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High Schools: Vazquez made sizable impact

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I never got the chance to meet Carlos Vazquez, but I can tell the 19-year-old touched many lives.

Last week, I talked to his childhood friends, his former teammates and coaches, and everyone loved the teenager from Costa Mesa. They all had stories to tell about Vazquez, from where he used to hang out during the OC Fair every summer, to how he played hard on the football field for Costa Mesa High every game, to how he was always there for others.

Last week, family and friends gathered to remember Vazquez, who passed away of pneumonia after a two-year battle with leukemia. They held a candlelight vigil on a football field for Vazquez and a fundraiser to help pay for his funeral.

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Loved ones will get together again to pay respect to Vazquez. His funeral is planned for Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Funeraria Del Angel MacDougall Family Mortuary on 1610 E. 1st St. in Santa Ana.

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Alipa Peters is going to miss his graduation at Estancia to play in a senior high school all-star football game in Arizona.

Peters, a standout defensive tackle, made the June 23 game, which features some of Arizona’s best against some of Southern California’s top players.

“[The game] means enough for to him to forego his [June 21] graduation ceremony,” said Estancia Coach Mike Bargas, who plans to drive with some of his assistants to Surprise, Ariz., to watch Peters, an All-CIF Southern Section Southern Division pick, play. “He’s leaving for the game the day before he graduates.”

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Two Newport Harbor throwers are competing at different premier track and field events on Friday and Saturday.

Ethan Cochran, who won the CIF State title in the both the discus throw and shot put, is heading to Indiana to throw at the USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The meet is a qualifier for the IAAF World Junior Championships. The Cal-bound senior is looking to represent the American team in Barcelona next month.

Steve Michaelsen, who placed fourth at state in the discus, will be at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor event in Greensboro, N.C. The Wake Forest-bound senior throws the shot put on Friday and the discus on Saturday.

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The All-Sports Cup is staying put at Estancia.

Estancia and Costa Mesa have played for the trophy the last three years and each time the Eagles have won it. Across the two schools’ athletic programs, the Eagles have dominated the cross-town rivalry.

The head-to-head all-sports competition is similar to the Gauntlet trophy UCLA and USC play for each year.

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Senior quarterback JT McLuckey, a Costa Mesa resident, has committed to the University of La Verne football program.

McLuckey played for Calvary Chapel.

david.carrillo@latimes.com

Twitter: @DCPenaloza

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