Long Beach City College hosted their 18th annual induction banquet Hall of Champions on Thursday Mar. 21 at The Grand in Long Beach to commemorate former student athletes, coaches and support personnel for their contribution to LBCC’s athletic history.
The Hall of Champions induction is to honor and give an opportunity to recognize the achievements of athletics at the school.
The Hall of Champions 2024 class of inductees is represented by alumni dating all the way back to 1953 and ranging in a variety of sports such as track and field, football, golf, volleyball, softball and basketball.
The banquet included a social hour followed by a parade of champions, speeches from all of the inductees and dinner.
Hall of Champions inductee Jonathan Charette, former volleyball player at LBCC and former LBCC volleyball coach says he owes all of his success to the programs at LBCC.
“I feel like I am still digesting this great honor and recognition. I’m very happy that I am able to do it at this part of my life and I get to share it with my family. Long Beach City College has been a big part of my life. I’m at a loss for words,” Charette said.
Other inductees such as Kekuiokalani Fletcher also said they owe a lot of credit to their current endeavors because of their time spent at LBCC.
Fletcher played women’s volleyball at LBCC in 2000, where she then went on to play division one volleyball in Louisiana, ranking 16th in the nation for women’s volleyball.
Fletcher now owns her own club volleyball team called Rise in Louisiana where they are currently traveling all over the states competing for titles.
“I never thought that I would be back here 24 years later. I am so grateful for my coaches back at LBCC for giving me a fantastic season. LBCC set the foundation down for my career, it was such an amazing experience and the resources I was given catapulted me,” Fletcher said.
The speeches throughout the night were heartfelt and filled the room with laughter and tears as the inductees shared old memories, their pride for Long Beach, and their gratitude to be honored.
“Long Beach is my home away from home,” inductee Oscar Gonzalez said.
LBCC has earned 93 state championships, more than any other community college in California and The Hall of Champions banquet is an opportunity to acknowledge the talent and hard work of the people that contribute to that greatness and the greatness to come.