Story/photo by The562 high school intern Avery Peck
Long Beach Poly has long been known as the “Home of Scholars and Champions,” and for good reason. Since its founding in 1895, the institution has produced over 60 NFL players, many Olympians, and dozens of professional athletes in various sports, while also boasting two of the city’s top academic magnet programs, a Grammy Award winning music program, and a multitude of other activities including robotics, art, and drama.
This tandem of athletic and academic excellence is perhaps best exemplified by two of Poly’s standout track and field athletes: Leila Holland and Jillene Wetteland. Holland was a state finalist in the 100 meter dash and the 4×100 and 4×400 meter relays, and Wetteland is the top returning high jumper in California. Two weeks ago, both athletes announced their respective commitments to continue their academic pursuits and compete in NCAA Division 1 Track and Field at the prestigious Harvard University.
“It is exciting, and it’ll be nice to have someone not only just at the school, but also on the track team that I can talk to,” Wetteland said.
Holland added, “We’ve been super close these past four years, so I’m really excited for the next four and see what we can do.”
Both athletes were communicating with elite universities during the recruiting process, seeking an ideal balance of an unmatched education and a high-level track and field program. Wetteland took official visits to Penn and Yale, both Ivy League universities, and Holland visited Duke University, another one of the nation’s most prestigious institutions. However, they went on an official visit to Harvard together and fell in love with the school.
“Harvard really stood out to me because they had that student-athlete balance I was looking for, and also made an intense effort to integrate their athletes into normal society,” Holland said. “Harvard was just the school for me.”
“I think that the people at Harvard really made it stand out,” Wetteland noted. “They were so welcoming and willing to answer any questions we had. And I feel like I got a great understanding of the campus life.”
Founded in 1636, Harvard is the oldest and arguably most illustrious university in the nation. Long acclaimed for its academic prowess and rigorous education, Harvard’s fame has not historically come from being a top athletic school in the NCAA Division 1. However, Harvard’s Track and Field program has emerged into the spotlight in the past year due to alum Gabby Thomas, a star American sprinter.
At Harvard, Thomas was a 22 time Ivy League champion across six different events and an NCAA champion in the 200 meters, while simultaneously immersed in demanding courses, earning a degree in neurobiology and global health upon graduating in 2019. However, after becoming professional athlete, her success multiplied; Thomas earned a bronze medal in the 200 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest in the same discipline, and won three gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in the 200 meter dash and the 4×100 and 4×400 meter relays.
Holland stated that Thomas’s success helped reinforce her decision, but was not the leading factor in it. She said, “Coach Tolbert, who coached Gabby, is still there, and will be my coach. I think just seeing his success and the athletes that he produced has definitely added to his résumé and made me trust him as a coach, but honestly, it was more of the environment and getting to know everyone else that sealed a deal.”
Both Holland and Wetteland are enrolled in the Poly PACE program, the city’s first high school magnet and college preparatory program. PACE’s curriculum is extremely rigorous, with most students taking 10 or more AP and honors classes throughout their four years, while also notoriously participating in many extracurricular activities, and Holland and Wetteland are no different.
In addition to being elite athletes and outstanding students, Wetteland plays the cello in Poly’s Chamber and Symphony orchestras and was a talented volleyball player for many years, and Holland is an accomplished soccer player, having competed on competitive club teams and as a member of the Jackrabbits’ varsity squad.
Despite starting out in different sports, both athletes ended up finding their home and greatest achievements in track and field, and they are grateful to their Poly coaches for helping guide them during high school.
Holland reflected, “Throughout my four years here, my coaches have gotten to know me really well. So every time I’m stressed about something recruiting-wise, or life-wise, they’ve always been there for me. So I think they’ve kind of been that support system.”
“With the training they’ve prepared us well for college training,” Wetteland added. “They push us really hard and I think that we’ll be ready when we do compete collegiately.”
Holland and Wetteland are thrilled to continue their athletic journeys alongside one another as teammates and embrace the intense competition and traveling that come with competing at the NCAA level, but they are also seeking a well-rounded college experience. Holland was intrigued by the classes she witnessed on their visit, and Wetteland is looking forward to experiencing a new culture and area of the country.
However, they still have one more year in green and gold jerseys before switching them out for crimson – the 2025 track season is approaching fast, and they have big goals. Wetteland aims to win the state title in the high jump, Holland wants to place well at CIF Finals and qualify for the state meet in the 100 meters, and they are both looking to help the Poly girls team win a state championship.
With the recruiting process behind them, a massive weight is lifted off of their young shoulders.
Holland said, “It feels so great. I feel so relieved that I know where I’m going to college, and I can just actually relax and enjoy my senior year,” and Wetteland remarked, “It’s amazing. I’m so glad to be done… there is no better feeling.”
The future is bright for these two young student-athletes, but for now, they get to have fun and soak up their final year of high school before heading off to Cambridge together for the next four.
