The562’s coverage of aquatic sports in Long Beach is sponsored by the Aquatic Capital of America Foundation.
Once again a group of Long Beach natives have helped USA men’s water polo make history.
This morning the Americans were able to outlast Australia in a quarterfinals shootout 11-10 and advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2008 when legend Tony Azevedo and Team USA won silver in Beijing.
After a late American equalizer forced the penalty shootout, Long Beach’s own Max Irving (pictured) and Hannes Daube converted the first two penalty shots. Goaltender Adrian Weinberg then made consecutive saves to secure the win. Daube has scored a team-high 17 goals in six games in Paris. Irving has scored 10 times.
Long Beach twin brothers Chase and Ryder Dodd have also been key to Team USA success. Ryder Dodd has scored seven goals.
A pair of great wins against Montenegro and Croatia helped the Americans exit the group stage with a 3-2 record. Irving, a Wilson HS alum, scored a hat trick in the 14-11 win over Croatia, including a massive go-ahead goal in the fourth quarter.
The Americans will face two-time defending gold medalists Serbia in the semifinals on Friday.
Long Beach State coach Gavin Arroyo is also a a Team USA assistant coach.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Team USA fell to Poland 25-23, 25-27, 14-25, 25-23, 15-13 in the semifinals this morning.
During an impressive 26-24, 28-30, 25-19, 25-19 win over Brazil in the quarterfinals, Long Beach State product TJ DeFalco scored 16 points on 15 kills and a block. He also had 11 digs and six clean receptions.
The Americans will meet the loser of the Italy and France in the bronze medal match on Friday at 7 a.m. PT.
WOMEN’S WATER POLO
Long Beach continues to factor in everything USA water polo.
This week, a USA women’s national team full of Long Beach ties survived a tough quarterfinals match against Hungary and advanced with a 5-4 victory.
Long Beach resident and team captain Maggie Steffens scored twice and led the defensive charge for the Americans. With the score tied late in the fourth quarter, Long Beach State assistant coach Rachel Fattal scored on a double exclusion advantage and that goal ended up being the match-winner.
Team USA advances to the semifinals against Australia on Thursday. It’s their seventh consecutive Olympic semifinals appearance and they are searching for a record fourth consecutive gold medal.
Long Beach State also has two other representatives in women’s water polo with Marilla Mimides playing for Canada and Orsi Hertzka playing for host France. Canada reached the quarterfinals and France beat Italy for its first ever Olympics victory.
Long Beach City College water polo coach Chris Oeding is also an assistant coach on the staff.
MEN’S GOLF
Xander Schauffele, who played at Long Beach State, almost won his second gold medal in Paris last week. He won the four-round Olympics tournament in Tokyo in 2021, and led the event after three rounds last week. He was tied atop the leaderboard at 14-under par, but fellow American Scottie Scheffler made a charge on Sunday to win the tournament at 19-under par. Schauffele finished ninth at 12-under par.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
American libero and Long Beach representative Justine Wong-Orantes has been fantastic for Team USA and will continue leading the back line in the semifinals against Brazil on Thursday. It will be broadcast live on NBC at 7 a.m. PT.
Wong-Orantes won a national title in high school with club team Long Beach Mizuno. She had a match-high 14 digs in the sweep of Poland on Tuesday.
TRACK & FIELD
The USA track and field athletes have already put their mark on these Olympic Games after just a few days of competition, and they’re getting motivated by Long Beach State coach LaTanya Sheffield. She is a former Olympian and American record holder who has taken over as head coach for Team USA.
Sheffield did an interview with LBSU before she left and talked about what it means to her.
“The goose bumps are heavy, but the willingness to serve is great,” she said in the video that can be viewed at LongBeachState.com “We will be, not I, but (the coaching staff) will be the team behind the team. We are going to stand tall, and we are going to stand up, and we are going to show out for Team USA. It’s a time in my life as well. There’s nothing like it.”
