Clipboard: Carmel’s Iandoli commits to West Texas A&M for Stock Horse

Elizabeth Iandoli has committed to compete next fall for the reigning Stock Horse Division I national reserve collegiate champion West Texas A&M University.

The sport has competition in four basic stock horse disciplines – reining, working cow horse, stock horse pleasure and stock horse trail.

The Carmel High senior’s focus in college will be on cow boxing and reining, where she is required to rein in the cow with her horse in a discipline-type drill, boxing the cow along the fence, turning it in both directions before roping it.

Iandoli got the attention of prospective colleges, competing in competitions in California and Arizona in the American Quarter Horse Association.

While the sport is growing at the college level, there are very few scholarships as just 16 teams from 10 states took part in the national championships last season.

Iandoli trains with Clifford Horse Training in Carmel Valley. Her older brother Bo is currently playing baseball at Regis University in Denver.

Flores playing pro baseball

Former King City High and Hartnell College slugger Marc Flores has extended his baseball career into his 30s, playing for Gastonia in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound first baseman has had a revival of sorts, hitting .289, with 12 home runs and 57 runs batted in through 69 games.

Drafted by the Chicago White Sox out of Hawaii in 2014, the left-handed swinging Flores’ best professional season came in 2019 in Mexico when he hit 32 homers and drove in 103 runs.

Over 10 seasons playing professionally in another country or the minor leagues, Flores is hitting .289 with 121 homers and 421 runs batted in, along with 400 walks.

Flores was an all-leaguer in football, basketball and baseball at King City, earning all-state honors at Hartnell in baseball in 2012.

Dale brothers producing goals

Brothers Jasper and Wyley Dale have played in all four matches for the nationally-ranked UC Irvine water polo team this fall.

Jasper is currently tied for fifth on the team in points with six, having produced two goals and assisted on four others.

The 6-foot-8, 250-pound Wyley is tied for sixth on the team in goals with three.

A member of the 2023 USA Youth National Team, Wyley produced 11 goals as a freshman last season, drawing 17 exclusions.

Jasper, who is in his third season at UC Irvine, came into the fall with 12 goals, 11 assists and 13 steals in his collegiate career.

Both are Stevenson graduates, where Jasper was the Gabilan Division Player of the Year in 2021, with Wyley earning the honor in 2022.

Finley playing at Stephen F. Austin State

Redshirt sophomore Joey Finley is part of the defensive line rotation for the Stephen F. Austin State football team.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Palma product picked up his first tackle for the Lumberjacks, who are 1-1 on the season.

Finley put together an all-state season in his one season at MPC, compiling 15 sacks to earn a scholarship to Stephen F. Austin, a Division I program in Texas.

Finley was a three-sport standout at Palma, earning all-county honors in football. He also played basketball and baseball.

Nominations for MPC’s Distinguished 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 at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOOvDqBpZA8zzgcz5_noTApAV1SYHmtZ-M_l2P3B61aWly3A/viewform

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.

Seaside’s Finest

Seaside’s Finest is holding fall basketball workouts for boys and girls Mondays and Wednesdays at MPC. The program is designed to prepare athletes for the upcoming basketball season. Also offered will be speed and strength workouts. Contact Jason Hieb at 831-915-5362 or http://seasidesfinest.leagueapps.com