We’ve covered, oh, a fair amount of sporting events over the last year, so we feel safe guaranteeing that you’re not likely to find a larger collection of quality Long Beach athletes than at the Century Club’s annual All-City Middle School Sports banquet, honoring the teams that won the city championship in each sport. Hundreds of athletes and over 130 coaches put their all into middle school athletics, and for the majority of the competitors, it’s the last time they’ll play organized sports—that’s what makes the banquet so special, as young kids are recognized for their accomplishment, and feel the pride in knowing they earned a plaque, and dinner for themselves and their families.
There is no other event like this in California, and likely America—hundreds of athletes, coaches and their fans/families packed the Grand along with the Century Club, to recognize these athletes. “You’re one of the main reasons the Moore League will continue to be one of the best leagues,” league secretary and middle school coordinator Jim Lineberger told the athletes.
Sam Breuklander, who’s been running the event since it started in 1989, joked with the students at the start of the program, “What were you doing 21 years ago?” Sam’s tireless efforts have made sure that this great tradition keeps rolling.
Highlights from this year’s program including Jackie Robinson winning their first ever All-City championship, in Division II football, and Tincher winning their first-ever championship as well, in Division II boys’ basketball. There were also powerhouses, as well, as Hughes girls’ track won their tenth title in the last twelve years, and Stanford girls’ volleyball won their fifth-straight title.
The big awards for best overall program went to Newcomb for Division II (with Lindsey following closely behind) and Stanford for Division I (with Hughes six points back). Stanford now has six overall program titles, putting them just one back of Hughes. Who knows, maybe if you attend next year you’ll see the Hawks catch the Owls. Enjoy these photos from a truly great evening for Long Beach sports.
For our video of the evening, click here. For more of our middle school coverage, click “Middle School Sports” at the bottom.
The athletes and their families enjoying the spoils
The pre-awards spelling bee
Middle School sports coordinator Jim Lineberger
The plaques
Monroe, winners of the Howard Lyon Sportsmanship Award for Division II—Hamilton won for Division I
The Hughes boys’ basketball team
Stanford girls’ volleyball wins their fifth consecutive city championship
Stanford track
Lineberger with Miguel Bautista, a Monroe seventh-grader who may be the fastest middle school cross-country runner in LB history
Lindsey won the Division 2 best boys’ program
Newcomb won the best Division 2 girls’ program, and best overall Division 2 program
The Stanford boys won the best Division 1 boys’ program
The sweep—Stanford takes the best Division 1 girls’ program.
With the sweep, Stanford also takes the award for best overall Division 1 program, the sixth time they’ve won, putting them within one win of all-time leader Hughes.
The Grill Men