Part of a recent water polo competition /
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Teams from Uganda, Tanzania and
Ghana have confirmed participation
in the inaugural National Water Polo
tournament, scheduled for May 17-18
at the Potterhouse school.

Team Kenya water polo coordinator,
Paul Muigai, termed it as one of the key
disciplines which need to be exploited
to grow swimming in the country.

“It’s a facet of swimming which has
not been developed for a long time,
but I am happy there is a lot of interest
from several clubs and swimmers.
This being the first championship, I
know it will be competitive, especially
with teams from Tanzania, Ghana and
Uganda attending,” said Muigai.

The goal will be to have a Kenyan
team at the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane,
Australia, and at the same time
host the Africa Aquatics Water Polo
Championship soon.

“We must start planning for the
Olympics now because we have six
years to grow the sport and find the
top swimmers in the discipline. We also
need to give them exposure to compete
at the highest level between now and 2032. I am confident we will grow the
discipline,” added Muigai.

He called on schools to introduce
water polo and start training learners
from an early age.

“Just as we introduce swimming
to young boys from a tender age, we
need to do the same in Water polo if
our athletes are to become adept at the
sport,” observed Muigai.

The tournament will feature three
hotly contested categories: boys’
U-14, girls’ U-17, and
girls’ & Open divisions
(mixed gender teams).

Each match will be
played over four thrilling
quarters of eight minutes,
promising high-octane
action from start to finish.

Teams are expected to
register 13 players (seven
starters and six reserves)
and will be guided by
a maximum of two
coaches on the bench.

Among the teams
that have confirmed
participation for the event
are Murang’a Aquatics, Rosslyn Academy, Peponi School,
Peponi House, West Nairobi School,
Hillcrest School, USIU University,
MKU University, Torpedo Club, Rupaz
Club, Kisumu Club, Nova Pioneer and
Potterhouse School
Others are Mpesa Foundation,
Aga Khan Academy, Genesis Sports
Limited, Y Lagoons, Black Star
(Ghana) and the Coastal Titans
from Mombasa Club.

Tyler Hendrickson was born and raised in Long Beach, and started covering sports in his hometown in 2010. After five years as a sportswriter, Tyler joined the athletic department at Long Beach State University in 2015. He spent more than four years in the athletic communications department, working primarily with the Dirtbags baseball program. Tyler also co-authored of The History of Long Beach Poly: Scholars & Champions.

http://the562.org

Scholarship Fund Launched; Suspect with Suspended License Held Without Bail

Tributes poured in over the weekend for Loyola High School senior Zachary Braun Levi, whose life was cut short earlier this month in a suspected DUI crash in Manhattan Beach.

Levi, 18, was remembered at memorials in both Manhattan Beach and on Loyola’s campus, where he had served as captain of the varsity tennis team. Widely regarded as one of the school’s most accomplished student-athletes, Levi had earned a national tennis ranking and committed to play for the University of Virginia this fall.

A memorial was held at Loyola and a “paddle out” was held in Manhattan Beach in Levi’s honor, after a prior memorial was held at his favorite beach volleyball court in the South Bay city. 

A high school freshman,Takuto Goh, from Culver City said, “Every time I saw him, he was always so nice and was smiling, and that says everything.”, as quoted by the Southern California Tennis Association. 

Pam Shriver said, in a social media post, “Heaven gained an angel today but the Los Angeles tennis community lost a young pilar and gem. It’s hard to express our family’s sadness over the loss of Braun Levi.”

The Manhattan Beach resident and his family had recently moved from Pacific Palisades after losing their home during January’s wildfire. Levi was struck and killed in the early morning hours of May 4 while walking with a friend near South Sepulveda Boulevard. Police arrested 33-year-old Jenia Resha Belt at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Investigators later revealed Belt was driving on a suspended license, a consequence of a previous DUI arrest in November 2023. She pleaded no contest to a hit-and-run charge in September 2024 as part of a plea deal that dismissed the DUI charge and placed her on a year of probation. Belt remains in custody without bail and is scheduled to appear in court on May 28 in Inglewood for a potential probation violation.

In lieu of flowers, Levi’s family has asked for donations to be made to the “Live Like Braun” Scholarship Fund, established in his memory, in lieu of flowers. Donations can be made here, and to donate specifically to the scholarship, write in Levi’s name in the space provided.

CHESTER, Pa. – The Dickinson men’s and women’s track & field teams sent a small select group to the George A. Hansell Track at Leslie C. Quick Stadium on the campus of Widener University to compete in the Widener Final Qualifier trying to earn their slots in the upcoming NCAA DIII National Championships.

First-year Franklyn Akabi-During was involved in two events during the meet taking part first in the 100m. He would put up the fourth-best time in the prelims with a time of 10.70, before grabbing second in the final at 10.58. He then returned to action for the 200m clocking in at 21.25 to seize fourth. His mark in the 200m was good to set not only a new Dickinson record, but also rewrite the mark for the Centennial Conference.

Classmate Darian Crim went to work during the 400m hitting the line in 49.94 to nab ninth.

The 800m was where a pair of junior took to the track as Trevor Richwine and James Masterson grabbed second (1:48.31) and 30th (1:53.84) respectively. Richwine’s time did two things: first, set a new Dickinson record, while also resulting in the ninth-best time in Division III history for that event.

The only female to compete on the day was Amiyah Priebe who made an appearance during the 3000m steeplechase. She would cross the line at 10:56.87 to claim seventh.

Dickinson will now have to wait and see if any of their athletes will qualify for the NCAA Championships as the announcement will be coming in the following days. The meet will will take place from May 22-25 at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.

Cleveland, OH-The Horizon League announced today its All-Academic Teams for men’s and women’s golf and two student-athletes from the Cleveland State men’s program were recognized.
 
Andrew Kaye earned a spot on the men’s All-Academic Team for the third consecutive year and Mason Frazier earned honorable mention recognition. To qualify for the All-Academic Team nominees must have a 3.2 GPA or higher and participate in at least 50 percent of the team’s total events in the regular season. The team is voted on by the league’s Faculty Athletics Representatives and consists of six student-athletes who earn the highest number of votes. Honorable mention recognition is awarded to any student-athlete who finishes outside of the top six but earns at least 25 percent of the total votes.
 
Kaye is now a two-time graduate of Cleveland State University as he earned his Master of Business Administration degree this past weekend as part of the university’s commencement ceremonies. Kaye carries a 3.91 GPA in his graduate classes and finished his undergraduate degree in finance with a 3.98 GPA. He closed the season with a 72.5 scoring average and registered his highest finish of the year in his final collegiate event placing third in the Horizon League Championship tournament at the end of April.
 
Frazier earns honorable mention recognition for excelling in his undergraduate and graduate coursework. He is also on pace to be a two-time Cleveland State University graduate as he carries a 3.76 GPA in the Master of Business Administration program. He received his undergraduate degree in marketing and finished with a 3.77 GPA. On the course he closed his final campaign with a 74.1 scoring average and a tie for ninth at the Horizon League Championship.