The Long Beach Century Club held its 52nd annual Awards Banquet Monday night at The Grand, honoring the best local athletes of 2007 at the prep, collegiate and professional levels. For their lifetime accomplishments and contributions, four local athletes were also inducted as new members of the Century Club Hall of Fame, bringing the total number of the enshrined to 100.
Director At Large Sam Breuklander at the podium.
The four inductees were women’s water polo legend Maureen O’Toole-Purcell, NFL receiver Gary Garrison, college and NFL football coach Darryl Rogers and local football & track star – and current Long Beach city councilman – Dee Andrews.
O’Toole-Purcell, who began her career before the introduction of Title IX and was therefore forced to play on the boys’ water polo team at Wilson, called the induction a “humbling experience.” Widely considered the greatest female player in history, the 15-time US National Team MVP and current motivational speaker and coach said the honor brought her career full circle.
“I always thought, ‘Wow, how cool would it be to be Athlete of the Year?” she told the crowd of over 400. “I never got that. I skipped it and went straight to the Hall of Fame.”
Garrison attributed his honor to those coaches and players who have helped and motivated him throughout his successful collegiate and professional career, and said that the amount of talented athletes recognized on the night was a testament to Long Beach’s great sporting history.
The night’s main honorees.
Rogers earned his induction after decades of coaching at the collegiate and professional level.
“Those that can, do; those that can’t, coach. So I went the coaching route,” he said to a roar of laughter. “You’re supposed to have pride in where you attended, and that’s why I love Long Beach.”
Current 6th District Councilman Andrews, widely considered the greatest high school and college athlete Long Beach has ever produced for his accomplishments in track and football at Long Beach Poly, LBCC and LBSU, spoke about overcoming personal hurdles and the importance of having loved ones to help him achieve the honor.
“I’ve been a lot of places and seen a lot of things, but this is one of the brightest honors I could ever possibly receive,” he said. “There were times in my life that I thought things weren’t going so well for me, but today I’m all right – because of people like you.”
Earlier in the night, 2007 AVP MVP and former 49er Misty May was named the Female Athlete of the Year, while Colorado Rockies’ shortstop and former 49er Troy Tulowitzki was named Male Athlete of the Year.
Tulowitzki was unable to attend, which evening MC Dan Gooch said was due to “certain obligations to the Rockies after signing that new contract.” After a stellar rookie season, Tulowitzki was rewarded with a six-year, $31 million deal in January. Certain obligations, indeed.
May was in attendance, though, and accepted the award for an unprecedented fourth time after claiming AVP honors for Most Valuable, Best Offensive and Best Defensive Player. She and partner Kerri Walsh also became the winningest duo in beach volleyball history and qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Female Athlete of the Year Misty May chats with PGA Tour golfer and award recipient John Mallinger.
May told a story about coming to the Century Club as a young professional and asking for $1400 to cover travel expenses, which she promptly received.
“They’ve allowed me to follow my dreams. And I paid them back,” said highest-earning beach volleyball player ever.
“It’s going to be an honor not just to represent the country but the fans in Long Beach when we go to Beijing.”
In all, over 70 awards were given to local athletes, coaches and contributors for stellar performances. In part because of the plethora of worthy candidates, the Century Club awarded co-honors to both the Male and Female High School Players of the Year.
The long line of high school athletes recognized at the banquet – the best single player in each sport.
Long Beach Poly basketball player Jasmine Dixon and Lakewood volleyball player Jessica Thomas shared female honors. Dixon will attend Rutgers University next year while Thomas will suit up for the hometown 49ers.
Thomas and Dixon accept their co-Female Player of the Year awards.
Long Beach Poly track star Bryshon Nellum and Wilson High pitcher Elliot Glynn shared the male award. Nellum will run (and possibly play football) for USC while Glynn is set for a full-ride to UCONN in the Fall.
Wilson senior Noelle Zavaleta was named Female Golfer of the Year.
USC-bound defensive lineman Jurrell Casey accepts his Football Player of the Year award.