Marmonte girls take a step up in class
Soccer squads now competing in Division I
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com
      The Marmonte League gets no respect—at least when it comes to girls' soccer. Despite three of the final four teams representing the league in the CIFSouthern Section Division II playoffs last year, including section champion Thousand Oaks High, the Marmonte had no teams represented in the CIF-SS Division I coaches' poll when the season began.
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Despite defections to club soccer, boys' rosters still talent-laden
Newbury Park an early-season favorite in Marmonte League
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com
      The race for a boys' soccer title in the Marmonte League should be thrilling, but the feeling among coaches is that the league is missing something. For the second straight season, some of the Marmonte's finest decided to play for academy and club teams instead of their local high schools.
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Lions prepared to pounce on sixth CIF section title
Oaks Christian football team hosts Serra Friday at 7:30
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com
      Friday night at Oaks Christian, the Lions' football team will look to make history. OCHS can become the first Southern Section team to win six consecutive CIF-SS titles when it hosts Serra in the Northwest Division title game.
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Wrestlers fight to the finish at NPHS tourney
     IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers TAKE THAT—Thousand Oaks High grappler Sean McMinn, on top, controls Newbury Park's Hunter Ing during last Saturday's 27th annual Newbury Park High Wrestling Invitational. Selma High won the event with 276.5 team points. Marmonte League powerhouse Royal placed second. Thousand Oaks was fifth, followed by Simi Valley in sixth place and Moorpark in seventh.
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Attention shoppers: Perfect sports gifts can be found locally
There are many options to help cure a holiday headache
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com
      The economy is in shambles, but many still long to make this the hap, hap, happiest holiday season since Bing Crosby tap danced with Danny friggin' Kaye. Problem is, with less than two week's worth of shopping time remaining until Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or whathaveyou, people are rapidly running out of hours to pick the perfect present.
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Oaks Christian's Coyle honored by U.S. Army
     JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers SPECIAL INVITATION—Oaks Christian senior tight end/ defensive end Chris Coyle, left, poses with Lions assistant Mark Bates during a ceremony at Calvary Community Church on Monday. Coyle, an Arizona State commit, has been named to the West roster for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, to be played in San Antonio, Texas, on Jan. 3. OCHS head coach Bill Redell will lead the West squad, which also features Santa Clara's Cierre Wood and St. Bonaventure standout Patrick Hall.
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