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sports
Holloway's left
arm alright for 49ers
By Tom Carey
On-line Forty-Niner
Long Beach State's
Aaron Holloway could be one of the best-left handers in college
water polo.
"Aaron is
the most improved player in the U.S.," said Ricardo Azevedo,
LBSU's head water polo coach. "Our six on five offense
is worked around him."
During the off-season,
Holloway, a junior utilityman, earned a spot on the U.S. National
Team's practice squad, where he practiced twice a day and
lifted weights daily.
"I gained
ten pounds since last season and I hope to gain more [plus]
improve my speed and strength," said Holloway. "My
goals are to make it to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens,
Greece. I'm just going to keep working on my strength and
speed so I can compete on the international level."
Holloway's teammates
know how important he is to the 49ers' team.
"I think Aaron
is the best left-hander in college right now," said teammate
Tyler Wawrzynski. "Now we can use that side of the pool,
because of his left hand."
The 49er's are
ranked sixth in the country despite starting off the season
with two tough losses, once to USC in overtime and a neck-and-neck
defeat at the hands of UCLA.
"It's still
early in the season," Holloway said. "I know we
have the talent to win the whole thing and hopefully we'll
start to win all the close ones."
Holloway's teammate,
Chris Segesman, also competed on the U.S. National Team's
traveling squad during the off-season and Holloway has high
praise for the senior.
"I look up
to Segesman," said Holloway. "He has an unbelievable
work ethic. I am looking forward to playing the rest of the
season with him.
What many people
don't know is that Holloway is an excellent surfer. Growing
up in El Segundo, he surfed the heavy waves of his local break,
El Porto. He has even traveled to France, Spain, Portugal,
Mexico and Hawaii searching for good waves and competing in
professional longboarding contests.
"I made it
to the semifinals of a pro contest in France before losing
to most of my idols," said Holloway.
The 49ers hope
to improve their record during the NorCal Tournament at Stanford
on October 13 and 14.
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