Tuning up for the Sea Otter Regatta this weekend on the Monterey Bay, the Stevenson sailing team collected a handful of Top 10 finishes at the Northern California Regatta in San Francisco.

Headlining the list were Patrick O’Hara and Dillan Spence, who captured the gold division with four top four finishes among the six races contested on the second day of competition.

The pair were among 24 teams in the division. Despite not winning any of its races, O’Hara and Spencer were the only team with four top four places.

Teammates Claire Lee and Liah Yamamura placed fourth overall with two wins during the day-long competition. Ryan Ferguson and Tommy O’Hara were ninth in the silver division.

During the Day 1 festivities, Lee and Yamamura were fifth, while O’Hara and Spence finished in eighth overall. Ferguson and Tommy O’Hara were seventh in the silver division.

Over 60 teams from throughout California are expected to compete this Saturday and Sunday at the Sea Otter Regatta, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club.

Breakout game for Salinas grad >> Emmerson Cortez-Menjivar turned two of his first four collegiate catches into touchdowns for the University of Idaho football team.

The Salinas High graduate caught four passes for 33 yards, while adding 9 yards on a sweep.

A redshirt freshman, the 6-foot-1 Cortez-Menjivar has appeared in the Vandals’ past three games, having rushed for 90 yards on three carries.

During his senior season at Salinas, Cortez-Menjivar compiled nearly 1,000 receiving yards with 12 touchdowns, while sharing the receiving load with Cal-bound Nyziah Hunter.

Cortez-Menjivar made his presence felt on defense as well with five interceptions for Salinas in 2022, earning a spot on The Herald’s All-County defensive team.

During his junior season, Cortez-Menjivar went to the state track and field championships in the triple jump.

Cortez-Menjivar’s high school football coach Steve Zenk, also played at Idaho.

Gordon boosts UCSC volleyball lineup >> Former Herald Volleyball Player of the Year Olly Gordon has become an integral part of the UC Santa Cruz women’s volleyball team’s attack as a middle blocker.

The 6-foot-2 Gordon has collected 19 solo blocks and 57 assisted blocks, leading UC Santa Cruz in both categories through 18 matches this fall.

Gordon is also fourth on the Banana Slugs in kills with 102. The junior is one of two players to have played in all 18 matches this fall.

The Salinas High graduate has already surpassed her collegiate single-season totals in kills and blocks. Gordon currently has 212 career kills and 159 total blocks.

Gordon had 224 kills as a sophomore at Salinas in 2019, and 193 as a senior in 2021 with 73 blocks. Her junior year was wiped out because of the pandemic.

Deniz helps Western Colorado >> Junior Esteban Deniz was part of the Fab 5 for the Western Colorado University cross-country team that finished second to host Arkansas at the Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville.

A former All-American and state champion in track and field at Hartnell College, Deniz was 29th out of 285 runners, covering the 8-kilometer race in 24 minutes and 46.2 seconds.

Deniz, who prepped at King City, has been running between the team’s No. 3 and No. 5 runner this fall for Western Colorado.

Last spring Deniz ran indoor and outdoor track for Western Colorado, clocking 4:16.00 for the indoor mile and 8:35.54 in the 3,000-meter run. He ran 3:50.92 outdoors in the 1,500 and 14:09.45 in the 5,000.

The 21-year-old won the Community College State Championship in the 1,500 at Hartnell in 2022 in 3:51.01, joining his brother Eduardo Orozco (2017) as individual state champions for the Panthers in the same event.

CSUMB soccer getting local help >> Five former tri-county high school soccer players are seeing significant time this fall for the Cal State Monterey Bay men’s soccer team, which went into the weekend 3-1-3.

Among them is Soledad product Alexis Sanchez, who shares the team lead in goals with two and is second in points with five through the Otters’ first seven matches.

Former Monterey High sniper Eric Cabrera, who spent a year at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo before transferring, has used his 6-foot-4 frame to produce a goal.

Watsonville native Hugo Vargas Rios has logged a team-high 512 minutes, averaging over 85 minutes a match, with two goals and an assist.

One-time Hartnell College sniper Alan Bedolla has appeared in six of the team’s seven matches, while Watsonville High grad Eric Vazquez-Acosta has started five matches.

Nominations for awards wanted >> Nominations for the Lobo Legends Celebration are now being accepted for the awards event, which will be held March 15.

The event will honor achievements from Monterey Peninsula College alumni, retirees and rising stars who have made a significant contribution to the college and the broader community.

There are four categories for the awards event — distinguished alumni and alumni athletes, along with newly added distinguished retiree and rising star class.

Nomination forms are available on the MPC Foundation website

Coaches needed >> Marina is looking for a varsity boys volleyball coach, and a varsity baseball coach. Go to www.edjoin.org/MPUSD.

Soledad is looking for a boys and girls wrestling coach. Contact athletic director Nick Twitchell at aztecathletics@soledad.k.12.ca

Officials needed >> Peninsula Sports Incorporate is looking for high school and middle school officials for all sports this season. Varsity officials are paid $100 a game.

There is an immediate need for officials in the fall for football, flag football, volleyball, water polo and field hockey. Training is provided. Call Tom Emery at (831) 241-1101.