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Athlete of the Week Basketball Football Lakewood Long Beach Poly Soccer Softball Swimming Wilson

The562.org’s Athletes of the Week

Congratulations to our Athletes of the Week and thanks to Naples Rib Company for their sponsorship.

HIGH SCHOOL

Hank Rivers, Wilson Swimming

Wilson junior Hank Rivers is one of the top youth swimmers in the country, and he showed it in his first high school meet in 13 months last weekend. Rivers set school records in the 100 breaststroke (54.94) and the 200 individual medley (1:50.36) leading the Bruins to a win over Poly.

Sammie Hamilton, Wilson Swimming

Wilson freshman Sammie Hamilton burst onto the scene at last weekend’s Wilson/Poly dual swim meet. She won the 200 free (1:54.74) and 500 free (5:06.97) and was a force in the 200 medley and 400 free relays, leading Wilson to a win in both of those events as well.

Bryun Parham, Long Beach Poly Football

Long Beach Poly senior Bryun Parham is one of the most physical linebackers to come out of Long Beach in the last decade, and he was laying some bone-crunching hits in Poly’s city championship win over Millikan. Parham, a San Jose State signee, had a team-high six tackles, four for a loss and a sack.

Peyton Watson, Long Beach Poly Basketball

UCLA signee and McDonald’s All-American put on a show last week in his first competitive games in 13 months. Watson had 20 points and four blocks in a win for Poly over Compton and put up 30 points on just 16 shots in a blowout win over Jordan, including a trio of highlight dunks.

Ashley Hawkins, Wilson Basketball

Wilson senior Ashley Hawkins had a great game for the Bruins in their Moore League opener against Lakewood last week. Hawkins put up 19 points to lead Wilson to a running-clock victory over Lakewood, one of five Bruins to score in double figures.

Emi Sverduk, Wilson Golf

Wilson junior Emi Sverduk remains a force of nature, and last week posted and 8-under par score on the day, going 28 consecutive holes without a bogey and tying a school record for lowest score on the front 9 at Recreation Park Golf Course (with a five-under 33). In 36 holes of action Sverduk had nine birdies, 26 pars, and just one bogey.

Kyla Gomez, Long Beach Poly Soccer

Long Beach Poly forward Kyla Gomez came off the bench and changed the game while scoring the third goal for the Jackrabbits, helping them pick up a critical 4-2 victory at Wilson that puts Poly in the Moore League driver’s seat.

Laci Berecochea, Lakewood Softball

Lakewood junior Laci Berecochea helped the Lancers start Moore League play with a bang last week. The pitcher threw a complete game shutout and gave up just one hit in the five-inning rule-run victory over Wilson, 10-0.

 

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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