Last night at the Carpenter Center on campus, Long Beach State’s Athletics Department put a new twist on an old tradition, as they inducted seven new members into their Hall of Fame.  The new members, who bring the Hall’s total number of members to 194, were honored in a ceremony in front of friends, family, fans, and, for the first time at a HOF ceremony, a large group of current student-athletes.  Athletic Director Vic Cegles made the push to bring the event on campus, and requested that coaches alter their practice schedules to let the athletes come and soak in their university’s rich tradition.

In addition to the seven new Hall members, four athletes were recognized—awarded with the Bill Bovee Award For Dedication were Donovan Morris, and Cornel Williams; receiving the Lynn Hoyem Award For Leadership was Paul Lotman; and taking home the Todd Hart Award For Courage was 800m runner Paul Freitas.  All of these current athletes quickly thanked the university, their coaches, and their families, and then humbly demurred to the seven Hall of Famers seated behind them.  They were presented with their awards by four current athletes, including Morris and Nicole Vargas.

Don Baird, Olympic pole vaulter, took the stage and assured the audience, “Kids, I really pole vaulted.”  Baird has previously referred to his greatest accomplishment as “Living through the seventies,” but turned serious when he said that even though he only won silver in the Olympics, his wife and kids were his gold medal.

Jade Carvalho, whose 1979 field hockey team was the first Long Beach State team to win a national championship, showed more nerves at the podium than she ever did on a field, but chose to deflect attention, recognizing her parents, teammates, former coaches, and even an umpire from her days at Long Beach State.

Joe Bailey accepted on behalf of his father Dan, the famous athletic trainer who worked with the university for 36 years.  Joe told the audience that he and his sister grew up knowing every athlete at LBSU, because their dad would bring them around.  He loved his work so much, Joe said, that he would work on the club rugby team in the school’s official facilities, even though he wasn’t supposed to.

Tayyiba Haneef-Park couldn’t attend the ceremony, but everyone forgave her, since she’s busy playing pro volleyball in Japan.  She recorded a thank you message when she was home recently for the 1998 National Championship reunion, and in it she thanked Coach Gimmillaro for pushing her.  Then her father, Mo Haneef, accepted the trophy, and thanked Long Beach for introducing his daughter to volleyball, though it took her a while to learn the game.  “She hung in there, and you hung in there with her,” he said.  “You always gave her what she needed, whether it was a pat on the back, or a kick in the butt.”

John Kahler was exactly how you’d expect a standout defensive lineman to be—imposing, gruff, and hilarious.  He recognized his teammates individually, and thanked his coach for changing his life for the better, even as he mocked Kahler and his teammates.  “He’d ask us, ‘Are you desperate?…Well, you’d better be, because you’re not very good.'” 

Peter Manarino was the most emotional speaker of the night, choking up as he talked about the years he spent at Long Beach State.  After the reception he was still reflective.  “Twenty-three years is so long,” he said.  “So much of my life.  It’s been wonderful.”

James “100%” Cotton was the final inductee of the night, giving the crowd a hint of the long journey he’s traveled.  “Hopping over fences in Pedro to get to the courts, I never imagined that I’d get to keep this kind of company, or that I’d be drafted into the NBA,” he said.

Then the ceremony was over, the great athletes former and current wandering out to the reception in the foyer.  Vic Cegles had made the best point of the night, staring out at his current crop of student-athletes, as he gestured towards the newly inducted Hall of Famers on stage with him, and said, “This is what you are aspiring to.”

For more on the individual accomplishments of each athlete, check out their official bios on Long Beach State’s website.