Good morning! Two Trojan men’s golfers made good work of the Mexican National Amateur, placing in the top ten of the tournament earlier this week.

What else can you find in today's edition of The Three Torches?

🏈 Branch named a Preseason All-American
🥍 Women of Troy name two new assistant coaches
⚔️ And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Watch Out. After earning a Walter Camp All-America second-team selection as a kick returner following the 2023 season, Zachariah Branch has found himself on the Walter Camp’s Preseason All-America Team. Last season, he became the first Trojan to earn first-team All-American honors as a true freshman. No. 1 electrified the special teams unit, returning 24 kickoffs for 442 yards and a touchdown with 15 punt returns for 309 yards and a score. He averaged 18.4 yards per kick return and 20.6 yards per punt return, which led the nation.

🔼 More Fire Power. Heading into the new athletic calendar year, USC lacrosse made two new additions to the sidelines. The Trojans hired two assistant coaches, Jill Rizzo and Cassidy Spilis to complete its coaching staff for the upcoming season.

As a part of the Big East Coaching Staff of the Year in 2023, Rizzo helped lead Marquette to its first NCAA tournament appearance where they posted a program-best 15-4 record and a Big East record of 5-1. Spilis is a three-time IWLCA All-American, including a first-team nomination in 2024. During her senior season, she posted 74 goals and five assists, picked up 40 ground balls, and had 98 draw controls. 

🔼 All About Effort. USC men’s basketball head coach Eric Musselman is wasting no time this summer. Check out the latest from the Muss Bus as he gets mic’d up at practice, full of energy and inspiration for his first team of Trojans.

🏈 COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF

53 days until kickoff, Trojan Nation!

One of last season’s defensive captains and a disrupter in the backfield is on to the NFL after a solid 2023 campaign. No. 53, Shane Lee, played under Lincoln Riley last season and recorded 28 total tackles which included two TFLs and a sack.

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📅 LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, August 10

⚽️ Soccer vs. Long Beach State @ TBD in Carson, CA

Friday, August 30

🏐 Volleyball vs. Pepperdine @ 6:00pm in Malibu, CA

Sunday, September 1

🏈 Football vs. LSU @ 4:30pm in Las Vegas, NV | Tickets

⚔️ Click here to view the full USC Trojan Athletics Calendar

⚔️ Have a great Wednesday, everyone!