AOTW
Athlete of the Week Badminton Golf Lakewood Long Beach Poly Long Beach State Swimming Track & Field Wilson

The562.org’s Athletes Of The Week

It was a super-sized week of action so it’s a super-sized Athletes of the Week! Congratulations to our winners and thanks to Naples Rib Company for their sponsorship.

Doris Chuang, Wilson Badminton

With a long frame and a powerful stroke, Wilson sophomore Doris Chuang dominated the field to win the Moore League girls’ badminton singles title last week. Chuang withstood a strong test from second-seeded Jennie Ouk of Lakewood, winning 21-16, 21-12.

Jay Chea, Lakewood Badminton

Although not the biggest player in the gym, no Moore League badminton boys’ player was faster or more precise than Lakewood’s Jay Chea, the junior who took home the singles crown. Chea won a long battle with the defending champion to take the title, 21-13, 13-21, 21-15.

Josie Liebzeit, Long Beach Poly Swim

Jackrabbit junior Josie Liebzeit was the star of the meet at a dramatic Moore League girls’ swim finals. Liebzeit took home gold in the 200 medley relay and the 200 individual medley, as well as the 100 backstroke. She also swam on the 400 freestyle relay that won Poly their fourth straight league title.

Hank Rivers, Wilson Swim

Wilson won a state-record 47th consecutive Moore League boys’ swimming championship last week, and if freshman Hank Rivers has anything to say about it, that won’t be their last. Rivers broke league records in the 100 breaststroke, the 50 freestyle, and on the 200 freestyle relay. Rivers’ 21.04 in the 50 free broke a 23-year old league record by .41 seconds.

Kenyon Reed, Long Beach Poly Track

Poly sprinter Kenyon Reed proved to be Long Beach’s sprint champion at last week’s Moore League track and field finals. Reed, who is signed with Kansas State for football, anchored Poly’s winning 4×100 and won the 100 and 200. His 21.07 in the 200 was a top 15 mark nationally this season.

Ryann Mayo, Wilson Track

Wilson junior Ryann Mayo logged some serious mileage last week for the Bruins in the Moore League track and field finals. Mayo, who was a key contributor to the Bruins’ historic Moore League girls’ cross country title, won the mile and the two-mile races at league finals.

Darren Hall, Long Beach Poly Tennis

Poly senior Darren Hall made it twice as nice, as he defended his own Moore League boys’ tennis singles championship last week at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center. Hall defeated teammate Arkin Verma in the finals 6-7 (7-0), 6-3, 6-0. Hall and Verma also earned silver as runner-ups in the boys’ doubles final.

Haley Tygret, Long Beach State Golf

Long Beach State senior Haley Tygret led her team to a second consecutive Big West Championship, and won the Big West Individual Championship with a 4-under tournament performance. Tygret won the individual championship by five shots, and was the only golfer to not have a single round over par.

 

Mike Guardabascio
An LBC native, Mike Guardabascio has been covering Long Beach sports professionally for 13 years, with his work published in dozens of Southern California magazines and newspapers. He's won numerous awards for his writing as well as the CIF Southern Section’s Champion For Character Award, and is the author of three books about Long Beach history.
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