Sports, American Samoa
American Samoa's men's beach Volleyball team upsets Australia to win Oceania Championship
FIVB: Lausanne, Switzerland, November 8, 2015 – The American Samoa Men’s team of Sigalu Aitui and Sam Luaiva have upset Australia’s Max Guehrer and Zachery Schubert in Pool C of the Oceania Beach Volleyball Championships and will progress to the quarterfinals as the top seed from Pool C.
American Samoa Coach Keli Pula commented: “We are very happy with the commitment of our teams; they have been training hard.”
American Samoa have brought two men’s teams and two women’s teams to the Oceania Championships, with the men’s team having already finished third in the Continental Cup Zonal Championship, booking their place in the next phase.
“New Zealand and Australia are the teams to beat here so we are very happy to have beaten Australia,” Pula said.
This year has been a very successful year for American Samoa, with the women’s team winning the Pacific Games Gold Medal in Papua New Guinea and the men’s team claiming Bronze.
The Quarterfinals of the Oceania Championships will be played Friday afternoon with the Semifinals and Finals on Saturday.
Eastern Oceania Zone Development Manager James Summers was excited by the improvement he has seen in the Eastern Zone of Oceania. “American Samoa have been improving greatly over the past few years,” he said. “Cook Islands and Samoa are also improving and hopefully will be able to push New Zealand and Australia in the near future.”
FIVB: Lausanne, Switzerland, November 8, 2015 – The American Samoa Men’s team of Sigalu Aitui and Sam Luaiva have upset Australia’s Max Guehrer and Zachery Schubert in Pool C of the Oceania Beach Volleyball Championships and will progress to the quarterfinals as the top seed from Pool C.
American Samoa Coach Keli Pula commented: “We are very happy with the commitment of our teams; they have been training hard.”
American Samoa have brought two men’s teams and two women’s teams to the Oceania Championships, with the men’s team having already finished third in the Continental Cup Zonal Championship, booking their place in the next phase.
“New Zealand and Australia are the teams to beat here so we are very happy to have beaten Australia,” Pula said.
This year has been a very successful year for American Samoa, with the women’s team winning the Pacific Games Gold Medal in Papua New Guinea and the men’s team claiming Bronze.
The Quarterfinals of the Oceania Championships will be played Friday afternoon with the Semifinals and Finals on Saturday.
Eastern Oceania Zone Development Manager James Summers was excited by the improvement he has seen in the Eastern Zone of Oceania. “American Samoa have been improving greatly over the past few years,” he said. “Cook Islands and Samoa are also improving and hopefully will be able to push New Zealand and Australia in the near future.”
Justin Lutu leads American Samoa to a gold medal in Special Olympics 100 meters
By Albert Ainuu. Photos by Etenauga Lam Yuen Lutu,
American Samoa's team to the Special Olympics World Games will return home with one gold medal and two bronze medals.
The gold was won by Justin Lutu in the men's one hundred meter dash. Justin Lutu is the son of Senator Afoa and Ete Lutu. Justin was awarded the first place when the winner was disqualified. Justin was running a close 2nd at the time.
Other members of the American Samoa Special Olympics team who had excellent results include Loren Meredith who got a Bronze medal in the shotput. Apati Tua, the daughter of Alama and Va Tua won a Bronze in the women's 100 meter race. Schycmidaran Naidu placed 4th in the women's 100 meter race.
Dennis Vaiga, son of the late Tou and Tasi Vaiga placed 6th in his shotput division. The track and field team all competed in 2 events plus the relay except Dennis.
American Samoa's unified soccer team barely lost the bronze medal match to the Philippines by a score of 4-3.
Congratulations to the Coaches Brian Vitorio the Soccer Coach and Head Coach Deanna Fuimaono for the successful showing by American Samoa's team in the 2015 Los Angeles Special Olympics World Games which was held at the USC and UCLA campuses as well as the Coliseum.
Below are photos from the Special Olympics World games taken by photographer Etenauga Lam Yuen Lutu
American Samoa's team to the Special Olympics World Games will return home with one gold medal and two bronze medals.
The gold was won by Justin Lutu in the men's one hundred meter dash. Justin Lutu is the son of Senator Afoa and Ete Lutu. Justin was awarded the first place when the winner was disqualified. Justin was running a close 2nd at the time.
Other members of the American Samoa Special Olympics team who had excellent results include Loren Meredith who got a Bronze medal in the shotput. Apati Tua, the daughter of Alama and Va Tua won a Bronze in the women's 100 meter race. Schycmidaran Naidu placed 4th in the women's 100 meter race.
Dennis Vaiga, son of the late Tou and Tasi Vaiga placed 6th in his shotput division. The track and field team all competed in 2 events plus the relay except Dennis.
American Samoa's unified soccer team barely lost the bronze medal match to the Philippines by a score of 4-3.
Congratulations to the Coaches Brian Vitorio the Soccer Coach and Head Coach Deanna Fuimaono for the successful showing by American Samoa's team in the 2015 Los Angeles Special Olympics World Games which was held at the USC and UCLA campuses as well as the Coliseum.
Below are photos from the Special Olympics World games taken by photographer Etenauga Lam Yuen Lutu