Nedler Is Off and Running

Ken Nedler is living a whirlwind life. Wednesday, he was hired as girls’ basketball coach at Aliso Niguel High. Four days earlier, Nedler married Gail Brower, a theater instructor at Newport Harbor High, which is primarily why he pursued openings at Marina, Newport Harbor and Brea Olinda the last two years.

Nedler took a honeymoon to Morro Bay and returned Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, he got a call from Aliso Niguel and did an informal telephone interview with Steven Lawrence, the school’s principal, and its athletic director, Mike Middlebrook, for the position.

Nedler followed that with a formal phone interview with Patrick Levens, executive director of secondary instructional services for the Capistrano Unified School District.

“The whole thing happened between 9:15 in the morning and 12:45,” said Nedler, 41, who was hired sight unseen.

Thursday morning, he met his new team, and that night he was at a summer league game.

On Monday, he leaves for Europe for 30 days on a field trip with 45 of his former students from Santa Barbara San Marcos High, who will be touring World War II historical sites. The trip will also double as a second honeymoon with his new bride.

STILL IN SHOCK

Nedler was hired to replace Kristen Okura, who was fired after two years and a 19-34 record, 14-13 last season.

It took only eight days for Aliso Niguel to replace Okura, who had already started coaching the Wolverines in summer league. She has since received overtures from other schools to be an assistant coach but wasn’t sure how quickly she wanted to jump back into coaching.

“It’s kind of hard to make that decision when you’re still in shock,” Okura said. “It’s like a really bad break-up. You put your heart and soul into something for two years and then you’re pretty much dumped.”

HIS OWN BOSS

Terry Henigan recently completed his second week as Irvine High’s athletic director. Henigan has already put his mark on the school as a football coach, winning three Southern Section championships.

“I’m excited about [being athletic director]. A lot of people who know me are surprised, but I’ve had it in the back of my mind for a while,” Henigan said. “I’m a pretty strong-willed guy, and I think I can bring something to the table for Irvine High School.

“I think I can do some good. I wouldn’t apply if I didn’t think I was a good person. No one has to fire me as a football coach--if I’m not doing a good job, I’ll get out.”

BACK IN THE POOL

Woodbridge will field a varsity boys’ water polo team in the fall.

“We’re trying to reinstate the program after a season’s absence,” Athletic Director Alan Dugard said. “I promised the parents we would field a water polo team. Come hell or high water--or my coaching--we’re going to have one. But I don’t know anything about water polo.”

Interested applicants should contact Dugard at (949) 936-7975.

BUT WHICH IS BETTER?

Steffin Rangel, a 6-foot-6 senior middle blocker from Marina, recently had one of the most eventful weekends of his life.

At a Junior Olympic tuneup, the Southern California Volleyball Assn., Boys Classic in Lake Forest, Rangel helped his team, Saddleback Volleyball Club Gold, win the 64-team 18-and-under title over Surf City of Huntington Beach.

When he got home, he opened his mail to find he had scored 1,400 on his SAT.

“They were both equal,” Rangel said of his performances. “I was just as excited after the tournament as I was after opening the letter. It was probably the greatest day of my life, to tell you the truth.”

TOURNAMENT NOTES

Mater Dei defeated Newport Harbor for the boys’ basketball title, 67-55, in the finals of the 32-team George Yardley Summer Classic, which ended Sunday.

“I wish I could pick one guy out, but everybody played pretty good,” Monarch Coach Gary McKnight said. “To win a good-sized tournament without Cedric Bozeman and Jamal Sampson, I thought, was pretty good.”

* The Esperanza girls’ basketball team has won two varsity tournaments this summer, the Tournament of Champions at Vanguard, and the University of San Diego team camp tournament. Three players have been named to all-tournament teams, and another, Ashley Van Kurin, was an MVP.

* Troy and Rosary girls’ basketball teams have met three times this summer, once in a semifinal and twice in championships, all with the same outcome. Most recently, Troy defeated the Royals for the Garden Grove Shootout title.

* Sophomore Jessica Voisard, Capistrano Valley’s 5-11 center, is recovering from a separated shoulder that she suffered in the first game of the Vanguard tournament.

* In addition to Saddleback Volleyball Club’s victory over Surf City in the Southern California Volleyball Assn. Boys Classic, San Diego Seaside defeated Surf City for the 16-U title and Los Angeles Athletic Club defeated North Shore Milwaukee in 14-U. The Junior Olympic boys’ tournament begins Friday in Reno and continues through Wednesday.

* San Diego Coronado defeated Laguna Beach to win the CAT 18-and-under boys’ water polo tournament Sunday. The ORCA 19-and-under tournament will be held Friday through Sunday at Villa Park High, and there’s a 16-and-under tournament at Estancia.

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If you have an item or idea for the high school/club report, you can fax us at (714)966-5663 or e-mail us at ben.bolch@latimes.com or martin.henderson@latimes.com