I got the two best waves in the first 10 minutes," said Garcia, 34. "I had a really bad headache, though. I think it was a combination of being real nervous for my first heat back, and I had a cup of coffee beforehand."
Garcia's first two waves received scores of 8.67 and 8.07. His total of 16.74 was one of the top scores of the day.
Two-time defending world champion Andy Irons of Kaua'i also won his first-round heat yesterday. As first-round winners, Garcia and Irons each received a bye in the second round.
Hawai'i surfers Bruce Irons and Kalani Robb placed second in their heats yesterday and will have to surf in the second round.
WATER POLO
Chaminade tops in GPA: Chaminade's men's water polo team was the named top overall scholastic men's team by the American Water Polo Coaches Association.
The Silverswords (3.48 team grade point average) edged Harvard (3.47) and had seven players named Academic All-Americans.
Brigham Young-Hawai'i, with a 3.29 GPA, also had seven honorees.
Outstanding (3.71-4.00 GPA): Milon Bolic, Fr., Chaminade; Boris Jelic, Fr., Chaminade; John Wallace, Jr., Chaminade; Konstantinos Chaidemenaskis, Sr., Chaminade; Cody Weidauer, Jr., Brigham Young-Hawai'i; Vlada Stankovic, Fr., BYUH.
Superior (3.41-3.70): Andrew Vallejo-Sanderson, Fr., Chaminade; Brendan Parmelly, Fr., Chaminade; Steven Pace, So., BYUH; Vanja Kalabic, Jr., BYUH; Peter Caley, So., BYUH; James Jacobson, Fr., BYUH.
Excellent (3.20-2.40): Gabor Szabo, Fr., Chaminade; Mike Reiben, Sr., BYUH.
SOFTBALL
HPU loses two: Western New Mexico defeated Hawai'i Pacific in a Pacific West Conference doubleheader — 6-2 and 5-1 — at Silver City, N.M., yesterday.
WNMU is 31-8 and 11-1 in the PacWest. HPU is 15-10 and 6-4.
