Sports
Jordan Payton breaks UCLA receptions record
And fellow Santa Monican Kate Sommer tops Washington State University' volleyball record for digs. Both Lighthouse grads have games to play.
UCLA wide receiver Jordan Payton shattered the Bruin’s catching record yesterday with his 194th against Utah. Meanwhile, former classmate Kate Sommer topped Washington State University’s former #1 with digs in women’s volleyball with 1,930 in four years.
Both students attended Santa Monica-based Lighthouse schools – Payton only through the 8th grade at the Lighthouse Church School. Sommer coursed through 12th grade at the counterpart Lighthouse Christian Academy.
“It’s an honor,” the soft-spoken Payton told Jack Wang on a YouTube video posted last night. “I was happier that we got the win. But to go down in history and be the all-time leader in receptions is definitely something you work for. It’s great. I’m still in shock.”
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Today’s U Sports was less shy to trumpet the magnitude of the feat.
“Payton’s now in league of his own,” the online news service said. “It’s a league of one.”
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Payton caught seven passes for 105 yards to help the Bruins upset No. 13-ranked Utah 17-9. If UCLA beats eternal nemesis USC next weekend, they play the Pac-12 championship game.
In four years at UCLA, Payton has caught for 2,600 yards and 13 touchdowns – enough to catch the eyes of NFL recruiters. The Bruins’ previous record-holder was Craig Bragg in 2001-’04.
Meanwhile, fellow Lighthouse grad Kate Sommer surpassed WSU’s former record of 1,744 digs last month – and she still has two games to play. The lithe libero has been called “an Energizer Bunny back there, a kid that’s always positive” by her coach.
Sommer is helping the Cougars with outsider’s bid for a NCAA playoff berth. While a senior at Lighthouse, she led the Saints to CIF Southern Section semifinals in 2011. She played club volleyball since the 4th grade for the West Side’s Sunshine Club and played in Junior Olympics.
Sommer is a linchpin in WSU’s reconstruction program to bring competitiveness to the previously lackluster Div. 1 program. Her coach recalled her declaring she would fight back from any deficit.
“Anytime you are rebuilding anything, a program, a house, a company, you really need that foundation to be solid,” Coach Jen Greeny told the Daily Evergreen. “That’s definitely what she is: solid.”
Note: photo from Payton’s Facebook page, used with permission from his mom, Kathy Payton.
