We’ve got a special college Athletes of the Week–congrats to all the winners and thanks to Naples Rib Company for their sponsorship!
Joseph Rocha, LBCC Volleyball
LBCC won a state championship last weekend and it was thanks in part to freshman setter Joseph Rocha, who was lights out down the stretch. Rocha set LBCC to a .404 attack clip in the semifinal and a .421 clip in the state championship. In blowout second and third sets in the state title match, LBCC hit .611 and .533, beating Irvine Valley 25-12 in both.
Sebastian Irwin, LBCC Baseball
LBCC clinched another conference championship last week and earned a berth into the playoffs. The Vikings championship-clinching win was a blowout over Compton, 12-3. Lakewood alum Sebastian Irwin threw six innings of three-hit baseball, allowing just one earned run as LBCC built an 11-0 lead.
Bria Palmer, Long Beach State Track & Field
Senior Bria Palmer had a great weekend at the Steve Scott Invitational last weekend competing in the high jump. Palmer won her fifth title of the season by clearing 5-08.75. Palmer’s leap was the No. 2 mark in the Big West this year, No. 9 in the NCAA West Region, and No. 17 in the nation.
Emma Bardet, Long Beach State Tennis
Long Beach State freshman Emma Bardet didn’t have to finish her singles matches in the Big West quarterfinals or semifinals as LBSU had already clinched wins. But with the championship tied 3-3 against Hawaii, Bardet had to win for her team, and she did, pulling out a 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 victory to give Long Beach State its 15th conference championship.
Nichole Fry, Long Beach State Softball
Long Beach State won the series against Cal Poly last weekend, and senior Nichole Fry made history in the process. She scored two runs in Long Beach State’s series-clinching 5-1 victory over the Mustangs on Sunday, bringing her to 139 runs scored in her career. That makes Fry the new school record holder for runs scored, with a few weeks left in her senior season.
