October (1) 2023 Candygrams

Saturday, October 7, 2023---Women of Troy Beach Volleyball Ring Ceremony

My husband Jim and I were invited to attend the 2023 NCAA Beach Volleyball Champions Ring Ceremony in the Bashor Lounge of Heritage Hall. After we signed in, we walked into the lounge and immediately saw three NCAA Beach Volleyball trophies. There they were three years in a row: 2021, 2022 and 2023!

First, I took a picture of all three trophies.

Then, I took a picture of each trophy separately:

Next I saw two very familiar faces. They were the (Audrey and Nicole) Nourse twins whom I met and interviewed in February 21, 2020, when they were both freshmen. Now Audrey and Nicole are both graduate students on the 2024 team. We talked about Sara Hughes and Kelly (Claes) Cheng reuniting on the Pro Beach Volleyball tour. Then I told them they can be Olympians, too! Both of them smiled at my prediction! Keep Fighting On, Audrey and Nicole!

Trojan Candy walked outside to the patio and saw two players sitting with family members. They were Kirk and Klaire VanDeusen, Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope, and Jube VanDeusen.

At a nearby table were Hunter Rasnick-Pope and Ashlyn’s dad David.

At the other side of the table was her uncle Ryan Rasnick.

Trojan Candy walked back inside and took this picture of more team members. From left to right were Audrey Nourse, Harper Hallgren, Nicole Nourse, ?, Gabby Walker, Delaynie Maple (2/26/2022), and Delaney Karl.

Next, in the lobby I took a picture of Coach Dain Blanton.

Back inside, our Master of Ceremonies Leland Waters started the program.

Coach Dain called each player up, and he and Assistant Coach Gustavo Rocha gave each player a big hug and a box containing the 2023 Championship ring. Then Coach Dain spoke about each one of them. Trojan Candy took a picture of each player as they were introduced, and my husband Jim took three videos of the introductions.

Here are the NCAA Champion Players:

Tatiana Rusich

Colby Bennett

Ava Gallien (2/26/2022)

Caitlin Cummings

Next, Trojan Candy rushed around to take as many pictures as I could.

Here is Delaynie Maple showing her three rings and freshman Delaney Karl showing her first.

The twins Nicole and Audrey Nourse showed me their three rings!

Then, Trojan Candy was able to take this picture of the team and their rings!

Bailey Showalter, Klaire VanDeusen, and Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope posed for this picture.

Delaney Karl, Delaynie Maple, and Mabyn Thomas showed their rings.

Nearby were Coach Dain’s wife Maeve and his son Caid.

Outside, Coach Rocha was with Olivia Bakos, Nicole Nourse, Delaynie Maple, Audrey Nourse and Harper Hallgren.

Delaynie Maple and Harper Hallgren showed Trojan Candy their three rings.

Tuesday, October 3, 2023---Baseball Coach Speaks at Town and Gown Meeting

Trojan Candy arrived at the patio outside Town and Gown for the first 2023-2024 meeting of Town & Gown.

If you want to see pictures taken before the meeting, CLICK HERE.

When it came time for the Keynote Speech, Town and Gown Vice President of Programs Debbie Wong introduced Michele Dedeaux Engemann, daughter of legendary USC Baseball Coach Rod Dedeaux. Michele thanked the Town and Gown Historian Committee for honoring her mother, talked about the selection of USC's baseball coach, and summarized last season's progress. Then she introduced our Keynote Speaker, USC Head Baseball Coach Andy Stankiewicz. Coach Andy spoke about his journey to becoming USC Head Baseball Coach and how the baseball program is run.

Coach Stankiewicz then fielded questions.

Trojan Candy was able to take this picture of Michele Engemann with Coach Stankiewicz.

What a genuine, sincere presentation by USC Head Baseball Coach Andy Stankiewicz!

KEEP FIGHTING ON, USC Baseball!