Six local beach volleyball players took home gold medals after winning their age divisions at the AAU Southern Pacific District Championships held June 5 in Hermosa Beach.
The first-place finishes automatically qualify the athletes for the West Coast Junior Olympic Games to be held July 20-23 in Hermosa Beach.
In girls competition, Redondo Beach’s Savannah Standage and Sydney Broadway (Phoenix, AZ) won the 12U division and Manhattan Beach’s Kelli Barry teamed with Harper Goldfarb (Long Beach) to capture the 16U competition.
In the 18U division, Piper Monk-Heidrich (Hermosa Beach) and Cami Sanchez (Huntington Beach) won silver medals while Olivia Bakos (Manhattan Beach) and Anastasia Lima (Pacific Palisades) took home the bronze.
Redondo Beach’s Erica Griffiths also won bronze in the 14U division with partner Stephanie Adams of San Diego.
South Bay athletes dominated the two boys divisions at the event highlighted by Sam Collins (Manhattan Beach) and Sebastian Rodriguez (Hermosa Beach) defeating Jack Hopkins (Manhattan Beach)/Jack Colby (Seal Beach) for the 14U title.
Bronze medals were awarded to the teams of Kyle Johnson (Manhattan Beach) /Julian Seivert (Manhattan Beach) and Mark Marold (Hermosa Beach)/Clarke Godbold (San Pedro).
In the boys 12U division, it was an all-Manhattan Beach championship with Mick Bakos/Ryan Sprague defeating Tony Cerofeci/Chaz Wedbush.
The AAU will be holding its Marine Summer Series for girls 12/14/16 divisions at the Marine Street courts in Manhattan Beach on Wednesdays June 29 and July 13.
The 23rd Girls National Championships return to Hermosa Beach July 6-9. For complete schedules, visit aaubeach.org.
