Ama_May_June_2024

OCC Olympic Hopefuls

“Outrigger is such a volleyball player’s paradise. I do think a lot of that has put me on the trajectory of where I am today.” — Micah Christenson sight, would go from battling it out on the Club’s Baby Court to becoming world-class volleyball players. “Being able to go down to the snack bar and enjoy that victory shake after a quick dip in the ocean… [there are] a lot of fond memories for me,” he recalls. “Outrigger is such a volleyball player’s paradise. I do think a lot of that has put me on the trajectory of where I am today.” Baby Court, often called the birthplace of champions, holds a special place in the hearts of many, including Trevor Crabb. Beginning his journey on the Outrigger courts at the young age of three, Crabb grew up playing alongside his Olympian younger brother, Taylor, and many other influential volleyball players, including Tri Bourne. Together, Crabb and Bourne pur- sued their Olympic dreams in beach volleyball, narrowly missing out on qualification for the Tokyo Olympics. Now, each is on their separate path to qualify for Paris. Crabb has teamed up with Theo Brunner, and (at the time of publica- tion) hold the 11th spot in the world rankings, while Bourne, alongside Chaim Schalk, holds the 22nd spot. To secure their place in the Paris Olympics, both teams must rank within the top two of their country and the top 17 worldwide. “Missing out really close to the last Olym- pics really hurt, but just added fuel to the fire for the next one,” Crabb reflects. “At this point, a lot of it is mental. Last time was my first time going for the Olympics, and now I have a little more

Micah Christenson SPORT: Volleyball POSITION: Se er

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insight on what it takes to get there.” Currently, Crabb boasts an impressive re- cord as an 8-time AVP champion, a testament to his skill and dedication on the beach volleyball circuit. Notably, his reign of success includes three consecutive Manhattan Beach Titles from 2020 to 2022, solidifying his status as one of the top competitors in beach volleyball. With his sights set on Olympic gold in Paris and aspira- tions to compete in Los Angeles in 2028, Crabb remains focused on the task. Amidst the chal- lenges between him and Olympic qualification, he maintains an optimistic outlook, emphasiz- ing the importance of not taking anything for granted and taking it one tournament at a time. “Just getting there is the hardest part,” he adds. “We’re in a good position, but obviously there’s still a lot of events left so we still have to compete at a high level and do well, but we’re

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