CHATTER: RAMIREZ STILL BIG AT BIRMINGHAM.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

Technically, popular Birmingham High of Lake Balboa athletic director Lou Ramirez retired in 1998, but his loyalty to the school hasn't wavered since he first signed on in 1954.

Ramirez, who will be 80 in June, still works on an informal basis with his successor, athletic director Rick Prizant, and all at Birmingham believe things wouldn't be the same without Ramirez's presence.

"Lou helps me out so much," Prizant said. "I couldn't do it without him, and he's just so much fun to work with."

--Russell White has resigned after six years as Calabasas boys' basketball coach. He plans to continue teaching at the school and coaching golf.

--Calabasas High swimmers Emily Kallen and Shani Shousterman were chosen Academic All-Americans by the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association.

Kallen and Shousterman are among six swimmers in the state accorded such honors. Less than 2 percent of the more than 267,000 student-athletes involved in swimming, diving and water polo nationally receive All-America honors.

--Royal of Simi Valley sophomore diver Melanie Meister, who finished fourth last year at the Southern Section Div. II finals, looks primed to challenge for the title this year.

Meister won her second straight Marmonte League dive meet last Friday, recording a six-dive score of 243.45 points. Thousand Oaks' Amanda Stines, ninth last season in Div. II, was second with 224.05.

In the boys' competition, Westlake teammates Jake Isaacs (245.2) and Shane Bowman (213.45) finished first and second. Bowman was eighth and Isaacs ninth place last year in Div. II.

--Debi Broker has stepped down as coach of Canyon High of Canyon Country's girls' swim team for personal reasons. First-year boys' coach Steve Himes is expected to guide both teams until the end of the season.

--Former Harvard-Westlake of Studio City teammates Jason Glushon and Frank Pfister are playing key roles for Emory, the top-ranked team in Division III college baseball.

Glushon, a junior right-hander, leads the Eagles (27-2) in wins, improving to 8-0 with a 1.25 ERA with a victory Saturday over LaGrange. Pfister, a junior third baseman, is batting a team-high .420 with 33 RBIs.

--Shortstop Aaron McGunniess, a Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta product, helped Gonzaga turn two triple plays Tuesday in its baseball game against Washington State. It is believed to be the first time two triple plays have been recorded in an NCAA game.

--Wheaton College's synchronized swimming team finished ninth at the U.S. Collegiate Championships with the help of Encino's Megan Kinney, a sophomore from Marlborough High of Los Angeles.

Kinney was part of a Wheaton quintet that finished fifth in the team event and a trio that was 11th. Kinney finished 14th in the B figures category.

Erik Boal and Heather Gripp contributed.

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