By Daily Press staff
Ranked fourth in its age group for the state, the Santa Monica Surf 10 & under girls’ basketball team will compete this summer in the Amateur Athletic Union’s national tournament in Orlando.
The local girls’team also will play several Southern California tournaments this month before making its first-ever trip to the nationals, beginning July 3.
“We are incredibly proud of what our 10 & under girls’ team has accomplished this year, becoming the first Santa Monica-based team to qualify for AAU Nationals,” said George Quintero, founder and director of coaching for the Westside Basketball Club, the nonprofit organization that sponsors the Santa Monica Surf team.
The team, which practices at John Adams Middle School and Lincoln Middle School, includes local girls Ashley Bautista from Will Rogers Elementary; Suzanne Coute from Roosevelt Elementary; Michel Pilon- Briggs from Franklin Elementary; Jennie Harding and Kristina Johnson from Will Rogers Elementary; Josephine Messer and Cheyenne Weekley from Edison Elementary; Charlotte Bax from Brentwood School; Savannah Erskine from La Ballona Elementary; Sophic Payson from Turning Point; Maya Feldman from Clover Elementary and Jennifer Borderud from St. Paul’s.
Quintero, a Santa Monica High School graduate and coach at Westside High School, heads the coaching staff. Samohi alumni Allan Erskine, Chris Harding and Rashied Weeks also will attend the event, as well as long-time coaches Dante Sarmiento and Joseph Peacock and UCLA women’s basketball player Michelle Greco.
“Our philosophy is to focus on the long-term development of our girls, both individually and as a team,” Quintero said. “Thus, to qualify for the AAU Nationals in only our second year is very special.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 10, 2002. Read the original PDF.