Newsmakers in Sports
The illuminated sky from the Manhattan Beach Holiday Fireworks Festival on Dec. 11 provided the ideal setting for the Region 18 AYSO Girls 14 team “Just Plain Blue” after the squad completed an undefeated season (12-0-1) with a 4-2 double-overtime victory over the Zebras in the championship game. Coaches Aron Beroud and John Beroud stand behind the team that included: (standing, l-r) Emma Olsen, Carolina Perez, Katie Barnhill, Carly Bozeman, Sofia Beroud, Melody Roth, Emily Seth, Sophie Dafesh, (kneeling) Allison Roth, Shannon O’Brien, Alex Mickle, Isabel Levin, Tiffany Barman and (reclining) Kendall Bixler.
Volleyball: The Beach Cities were well represented at the NCAA Women’s Volleyball semifinals held in San Antonio, TX. After winning two five-set matches to advance out of the Regionals in Hawaii, USC once again was forced to go the distance on Thursday, Dec. 15 but fell to Illinois 25-27, 25-18, 25-22, 18-25, 15-10.
Pac-12 Player of the Year and three-time All American Alex Jupiter (Redondo High) had 32 kills for the Trojans to cap off her career. The senior was named 2011 AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) National Player of the Year becoming the first player in USC women’s volleyball history to earn the award.
Jupiter finished the season with 514 kills (4.47 kps) and a .265 hitting percentage. She had 13 assists (0.11 aps), 57 service aces (0.50 saps), 360 digs (3.13 dps), 63 blocks (0.55 bps) and 619.5 points (5.39 pps).
She now holds three USC career records for kills (1,918), points (2,255.5) and attempts (4,759). She is now tied for third place on USC’s all-time list for career solo blocks (123) and 10th for career digs (1,094).
USC setter Kendall Bateman (Mira Costa) finished her illustrious career after breaking the USC career assist record of 4,258 held by Janice Mounts (1995-98) on Nov. 25.
Sophomore outside hitter Sam Hirschmann (Manhattan Beach, Marymount High School) was also a member of the Pac-12 champion USC team.
After sweeping Florida State in the semifinals, Pac-12 runner-up UCLA defeated Illinois 25-23, 23-25, 26-24, 25-16 in the championship match winning its first NCAA women’s volleyball title in 20 years. Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer (Hermosa Beach) completed her second year as an assistant coach for the Bruins. She is married to professional beach volleyball star and Olympic hopeful Matt Fuerbringer.
Figure Skating: South Bay-raised Michelle Kwan was elected to the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame on Thursday, Dec. 15. Kwan captured 43 championships during her illustrious career, including nine U.S. and five world titles. She was a silver medalist at the 1998 Winter Olympics and won a bronze medal at the 2002 Games.
Kwan was the lone selection for the class of 2012.
Football: The Mitey-Mite White team became the first team from Redondo Beach Youth Football & Cheer to represent the Southern California Conference and the WESCON Regional when the team competed in Pop Warner’s inaugural Mitey-Mite Super Bowl Game at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fl.
Comprised of second, third and fourth graders (ages 7-9), the Sea Hawks fell to the Harvey Colts (Ill.) 28-0.
The team was guided by head coach David Vargas. Players included: Anthony Talley, Noah Atenza, Daniel Webb, Jaden Cho, Laloifi Vaifanua, Alec Cromer, Nolan Lazar, Salvador Mata, Bailey Snyder, John Lanigan, Dominic Broessel, Justin Smith, Gregory Ovalle, Jacob Corona, Christopher Mitchem, Daniel Palma, Justin Yaskowitz, Myles Tan and Brody Snyder.
Cycling: The Dave Richardson Race Series, an annual event sponsored by the South Bay Wheelmen, finished on November 20 after three months of hard racing.
John McNulty, Andrew King, and Tony Wang took the top three spots in the Men’s A category. Tara Unverzagt took the top spot in the Women’s A category, Monica King took second, and Sarah Mattes third. Caleb Yang took first in the Men’s B category. Patrizia Richardson took first in the Women’s B category and Teresa Steele took second. Wheelmen president Cary Alpert finished first in the Men’s 55+ category ahead of Tom Buescher and Mick Iwadare.
For more information visit www.southbaywheelmen.org.
Celebrating their GU12 Area 18 Soccer Champions are: (bottom, l-r) Madison Ritchie, Kayla Keyzer, Kolbee Hale, (middle) Nicole Poirer, Lauren Thomson, (top) Michelle Drandell, Sarah Hayes, Malia Rusher, Kate Hoffman, Katie Wehrly, Mikhaela Gagliano and Georgia Kobel. Head Coach is Paul Kobel