February (2) 2022 Candygrams

Sunday, February 20, 2022---USC Men’s Basketball Senior Day Celebration

Trojan Candy arrived at Galen Center for the Senior Day Celebration for the Men's basketball team. As our team warmed up before their game versus Washington State, Trojan Candy took this video of them warming up. On the sidelines were our Spirit Leaders, our USC Song Girls, and our USC Dance Force.

Now, the Senior Day Celebration began. Greeting the Seniors on the court were Head Coach Andy Enfield, USC President Carol Folt, Athletic Director Mike Bohn and Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director Paul Perrier. Five Senior managers, Abby Baumgartner, Mahkala Tomaro, Anthony Sottile, Lauren Pierre, and Hunter Penrose, were honored first. FIGHT ON, Abby! FIGHT ON, Mahkala! FIGHT ON, Anthony! FIGHT ON, Lauren! FIGHT On, Hunter!

Then the four Senior players and their families were introduced. The first Senior was #32 Reggie Parris. Reggie earned a 3.97 GPA and majored in Business Administration. The second Senior was #55 Amar Ross. Amar majored in Psychology. No. 5 Isaiah White will earn his Master’s Degree in Communications Management. His wife Jazmine and two children Amari and Xavier joined Isaiah on the court. The last Senior introduced was #1 Chevez Goodwin. Chevez, who earned a 3.4 GPA, will graduate with a Master’s degree in Communication Management. Here is the video of the Celebration. Then, FIGHT ON, Reggie! FIGHT ON, Amar! FIGHT ON, Isaiah! FIGHT On, Chevez!

After the Senior Celebration ended, the starters were introduced. Boogie Ellis, Drew Peterson, Isaiah Mobley, Isaiah White, and Chevez Goodwin.

Here is my video of the tipoff.

A special USC alumnus sat courtside. Onyeka Okongwu (11/9/2019) waved to the audience on the Galen big screen.

Then, Trojan Candy walked over to where “Big O” was sitting, tapped him on his shoulder, and said, “Hello.” Onyeka smiled for my picture. I had interviewed Onyeka before COVID-19. Check out his interview here. KEEP FIGHTING ON, Onyeka!

There were two special performers at halftime. 1TakeJay and Kalan FRFR were the artists who performed with the Trojan Dance Force.

Our game versus Washington State was close. We won the game 62-60 after Joshua Morgan intercepted the WSU inbound pass on the last play of the game.

We celebrated our victory.

KEEP FIGHTING ON, USC Men’s Basketball!

Sunday, February 20, 2022---Women of Troy Basketball Seniors

Trojan Candy attended the final home game of the Women's Basketball team at Galen Center for the Senior Salute. Thanks to Darcy Couch, I was allowed on the court to take pictures of the Women of Troy basketball students who were playing their last home game.

I started with taking this picture of Graduate Student Jordan Sanders’s mom Linda, who was sitting in the stands.

Now it was time to introduce our two Graduate Students and Senior.

On the floor to congratulate them were USC Athletic Director Mike Bohn and President Carol Folt.

Trojan Candy walked into the tunnel to take this picture of Desiree Caldwell with her family---Ray, Alba, Recee', and Terrance Caldwell.

Now, it was time to start the Senior Celebration.

Two Senior Managers were honored first. They were Casey Cheng and Blake Amann who posed with Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb.

The first graduate was Graduate Student Tera Reed, who was standing at the tunnel ready to be introduced.

Now Tera hugged Assistant Coach Nneka Enemkpali.

Here is Tera with Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb.

The rest of the team came out to congratulate Tera.

Our second graduate was Graduate Student Jordan Sanders.

Jordan stopped to talk with assistant coaches Danyelle Grant, Nneka Enemkpali, and Wendale Farrow.

Then Jordan met with A.D. Mike Bohn, Joyce Bell Limbrick, and President Carol Folt.

Next, Jordan gave Coach Gottlieb a big hug.

Our third honoree was Senior Desiree Caldwell (3/22/2019). Trojan Candy interviewed Desiree in 2019 when she was a freshman.

Desiree shook hands with President Folt and Joyce Bell Limbrick.

Here are three of Desiree's family---Recee', Terrance, and Ray Caldwell.

Then, Desiree gave Coach Gottlieb a big hug.

Coach Gottlieb posed with Desiree and her family.

Here are the graduating students with their families. Linda Sanders, Jordan Sanders, Tera Reed, Ray Caldwell, Desiree Caldwell, Alba Caldwell, sister Recee’ Caldwell, brother Terrance Caldwell, and Coach Gottlieb.

Then Coach Gottlieb posed with Jordan, Tera, and Desiree.

Trojan Candy was so lucky that Jordan, Tera and Desiree posed for just me! FIGHT ON, Jordan! FIGHT ON, Tera! and FIGHT ON, Desiree!

My husband Jim took videos from the upper level while I was on the court. Here is the video he took of the Senior Salute.

Before the game started, Trojan Candy left the court for a while and quickly took pictures of my friends who are supporters and have attended Women of Troy basketball games for years. Courtside were Doris Hughes, Tom and Carole Zide, and Mel Hughes.

In the stands were friends Barbara and Hal Keimi and Richard Murakami.

In the front row were Ray and Eiko Bates. In the second row were Anna Adams, Karen Trust, and Anita Ybarra.

In a few rows further up were Dudley and (my sister) Patti Poon.

Marion, Aileen and Sam Osato gave Trojan Candy a FIGHT ON!

Now for the game. Our five starters sat on the bench before they were introduced. They are Jordyn Jenkins, Desiree Caldwell, Jordan Sanders, Tera Reed, and Rayah Marshall

Here is the video of the player introductions.

The team huddled.

Here is the tipoff.

Unfortunately, our Women of Troy lost 67-54 to Colorado.

Since this is our team’s last home game of the season, Trojan Candy wants to include videos of the USC Song Girls and USC Dance Force as they have entertained the fans for the entire 2021-2022 season.

First, our USC Song Girls.

Next, our USC Dance Force.

Last, but not least, a big thank you to the SPIRIT OF TROY!!!

FIGHT ON, Women of Troy Basketball!

Saturday, February 19, 2022---Women of Troy Water Polo vs Cal

Trojan Candy went to the Women's water polo match vs Cal at Uytengsu Aquatic Center. I found a seat next to the Pac-12 Team that was televising our match. Cal was ranked #2 and our Women of Troy were ranked #3. Cal parents sat in the section to my left. I used my camera for video.

Both teams stood in line poolside for the Star Spangled Banner.

Then, the teams were announced.

Our Women of Troy huddled. Then the starters held hands poolside and jumped in together.

The first sprint of the match was controlled by Cal.

However, our Women of Troy scored first. Our Gold Medal Olympian, #5 Paige Hauschild, scored USC’s first goal at 6:05. Unfortunately, Trojan Candy wasn’t recording video, but I did snap this picture of Paige’s shot. The ball is hidden behind Cal’s goalie’s right arm, because I snapped my shutter a split second early. Amazingly, I got the picture! Then I snapped a picture of the scoreboard.

Cal tied the score at 1-1 at 5:25 of period 1.

Then, I switched back to my video camera and took this video at 4:12 of Sabrina Garabet scoring her goal to put USC ahead 2 to 1.

Then, at 1:33 of the first period, Cal tied the score at 2 to 2.

USC’s Grace Tehaney scored her first goal at 1:12 of the first quarter to put USC ahead 3-2.

Unfortunately, Cal scored their third goal in the first period at 56.7 to tie the score at 3-3.

Luckily, Grace Tehaney responded with her second goal at 0:23.8 of the first period.

That made the score USC 4 Cal 3 which was the score at the end of the first period.

What an action packed first period!

USC huddled before the second period.

Cal huddled at the other end.

Trojan Candy spotted our USC Men’s Water Polo team in the stands rooting for our Women of Troy Water Polo team.

The second period sprint was touched by USC first, but Cal took control.

Paige Hauschild scored her second goal at 6:02 of the second period that made the score USC 5 and Cal 3. Paige scored so fast, that Trojan Candy didn’t get her shooting in the video. I’ll keep trying, Paige!

At 4:48 Mireia Guiral scored a goal to make the score USC 6 and Cal 3.

The next Women of Troy goal was shot at 3:57 of the second period by Bayley Weber. The ball just rolled into the net. The score was now USC 7 and Cal 3.

At 1:07 of the second period, Tilly Kearns scored a goal to make the score USC 8 and Cal 4.

With 0:23.9 left in the second period, Cal scored to make the score USC 8 and Cal 5 which was the halftime score.

Our Women of Troy rested during the halftime under their tent.

Our #3 Grace Tehaney won the third period sprint. The Women of Troy wasted no time in scoring our 9th goal on a 6 on 5 opportunity at 8:41. Our #5, yes, Paige Hauschild, scored a hat trick and Trojan Candy videorecorded Paige! If at first you don’t succeed...try, try again!

Then, at 5:49 of the third period, Tilly Kearns scored her second goal to make the score USC 10 and Cal 5.

Tilly wasn’t done scoring. At 4:05 of the third period, she scored a hat trick to increase the lead to 11-5.

Grace Tehaney scored her second goal at 0:12 of the third period.

That made the score USC 12 and Cal 5.

Now it was time for period 4 to start. Our driver #3 senior Grace Tehaney swims in the sprints.

Here Grace is with her teammate Redshirt Senior Sabrina Garabet waiting for the sprint to start.

Cal won the last sprint.

However, shortly into the 4th period at 7:12, Bayley Weber scored our 13th goal.

Cal scored two more goals in the 4th period. The final score of the match was USC 13 and Cal 7. Here is the end of the match and the high fives.

FIGHT ON, Women of Troy Water Polo!