Yokota’s Enjoying a Second Education

There’s no dream of a scholarship to a four-year school for Cypress College freshman Stacy Yokota.

Recruiters aren’t raving about Yokota, a 5-foot 3-inch guard on the women’s basketball team, who is averaging 12.7 points and 8 assists per game.

Yokota isn’t bothered by the lack of attention--she’s not interested in attending a four-year school. She’s already done that.

Yokota, 23, went to Cal State Fullerton after graduating from Gardena High School in 1982.

She graduated from Cal State Fullerton last spring with a degree in physical education with an emphasis in sports marketing.

She considered trying out at Cal State Fullerton but decided to concentrate on academics instead.

Because she didn’t play at Cal State Fullerton, Yokota had all her collegiate eligibility left when she enrolled at Cypress last fall. To be eligible she needs to take and pass 12 units each semester.

But why the return to the life of homework and hoops?

Yokota said she couldn’t find a full-time job in her field.

She worked part-time in the Los Angeles Clippers’ promotions department last spring but was looking for a better working situation.

So, Yokota decided to go to Cypress, where she knew assistant coach Denise Boenker. They met playing pickup games in Gardena.

Yokota knew she could play. As a high school senior, she was voted the team’s most valuable player and to the all-league team.

She also made the cross-country team at Cypress, finishing 12th in the Orange Empire Conference championships, and 61st out of 171 runners in the Southern California Regionals. Yokota was voted the team’s most valuable player along with Misty Pflum.

Now, the only question is where Yokota will be next season.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I would like to come back to Cypress and play, but if I can find the right full-time job with the right benefits, I’ll take that.”

Augustin Carbajal, Rancho Santiago College sophomore, was voted the Orange Empire Conference most valuable player in balloting by conference soccer coaches.

Rancho Santiago’s Justo Frutos was voted coach of the year as the Dons won the conference title.

Rancho Santiago was eliminated in the opening round of the state playoffs by El Camino.

The Dons finished the season with a 15-3-2 overall record.

Rancho Santiago’s Clark Pineda, Francisco Rea and Victor Lucatero were also voted to the first team.

OCC placed Curtiss Walton, Peter Mecham and Rober Hesse on the first team. Cypress placed Greg Coughlin.

On the second team were: Rancho Santiago’s Rosalio Gomez, Jeff Hardman and Moises Jacques; OCC’s John Footman, Kevin Wolfe and Kevin Takabayashi, and Cypress’ Joe Barretta and Noel Tenney.

Cerritos (8-0) continues to lead the Southern California basketball poll, but four Orange County teams are close behind.

Orange Coast (12-1) won the consolation championship of San Jose County Tournament and is second.

Saddleback (8-3) has gone from unranked to third after winning the Santa Barbara Tournament last weekend.

Fullerton (7-2) is sixth and Rancho Santiago (8-3) ninth.

Fullerton and Rancho Santiago play tonight in the opening round of Cypress men’s basketball tournament. Fullerton plays Santa Monica at 6:30 p.m. and Rancho Santiago plays Tacoma at 8:30. Cypress, Trade Tech, George Air Force Base and L.A. Harbor are also in the tournament. The championship is Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

Saddleback and Orange Coast are in the Riverside Tournament, and Golden West is in the Glendale Tournament.

Chip Marchbank, Golden West trainer, has been voted the top community college trainer by the National Athletic Trainers Assn. Marchbank is in his 13th year at Golden West.