Sports Notes Sports Notes (December 25, 2002)

SRI Sharks

Menlo Park resident Diane Walter made a splash at a recent Corporate Challenge Aquathon in San Jose.

Not only did she organize a nine-member "Sharks" team for SRI International, the Menlo Park nonprofit research corporation where she works, she also jumped in at the last minute to swim for another team that was down one swimmer.

This was Walter's 11th year organizing the SRI Sharks team for the Aquathon, a fundraiser for the Community Association for Rehabilitation, which helps developmentally disabled people.

The event raised some $70,000 with the help of the 39 teams participating, said event organizer Iris Korol. Recent state budget cuts have left CAR $150,000 short of last year's budget, according to CAR board member Dave Goodman of Menlo Park.

Other SRI "Sharks" team participants were Bob Brown, Gay Baldwin, Shelly Hoeft, Victor Aguero, Roy Kornbluh, Martin Graciarena, Craig Zercher and Todd Valentic.

The SRI "Sharks" completed 119.5 laps during the 30-minute relay, and placed first in its heat, sixth overall. They raised $1,100 for CAR.

Signs with Cobras

Former Menlo College wide receiver Gabe Amey has signed a professional contract with the Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League for the 2003 season.

Amey concluded his four-year career at Menlo College in 2002 with 200 career receptions for 2,987 yards, which places him second in the school's record book, said Mark Kaanapu, the Menlo head football coach.

Arena football is a smaller version of the NFL version of the game. It's played on an indoor 50-yard field with eight players per team and an 18-man active roster. Most players play both offense and defense.

Gymnastics meet

Some 600 boys and men, from age 6 to 25, are expected to compete in the 11th annual Stanford Open Gymnastics Meet at Stanford's Burnham Pavilion from Friday, January 24, through Sunday, January 26.

Last year's event attracted 50 gymnastics clubs from as far away as Florida and Mexico.

The meet begins Friday at 6 p.m. with high school gymnasts, continues Saturday from 8:20a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 8:20 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Saturday night session will feature both elite-level gymnasts and top collegiate gymnasts from recent NCAA champions -- Stanford and UC Berkeley, among others.

Burnham Pavilion is located at the heart of Stanford campus at the corner of Galvez and Serra streets. Daily admission is $7 for adults and $3 for children ages 4-12, with no charge for children 3 and under. Stanford and UC student admission is $3 with a student ID. There is separate admission for the Saturday evening NCAA competition.

Details of the meet, including schedules for each class of competitors and maps, are available at www.stanfordopen.com.