Beach Student-Athletes And Coaches Find Success Internationally

Beach Student-Athletes And Coaches Find Success Internationally

8/29/2019 11:58:00 AM | Men's Volleyball, Men's Water Polo, Softball, Track and Field, Women's Basketball, Women's Water Polo

International Rosters were filled with Long Beach State representatives.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Competition continued throughout the summer for many of Long Beach State's student-athletes and coaches as there were plenty of opportunities to see action on the international stage.

                While many were at the Pan-Am Games in Lima, Peru, Long Beach State representatives shined throughout the summer in various competitions.

                In Lima, LaTanya Sheffield led the Women's Track and Field efforts for Team USA, and the US women combined for 18 Medals in Peru in Athletics. Assistant Coach Jaide Stepter played a part in winning one of those medals as part of the 4x400 meter relay squad that took Gold.

                Gavin Arroyo served as an Assistant Coach for the Men's Water Polo team at the Pan Am games, part of a busy summer for the LBSU head coach. The US men dominated their competition on the way to winning the gold, cruising to an 18-6 win in the Gold Medal match against Canada. Meanwhile, Liz Grimes was working with the women's program who also came away with Gold at the Pan Am games with an identical scoreline of 18-6 over Canada.

                Long Beach State softball assistant coach Kevin Castillo joined Stepter as coaches coming home with hardware as players. Castillo continues to compete with the USA Men's Softball program, and helped lead the USA to a Silver Medal in Lima during the Pan-Am Games.

                Your back-to-back national champion Men's Volleyball program saw plenty of action as well. Kyle Ensing and Josh Tuaniga both competed in the Pan-Am games with USA Men's Volleyball, and were joined by TJ DeFalco in playing for Team USA in the FIVB Volleyball Nation's League. Nick Amado represented the US in the NORCECA Champions Cup, and returning outside hitter Ethan Siegfried made the US Men's Collegiate National team that participated in the World University Games.

                Incoming libero Mason Briggs joined assistant coach Nick MacRae who served in the same capacity at the FIVB U19 World Championships, currently in competition in Tunisia.

                Others playing on youth teams included Justina King of women's basketball, who represented Canada at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup as well as softball's Maddy Ruffin, who played for the Mexican National Team at the U19 Women's Softball World Cup.

                Long Beach State is proud to play a part in providing an opportunity for players and coaches to develop and continue to play on the International Stage. Olympians are made at Long Beach State, and LBSU has had a participant in every Summer Olympic Games since the school's founding.