Long Beach City College had a historic start to the 2024-25 school year with standout performances across multiple fall sports.
Women’s water polo won the school’s first state championship since 2019, defeating Santa Barbara for the CCCAA title in their new aquatics facility.
“To host a state tournament, to make that tournament and win the championship–I don’t think you could have scripted it any better. It’s super, super special,” said Chris Oeding, women’s water polo head coach.
Women’s volleyball had a dominant season of their own, finishing 23-2 and earning a spot in the state tournament for the first time in 24 seasons after winning the SoCal Regional Championship. LBCC came into the 3C2A State Championship quarterfinals on a 9-game win streak, where they ultimately fell to Feather River in four sets.
“I’m proud of our girls,” coach Tyler Jackson said. “They fought to the very end.”
Both soccer teams had successful campaigns this season, as well. The women were South Coast Conference South Division Champions and made it to the SCC Tournament semifinals, where they lost to Pasadena.
The men claimed the SoCal Regional Championship with a hard-fought win over Cerritos, highlighted by a hat trick from sophomore Jose Mariscal. This win came after back-to-back overtime victories which brought the Vikings to the title game.
LBCC had never won the SCC Tournament, and Mariscal is the first Viking to ever score a hat trick in the playoffs, Men’s Soccer Head Coach Cameron Beaulac said.
The Vikings made their first ever trip to the state semifinals, where they were stopped by Butte College in a last-minute 1-0 loss.