Hawaii junior opposite Nikki Taylor was among 19 players invited to train and compete for a Pan American Cup roster spot, USA Volleyball announced Tuesday.
Taylor, An all-American in both indoor and beach volleyball, is one of three opposites being evaluated during the upcoming sessions at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, the others being Florida’s Alex Holston and Haley Eckerman from Texas. The final roster will be named in late June, with the competition running from June 30 to July 11 in the Dominican Republic.
The head coach is former Hawaii men’s associate head coach Dan Fisher, the head coach at Pitt. The U.S. won gold at this event last year under Fisher.
Trio earns Jr. Olympic gymnast medals
Three Hawaii gymnasts earned medals at the 2016 USA Jr. Olympics Level 9 Western Championships that was completed earlier this month in Missoula, Mont.
Ciello Magsanide (Rainbow Gymnastics Academy) earned two national medals by placing second on the bars (9.475) and 10th in the all-around (36.875) in the Senior 3 Division. She also scored 9.3 (16T) on the vault and 8.80 (18T) on the beam, and 9.3 (14T) on the floor events. Mina Margraf (Hawaiian Island Twisters) placed second on the floor exercise (9.575) in the Junior 3 Division. She also placed 12th in all-around (36.450). Brianna Yamamoto (Hawaiian Island Twisters) tied for second on the beam (9.350) in the Junior 3 Division. Yamamoto also scored 35.175 (23rd) in the all-around.
The gymnasts were among a group of 10 Hawaii Level 9 gymnasts who participated in the Western National Championships after qualifying through local, state and regional competitions. Also competing at the Western Championships were Ela Mulligan (HITs), Kamryn Horiuchi (HITs), Scarlette Ayakawa (HITS), Camryn Chiu (Kokokahi) , Breeann Spain (Pantheon), Ashlyn Takai (HITs), and Cayla-Ann Cabanban (HITs). They competed against the top 30 gymnasts in their respective age groups from the western half of the United States.
5 gymnasts are All-Academic
All five of the Hawaii gymnasts who competed on collegiate teams were recently named to their respective All-Academic scholar-athlete conference teams.
University of Oklahoma senior Josh Yee (Myron B Thompson Academy 2012), who is majoring in health and exercise science and has a 3.44 grade-point average, was honored by the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. He also was named All-Big 12 at-large first team.
Stanford senior Jenna Frowein (Punahou 2012), who has a 3.92 GPA and is majoring in architecture, minoring in art, and is finishing a master’s of art degree in structural engineering, was honored by the Pac-12. She also received Stanford’s Award of Excellence in recognition of leadership, contributions to the Stanford community, and academic achievement.
The MPSF also honored Air Force senior Joey Ching (Punahou 2012) and Seattle Pacific juniors Kristi Hayashida (home school 2013) and Tracie Villanueva (Moanalua 2013). Ching has a 3.71 GPA and is majoring in political science and minoring in Chinese. Hayashida has a 3.68 GPA and is majoring in accounting. Villanueva has a 3.41 GPA and is majoring in exercise science.
Hawn is conference’s top defensive player
Stetson senior third baseman Brittany Hawn (Castle 2012) was named the Atlantic Sun Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year after posting a .981 fielding percentage while starting all 51 games.
She was one of six Hatters to earn postseason honors.
Ohata earns Gatorade soccer honor
Punahou goalkeeper Tyler Ohata, the Star-Advertiser’s Player of the Year in boys soccer, was named the Gatorade Hawaii Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
Ohata led the Buffanblu to the state title and recorded 10 shutouts. The award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence as well as high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.
