Whatever
Happened...

An update on past news

Saturday, July 21, 2001

COURTESY PHOTOS
Pictured left to right are Carlos Briceno, Allen Allen
and Brian Poppinga during their playing days on the
University of Hawaii men's volleyball team. All three
of them played together during the 1989 season, and
all have since become teachers.

3 former UH volleyball
players teach in isles
and California

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By Kelliann Shimote
kshimote@starbulletin.com

Question: What ever happened to University of Hawaii volleyball players Allen Allen, Brian Poppinga and Carlos Briceno?

Answer: The three volleyball players are now all teachers.

The three, who played together in 1989, were all named to the All-America team. Allen was a first-team selection, Briceno made the second team and Poppinga was an honorable mention. That year, the Rainbow Warriors (22-7, 15-5) finished the season ranked third in the nation but lost to Stanford in the NCAA West Regional.

Poppinga graduated in 1990 with a degree in sociology. He then traveled to Holland, where he played on a professional volleyball team for a year. He returned to Hawaii and taught at Kaimuki High School from 1992 to 1996. Then Poppinga returned to the University of Hawaii, where he received his teaching certification in education and industrial arts.

He currently teaches at Kaimuki Middle School. He is married to former Wahine volleyball player Karrie Trieschman, who played on the women's professional beach tour. They live in Tantalus.

"I think being around kids ... definitely keeps my mind young and working physically and mentally. But I enjoy the challenge, motivating these kids," Poppinga said.

Briceno currently coaches a girls volleyball club team in Long Beach, Calif. He also teaches physical education at a middle school in Long Beach.

Briceno, who lives in Westminster, Calif., is on USA Volleyball's board of directors. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic volleyball team that won a bronze medal in 1992 and he was on the U.S. team that won a silver medal at the 1994 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Allen could not be reached, but he lives in San Diego, where he teaches eighth grade. He is divorced from former Wahine basketball player Melissa Barker.

Ever wonder what happened to a person, event or issue that has been in the news? We'll find out for you if you e-mail us at cityeditors@starbulletin.com, call us at 529-4747 or write 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana, Honolulu, HI 96813. "What Ever Happened to ..." runs Saturdays. This report was written by Kelliann Shimote.

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Ever wonder what happened to a person, event or issue
that has been in the news? We'll try to find out
for you if you call the City Desk
at 529-4747, email to citydesk@starbulletin.com or write us at
500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813.