The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Wilson took time on Monday to celebrate everything Bruins athletics and recognize more than 40 seniors who will be continuing their academic and athletic careers in college.
Family, friends, classmates and coaches came to the campus auditorium for a chance to bid farewell to the athletic class of 2024. The assembly also included important information for young Bruins to follow in their classmates footsteps to success, as well as a history lesson by the numbers presented by athletic director Joel Jelinowicz via slide show. Wilson has 478 Moore League championships in its 97 year history, the most of any Long Beach school.
“If you take a look at this list, each and every one of you was a part of the history at Wilson and brought athletic excellence and honor to this campus,” Jelinowicz told the seniors while they sat together on stage. “Your legacy will live on.”
Wilson’s CIF Southern Section champion track and field program recognized a dozen seniors, some of whom still have the CIF State meet coming up this weekend, and many Bruins are staying in California, four of whom are going to Long Beach State.
“Being up there was really nice because I’m really proud of everyone and It’s so nice to see everybody succeed,” said water polo player and LBSU bound Jermonie Billingsly. “I’m really happy for everyone going on to the next level.”
Billingsly helped Wilson reach a CIF championship game while traveling the world with the United States Olympic Development Program, but the chance to stay home was the perfect fit.
“At first I didn’t really see Long Beach State because it was so close, but once I checked it out I was like, ‘This is my home and I don’t want to leave’,” Billingsly said. “I love the team environment, I love everything around it. The fact it’s in Long Beach wasn’t that much of a factor because I love this school and I love this team. It just felt right.”
Andrew Johnson (track), Tarynn Maroney (track) and Abby Pierson (cross country) are also headed to LBSU. Pierson will continue running competitively at Long Beach City College while studying to be a nurse at LBSU. Johnson was also one of our student interns here at The562.org.
Moore League individual golf champions Samantha Shaw and Bryson Barnes are going to UC Santa Cruz and Cal State University Northridge, respectively. Moore League, CIF-SS and CIF State champion swimmer Sammie Hamilton is headed to the University of Kentucky, and baseball’s league Co-Player of the Year Taylor Kirk chose Fordham University.
The Bond family also got a chance to soak up the moment as brothers Ian and Andrew used their academic prowess to continue their athletic ambitions. Ian is going to MIT to play quarterback for the football team, and Andrew is going to Amherst College to also play football and possibly study economics.
“It’s pretty special growing up together and now it’s all coming true at the end,” Andrew said of completing his high school career alongside his brother. “We’re also going to schools in Massachusetts that are about an hour and half away from each other. We can further our relationship through sports, school and socially. I’m really excited.”
Wilson Senior Student-Athletes
Baseball
Taylor Kirk – Fordham University
Aaron Mingo – LBCC
Andres Molinar – Penn State University
Track & Field
JT Kramer – Harvard
Ethan Bartel – University of Oregon
Xcarlet Tirado – Cal Berkeley
Andrew Johnson – Long Beach State University
Tarynn Maroney – Long Beach State University
Da’Qari Hampton – Xavier University of Louisiana
Laighton Scott – Grambling State University
Sedwitz Dumont – University of Oregon
Natalie Maahs – Cal State Fullerton
Zion Peters – LBCC
Anthony Ruiz – Cerritos College
Dejon Harold – Cal State University Los Angeles
Cross Country
Abby Pierson – LBSU/LBCC
Softball
Kaijah Alexander – Nazareth University
Girls’ Golf
Samantha Shaw – UC Santa Cruz
Boys’ Golf
Bryson Barnes – Cal State University Northridge
Girls’ Water Polo
Jermonie Billingsly – LBSU
Emily Cribari – Fresno State University
Pippa Heaver – UC Irvine
Girls’ Soccer
Cindy Norfles – Grambling State University
Boys’ Soccer
Randolph Corona – Rio Hondo College
Boys’ Lacrosse
Hunter Fitzgerald – Cal State University San Marcos
Boys’ Swimming
Addison Ehrenfeld – Oberlin College
Girls’ Swimming
Sammie Hamilton – University of Kentucky
Football
Demeitreus Allen – East LA College
Issac Cazares – Golden West College
Ian Bond – Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Andrew Bond – Amherst College
Hunter Houston – Rocky Mountain College
Curtis Whiten – Golden West College
Patrick Temple – Golden West College
Azaan Tabari – Culver-Stockton College
Ice Hockey
Amaan Aga – Loyola Marymount University
Rowing
Samantha Anderson – UC San Diego
Andres Rodriguez – Orange Coast College
Girls’ Volleyball
Chloe Pravednikov – Pepperdine University
Babi Gubbins – Stanford University
Willow Diamond – Napa Valley College
Camille Agrupis – LBCC
Boys’ Volleyball
Ian Nolte – Ohio State University
Boys’ Soccer
Luke Garza – LBCC
