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January 12, 2006
Release: #0602

News Release
For Immediate Release

SACRAMENTO, CA . . . The California Community Colleges Commission on Athletics (COA), in partnership with the California Community College Sports Information Association (CCCSIA) today named Mike O'Hara (Santa Ana College, wrestling) and Kiwi Winkler (Orange Coast College, volleyball) the COA/U.S. Bank Student Athletes of the Month for December.

Santa Ana College's Mike O'Hara completed an undefeated season when he captured the 149-pound weight class at the 2005 California Community Colleges Commission on Athletics Wrestling Championships presented by U.S. Bank on December 10. O'Hara, a freshman, defeated Bakersfield College's Alex Herrera, 5-3, in quadruple overtime to finish the season with an unblemished record of
33-0. O'Hara's state title earned him All-American recognition and allowed him to join Santa Ana College Athletic Hall of Famer Frank Gonzales as the only two Dons to author perfect seasons. O'Hara's win also helped Santa Ana capture its first state team wrestling title in 31 years (1974).

Orange Coast College freshman women's volleyball player Kiwi Winkler was named Most Valuable Player at the California Community Colleges Commission on Athletics Volleyball Championship presented by U.S. Bank in Fresno, CA. Orange Coast had won 72 consecutive games heading into their final two games of the year, both against San Joaquin Delta. Winkler, an outside hitter from Germany, was a dominant force in both games and led Orange Coast an undefeated season (26-0) and its first state title since 1982. Winkler had a season-high 29 kills in the Pirates four-game semi-final win over Delta and then added her second best performance of the year with 22 kills, including the match winner, in the five-game State Final win over Delta. Winkler led the Pirates with 408 kills and added 337 digs and 36 service aces on the year. For her efforts this season, Winkler was named an All-American, while she also earned Orange Empire Conference Player of the Year recognition.

U.S. Bank is the "Official Financial Services Provider" of the COA and California community college athletics. U.S. Bank is also the official presenting sponsor of all California community college championship events, including the 2005-06 COA Championship Festival in Fresno, CA.

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), with $207 billion in assets, is the 6th largest financial holding company in the United States. The company operates 2,411 banking offices and 4,999 ATMs in 24 states, and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. U.S. Bancorp is home of the Five Star Service Guarantee in which the company pays customers if certain key banking benefits and services are not met. U.S. Bancorp is the parent company of U.S. Bank. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.

To view the latest news, information and updates of all 23 COA-sanctioned sports, visit www.coasports.org.

COA