The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
Photo via USA Volleyball.
It’s been a very busy fall for Millikan sophomore Jonah Tuaniga. Amid training camp as Millikan’s star quarterback, the dual-sport athlete was also announced as a member of the U17 Men’s Volleyball National Team, competing for Team USA as it took home bronze at the Pan American Cup this past weekend in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
The initial USA roster was announced in mid-July and consisted of 26 of the top athletes in the country. Tuaniga then competed at a week-long training block before being selected to the final 14-man competition roster that made the trip to Guatemala, where he found himself as a key piece in USA’s third-place finish.
The Americans played six games in as many days in Guatemala, opening with a 3-2 victory over Mexico before a sweep of Puerto Rico. Team USA finished the preliminary phase with a four-set loss to Canada to finish 2-1 ahead of the quarterfinals of the tournament.
USA handled Guatemala in the quarterfinals via sweep, but couldn’t overcome Venezuela in a straight-set loss in the semifinals. Team USA finished off its stay in Guatemala with a sweep of Mexico in the third-place match to conclude the U17 team’s second-ever tournament. The team previously played in the Continental Championship last year, where it also finished third.
Tuaniga’s schedule won’t take any breaks as he returns to Long Beach to prepare for the upcoming football season. Millikan will begin its non-league slate with a home matchup against Huntington Beach on Thursday, Aug. 20.
