Young beach volleyball players from Manhattan Beach excelled in two recent Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) tournaments held at Dockweiler Beach.
In the AAU Los Angeles Open on May 1, teams from Manhattan Beach faced each other in the boys 10U and 16U championship matches. Will Campbell and Jack Walmer defeated Mick Bakos and Jason Walmer to win gold medals in the 10U division while Chris Caskey and Matt Reilly knocked off Jeffrey DeCoste and Sean Flanagan for the 16U title.
In the boys 12U competition, Niko Forbes (Manhattan Beach) and Ian Pizzuti (Redondo Beach) won gold and it was an all-South Bay medal-winning performance in the 14U division with the Manhattan Beach team of Cole Anderson and Blake Markland beating the Hermosa Beach team of Sam Caldwell and Tanner Smith for the top prize. Kyle Jasuta and Trevor Lio, both of Manhattan Beach, finished as bronze medalists.
In girls competition, Presley Forbes (Manhattan Beach) and Sunny Villapando (Hermosa Beach) won their second consecutive AAU tournament championship in the 12U division defeating Lauren Kelly (Manhattan Beach) and Leana Jacobs (Gardena) in the finals. Maddie Micheletti (Hermosa Beach) and Bridgette Simpkins (Palos Verdes Estates) joined the Manhattan Beach team of Kelli Barry and Lea Wagner as bronze medalists.
Local athletes also fared well in the AAU Easter Classic at Dockweiler Beach. In boys competition, Forbes and Pizzuti won bronze medals in the 12U division while it was a South Bay sweep in the 14U age group with Blake Markland pairing with Tanner Smith to win gold, defeating Jasuta and Liu. Roy McFarland (Manhattan Beach) and Casey McGarry (Manhattan Beach) finished third.
On the girls side, the Manhattan Beach duo of Lindsey Kelly and Ivy Stevens won gold medals and Piper Stevens (Manhattan Beach) and Lulu Yu (Manhattan Beach) took home bronze in the 10U division.
In the 12U age group, it was an all-South Bay finish with Forbes and Villapando besting Lauren Kelly (Manhattan Beach) and Sidney Smith (Palos Verdes Estates) for the gold medal. Kyanna Morgan (Hermosa Beach) and Piper Heidrich (Manhattan Beach) finished third.
The Manhattan Beach team of Katie Barkley and Chloe Markland were gold medalists and Redondo Beach residents Madeleine Simones and Kristina Williamson won bronze in the girls 14U competition.
In the 16U division, Sammy Furlan (Manhattan Beach) teamed with Elise Zappia (Huntington Beach) to win gold. Susannah Muno (Hermosa Beach) and Sydney Bast (Upland) took home bronze medals.
After tournaments in Huntington Beach and Pacific Palisades, the AAU tour returns to the South Bay with the Southern Pacific Championships on Sunday, May 22 at the Hermosa Beach Pier. Boys and girls in 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U divisions will compete.
For more information, contact Gino Grajeda, ggrajeda181@msn.com or visit www.aaubeach.org. ER
