Briefs: USC invites Cottrell

Corona del Mar High senior all-purpose threat Cole Cottrell has been invited to walk on the USC football team, said CdM Coach Scott Meyer.

Cottrell, who earned All-CIF Southern Section Southern Division, Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team and first-team All-Pacific Coast League honors, played cornerback, wide receiver and returned kickoffs and punts for the Sea Kings.

Meyer said Cottrell had opportunities to walk on at two other Pacific 12 Conference schools, Colorado and Oregon.

Cottrell helped the Sea Kings win the CIF Southern Section Southern Division title, the program’s first section crown in 22 years. He contributed in all facets of the game for CdM (12-2, 4-1 in league).

As a cornerback, he finished with 41 tackles and intercepted one pass.

Cottrell averaged 35.7 yards per kickoff return and 12.7 yards per punt return. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and two punts for touchdowns. He also had 13 receptions for 276 yards and three TDs.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza

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Patipaksiri honored

UC Irvine’s Lalita Patipaksiri has been named the Big West Conference Golfer of the Month for March.

Patipaksiri finished among the top five in both tournaments during the month of March, including a season-best third place finish (216) at the Juli Inkster Invitational where she competed against top-25 teams Washington, Cal, Oregon and UC Davis.

The senior also placed fifth at the Anteater Invitational with a score of 223 to conclude this month’s competitions. She recorded a season-low round of 71 in each of the tournaments played in March.

This is the first monthly recognition for Patipaksiri.

— From staff reports