Locals dominate AAU tournaments
Young beach volleyball players from the Beach Cities have ruled the courts of Dockweiler Beach this season winning 63 medals, including 19 gold, at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Spring Classic and Isidore B. Dockweiler Open tournaments.
The Spring Classic Open kicked off the local tournament season and the Dockweiler Open marked the fifth of 23 events held on the AAU National Beach Volleyball Tour. Teams winning gold medals at the Spring Classic included:
Boys 16U – Kevin Inlow (Manhattan Beach)/Michael Mullahey (Manhattan Beach); 14U – Matt Jones (Manhattan Beach)/Riley Kopenhefer (Manhattan Beach); 12U – Rob Mullahey (Manhattan Beach)/Casey McGarry (Manhattan Beach) and; 10U – Luke Grafton (Manhattan Beach)/Will Campbell (Manhattan Beach).
Girls 16U – Olvia Bustamante (Redondo Beach)/Makayla Taylor (Downey); 12U – Emma Smith (Manhattan Beach)/Katie Barkley (Manhattan Beach) and; 10U – Kelli Barry (Manhattan Beach)/Lea Ungar (Manhattan Beach).
Boys taking top honors at the Dockweiler Open were: 16U – Bobby Romano (El Segundo)/Erik Reed (Long Beach); 14U – Tanner Smith (Hermosa Beach)/Louis Richard (Los Angeles); 12U – Roy McFarland (Manhattan Beach)/Davis Boehle (Westchester).
Girls capturing gold included: 14U – Mary Anselmo (Manhattan Beach)/Christian Jones (Lakewood); 12U – Natalie Anselmo (Manhattan Beach)/Olivia Zelon (Santa Monica) and; Lillu Snyder (Manhattan Beach)/Catie Mihm (Palos Verdes).
The next local AAU beach volleyball tournament is the Los Angeles Open on Sunday, May 23 at Dockweiler Beach. The event begins at 9 a.m. and is open to boys and girls in 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U divisions. Fee is $60. Contact Gino Grajeda, ggrajeda181@msn.com or visit www.aaubeach.org for more information. ER