Irons pulls off perfect ride
in first round at J-Bay

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Current ratings leader Andy Irons started his quest for a third straight tournament championship in strong form at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, yesterday.

Irons posted a perfect 10 on his second ride in 6-8 foot waves and advanced to the first round of the tournament, which was by no means a given.

The top two seeds, CJ Hobgood and Cory Lopez, were both knocked out.

Sunny Garcia was nearly perfect in the first heat of the day, scoring a 9.5 on a double tube to show the tour he is back from a recent dirtbike accident.

Hawaii surfers Kalani Robb and Shane Dorian finished second in their heats and advanced.

Viloria to fight fellow Olympian July 26

Waipahu product Brian Viloria will fight 1996 Olympian Alberto 'Chiquito' Rossel July 26 in West Virginia on ESPN2.

The match is a step up for Viloria, who is 8-0 with six knockouts, but his WBC World Youth title will not be on the line because Rossel is 27 years old and does not qualify.

Rossel's career resembled Viloria's after his first seven fights, all of which he won.

But Rossel (8-3, 5 KOs) has slid since then, losing three of his last four fights, all to unbeaten opponents.

His last loss came to Ramases Patterson, who Viloria passed on the computer rankings after his last fight, a knockout of Sandro Oviedo in Honolulu on March 17.

Shoji honored by USA Volleyball

Hawaii volleyball coach Dave Shoji will be honored as an All-Time Great Coach by USA Volleyball on Aug. 30 at the Stan Sheriff Center before UH's season-opening match against Ohio State.

Only 10 other coaches have been so honored, including Al Scates, Marv Dunphy and Linda Dollar.

Shoji has 770 career wins and a winning percentage of .841. He has led the Wahine to four national championships.

His teams have finished in the top 10 in 17 of 20 years and have never had a losing season in his career.

Vercruyssen, Moniz strike tumbling gold

Kira Vercruyssen and Matt Moniz won national titles at the USA Gymnastics Tumbling Junior Olympic championships, which were completed Monday in Indianapolis.

Vercruyssen took first in Double Mini Trampoline, Level 8, females age 15-up. She was also third in Trampoline.

Moniz was first in Trampoline, Level 8, males age 15-up.

Coyle qualifies for Senior National Meet

University of Hawaii diver Jonathan Coyle placed fourth last weekend at the Senior Geographical Zone C Meet at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, qualifying for the United States Senior National Meet.

Coyle compiled a score of 399.19 in the 10-meter platform event.

The national championships are next week, also at SMU.