Beach
represents for Team USA
By Oscar Gardner
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
Men’s
volleyball assistant coach Andy Read and
head baseball coach Mike Weathers have the
honor this summer of representing American
international play.
Read will be assistant coach for the World
University Games in Daegu, Korea, while
Weathers will be assistant coach for the
national team that will play in the Pan
American Games later this summer.
“It’s an honor anytime to help represent
your country,” said Read.
“We have a selection process, a committee
that annually puts a list together of the
nation’s strongest coaches,” said Steve
Cohen, director of national teams.
Cohen heard high remarks and rave reviews
from coaches and people outside of the baseball
circle that helped the committee in choosing
Weathers. Cohen also stated that assisting
on the national team usually is the first
step in having a chance to coach the national
team in the future.
Four players from the men’s volleyball team
will be trying out for the team June 27
in Colorado Springs, Colo. Juniors David
Lee and Scott Touzinsky along with freshman
Tyler Hildebrand and Robert Tarr will be
competing in a field of 24 players, for
the coveted 12 spots. The team will take
several alternates as well.
“The fact that there are four players from
here that were selected to try out is great,”
said Read. “It’s the stepping stone for
the Olympics for some of these players.”
Head coach of Indiana University-Purdue
University Fort Wayne, Arnie Ball, Read,
and the head coach of the national team,
Doug Beal, selected the players for the
tryouts.
“The players tried out while they were playing
for their university teams,” said Read.
“Coach Ball watched his league for guys,
and the national coach took three trips
out to the West Coast to look at players
out here.”
After selections, Japan will host the Japan-USA
Men’s Challenge Cup, July 26 through Aug.
3.
Sophomore pitcher Jered Weaver has been
one of the 34 sophomores and freshman collegiate
players who have been picked to try out
for the national team. Tryouts will be held
this Saturday until June 27, in Tucson,
AZ. The coaches will choose 20 players from
these men to represent America.
“We select players by their statistics and
consistency for the season,” said Cohen.
Jeff Niemann from Rice and Weaver have been
the most consistent in the committee’s eyes
Cohen said.
“He[Weaver] is a potential first round draft
pick, and he projects himself in a professional
manner on the field,” said Cohen. “Jered
has been one of the top performers all year.”
Coaches can’t lobby for any player; this
includes selection to try out and the final
cut for the national team.
The Beach’s women’s volleyball program will
also be represented this summer with seniors
Elisha Thomas and Brittany Hochevar already
playing for the 2003 USA Women’s Montreau,
Russia Tour. Long Beach State alumni Tayyiba
Haneef, Danielle Scott and Tara Cross-Battle
are on the team as well.
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