Abbott declares future

Corona del Mar High senior football standout J.D. Abbott has committed to continue his career at Johns Hopkins University.

A nominee for the Orange County South All-Star team, Abbott was a Daily Pilot Player of the Week and Dream Team running back who also earned second-team All-Pacific Coast League honors his junior year, averaging 6.7 yards per carry.

He was a captain and two-way starter for the CdM football team in the fall. Off to a record start his senior year, averaging 10.4 yards per carry, Abbott missed league play due to an ankle injury he sustained in a game.

He is now playing for the CdM boys’ lacrosse team.

Abbott plans to major in economics.

— Steve Virgen

Lions’ Wilkins honored

Bryan Wilkins, men’s and women’s cross country and track and field coach at Vanguard University, has won the 2010 NAIA Coach of Character Award.

The award is given annually to the coach who demonstrates methods of teaching character through sport and instills a tradition of athletic and community excellence.

“His program models the five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership,” Vanguard Athletic Director Bob Wilson said of Wikins. “His teams and student-athletes are a reflection of his character.”

Each year, Wilkins has his athletes establish a plan to live out the five core values in practical ways throughout the season.

”When my student-athletes graduate, my goal is to see them enter the next phase of their life equipped with strong character values, steadfast principles and humanitarian hearts,” he said.

Wilkins’ 22-year tenure at Vanguard makes him the dean of coaches at the school. In 2007, he was inducted into the Vanguard Athletic Hall of Fame.

Wilkins has shaped national championship contenders, All-Americans and scholar-athletes. Under his leadership Vanguard has produced 39 individual Golden State Athletic Conference champions in cross country and track and field.

Wilkins was named GSAC Men’s Track & Field Co-Coach of the Year in 2009.

— From staff reports