LBSU
athletics bring prestige to The Beach
Long
Beach State Athletics has always been
recognized as a successful and highly
competitive institution. It has had some
success in the past and certainly has
the potential to do more in the future,
but as for now, individuals are the ones
getting it done.
Though individual success doesn’t provide the university with a banner,
the competitiveness of last fall needs some recognition. So, why not take the
time to look back and recognize individual efforts put forth by the 49er athletes
of last semester?
At first, it might seem odd, out of date, a misprint, or just plane out wrong,
but its true. Onye Ibekwe will play football next year. With a 6 foot, 8 inch
frame, soft hands and a football mentality, Ibekwe, a former basketball player
at Long Beach State, made it official earlier this month by signing a two-year
contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
It’s rare for a basketball player to make the transition into the NFL
without ever playing college football. It just doesn’t happen, at least
not in Long Beach, at least not since the extinction of the program in 1991.
Men’s basketball, on the other hand, lost the final Big West Tournament
championship game to Pacific. Even though the loss kept them out of the NCAA
tournament, senior Jibril Hodges was selected first team all-league for the
2006 season. Hodges holds the all-time record with 252 3-pointers made, as
well as the single season record with 87 trifecta’s in 2005-06.
Shawn Hawkins and Kejuan Johnson were named second team all-league.
On the women’s side, the team was recognized as the Big West Conference
champions, led by senior Crystal McCutcheon.
With a league-leading 17 points per game, she was selected as the 2005-06 Big
West Conference Player of the Year.
Track and Field was also successful. The men were honored as the Big West Conference
champs, and the women took second place. Decathlete Chris Richardson was voted
the Big West Conference Field Athlete of the Year, while Head Coach Andy Sythe
was voted as the Big West Conference’s Men’s Coach of the Year.
Though the men’s water polo team did not go the distance, junior Jay
Gerardi and senior Brett McCleave were named third team All-Mountain Pacific
Sports Federation.
The women’s team also received some honors. Senior Cassie Azevedo was
named to the All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation team for the fourth-straight
year while finishing her career with 209 career goals, breaking the school-record.
In the All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, the No. 2-ranked LBSU volleyball
team beat the No. 1-ranked UC Irvine but fell short in the MPSF Championship
game to UCLA. Seniors Tyler Hildebrand and Robert Tarr earned first team honors
and fellow senior Duncan Budinger was named to the second team. Also, Hildebrand
and Budinger earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honors.
The softball season had its ups and downs during the regular season, but the
women earned themselves a spot in the NCAA Regionals. The 49ers won its first
regional game, but was eliminated on Saturday, losing to UCLA and San Diego
State. The team was led by Michelle Turner, who was selected to the NFCA All-West
Region first-team, earning a conference record seven Big West Pitcher of the
Week awards and was named the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year.
Back to the men’s side, the Dirtbags (29-24, 12-6 Big West) still have
a chance to sneak into the playoffs, but the season can still be labeled a
success as the team battled through the second most difficult schedule in the
nation.
Third-baseman Evan Longoria, who is definitely on his way to the big leagues,
can be seen for the last time as the Dirtbags battle Fullerton over Memorial
Day weekend. Longoria was named college’s top position player by Baseball
America. He is leading Big West in slugging (.622), walks (40), on-base percentage
(.491) and ranking high with eleven homeruns, 12 doubles, and 43 RBIs. There
is no doubt Longoria will have a successful career in the Major League Baseball.
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