Nine candidates were recognized for their achievements at Long Beach City College at the 16th annual banquet for the Hall of Champions.
For more than 90 years athletes of LBCC have been a great pride of the schools tradition as it still continues today.
The 2019 Hall of Champion inductees were Jake Kinne, Brian Turang, Terry Tautolo, Kim Young-Monteleone, Jeff Haynes, Jacqueline Rollema- Erlanson, Tom DeBerry, Tim Esposito, and Bill Tisdale
Inductees were presented with a lifetime pass for all home games, and a plaque, which will also be on the wall of the hall of champions gymnasium.
Tisdale who died in 2002 was honored and remembered as he was not only a student athlete in a variety of sports, but also an athletic director, and a sports journalist.
The granddaughter of Tisdale, Shawna Tisdale received his plaque, “It was a bit overwhelming, but it was a very special moment for me because I was always his number one fan as a little girl, and now receiving his plaque is beautiful for him,” said Tisdale.
Basketball coach Jon Birkett from Northern Arizona University came to support his player Tom DeBerry who was being inducted.
DeBerry was a All-American honorable mention, set four records at NAU and two Big Sky Conference records for most steals and assist.
DeBerry was also the 8th round pick in the draft of 1976 by the Phoenix Suns.
“I coached him his two years at NAU, and it was nothing but an honor for me to see his growth more than what he already had,” said Birkett.
Tom DeBerry won 56 games, and was the Defensive Player of the year in 1976 for LBCC.
“To be included with this group and in this category with these quality of athletes is truly an honor to be here,” said DeBerry
Jake Kinne was honored for water polo and swimming, being the first American to win a gold medal in the League of European Nations with Cattaro Maximus.
Brian Turang was honored for baseball, who was a LBCC MVP with a .452 batting average in 1987, and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 1989 and played 78 games in the Major League
Terry Tautolo was honored for football and had a standing ovation as the audience remembered his NFL career playing for the Eagles, 49ers, Lions, and Dolphins.
Jacqueline Rollema-Erlanson was a LBCC Most Valuable Swimmer in 1982, and set records for the school, and was a potential USA Olympic Swimmer for the 1890 boycotted Olympics.
Jeff Haynes was honored for his Cross Country contributions to LBCC in 1973, as he was a MVP and number one distance runner.
Haynes received a UCLA student athlete scholarship, and was UCLA’s high point distance runner in 1976.
Kim Young-Monteleone was honored for softball, where she was a 2x All South Coast Conference catcher, and was part of the first softball team to ever qualify for State Championship, and qualify for the NCAA postseason Tournament.
Tim Esposito was honored for his two years at LBCC, where he was the All-Metropolitan Conference quarterback both years, and had 239 completions for 3,177 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Pre-Hall of Champion Alumni, Greg Townsend was also recognized as he came to see his former football teammates.
“This school changes peoples lives, it forsure changed mine and coming back seeing my teammates previous teammates being honored brought back many memories,” said Townsend.
“We are always family, and I will always carry love for Long Beach City College.”
Chuck McFerrin, retired men’s Athletic Director, presented the inductees as they were escorted to the stage by current athletes of LBCC.