AOTW
Athlete of the Week Football Long Beach Poly Long Beach State Millikan Soccer Softball Water Polo Wilson

The562.org’s Athletes of the Week

Congratulations to our Athletes of the Week, presented by Naples Rib Company.

HIGH SCHOOL

Keyonta Lanier, Long Beach Poly Football

Long Beach Poly receiver Keyonta Lanier earned his nickname of “Big Play Tay” with a pair of touchdown catches for the Jackrabbits in their big win over Lakewood. Lanier, a senior, is a New Mexico signee.

Xander McLaurin, Wilson Football

New Wilson QB Xander McLaurin has big cleats to fill as he follows the record-setting Ryan Pettway, but McLaurin started his career in style for Wilson last week with three touchdowns, including the game-winner with a minute left.

Issac Chavez, Millikan Soccer

Millikan vaulted into first place last week thanks to a game-winning goal on a fantastic header from Issac Chavez in the 50th minute. The Rams fell behind Poly 1-0 early but went on to win 3-1 with Chavez’s goal putting them in the lead.

Natalie Paulson, Millikan Soccer

Junior Natalie Paulson provided some late-game dramatics in Millikan’s Moore League opener with Poly last week. The Rams trailed 2-0 in the 79th minute, but Paulson scored twice in a matter of minutes to give Millikan a 2-2 draw.

Maceo Glenn, Millikan Water Polo

Senior Maceo Glenn racked up a half-dozen goals to lead Millikan to a 10-5 win over Long Beach Poly on a frigid night at Cabrillo High last week. Glenn scored a hat trick in the first quarter and added a pair of nifty back-handed goals in the fourth quarter to single-handedly outscore the Jackrabbits.

COLLEGE

Suzy Brookshire, Long Beach State Softball

Senior Suzy Brookshire had a game to remember in a 7-3 win over Riverside, hitting three homeruns in three at-bats. Brookshire set a new Long Beach State record for most homers in one game, also notching 5 RBIs.

 

Mike Guardabascio
An LBC native, Mike Guardabascio has been covering Long Beach sports professionally for 13 years, with his work published in dozens of Southern California magazines and newspapers. He's won numerous awards for his writing as well as the CIF Southern Section’s Champion For Character Award, and is the author of three books about Long Beach history.
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