Long Beach State Athletics To Induct New Hall Of Fame Class
1/9/2025 12:46:00 PM | General
The Class of 2025 includes five former student-athletes and a distinguished family of philanthropists.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State Athletics and Executive Director of Athletics Bobby Smitheran have announced the Class of 2025 who will be inducted into the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame. Former Student-Athletes Kyle Abbott, TJ DeFalco, Ashley Gonzales, Shayna Kimbrough and Caitlin Ledoux will join distinguished community philanthropists Marilyn Bohl and Mike and Arline Walter in joining the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame on February 5.
The names Mike and Arline Walter have been synonymous with the city of Long Beach upon their arrival in 1993 at which time Mike began his tenure at Long Beach State University as Dean of the College of Business. Over the span of a 30 plus year relationship with the institution, Mike and Arline have served The Beach in numerous capacities as professionals, board members, philanthropic supporters of units across the college, and cheering on the various athletic teams. Their passion and investment in education and community have been paramount to supporting numerous programs that positively impact students, student-athletes, and the citizens of Long Beach. Mike and Arline's generosity is felt across all Beach Athletics programs to this day, and their lead gift was critical to the final development of the iconic Walter Pyramid. Their time and financial support have earned the pair unending respect and affection at LBSU, the community of Long Beach, and beyond.
Marilyn Bohl has made an unmatched impact on Long Beach State Athletics and beyond. Her gifts have helped transform Bohl Diamond at Blair Field, already an iconic baseball stadium with a rich tradition and one of the best sight lines in the nation into a premier Division I facility both for the Dirtbags and for the city as one of the busiest diamonds in the country. Her efforts are far from limited to just baseball. Supporting all of Long Beach State's student-athletes on a personal level as well as financially, her knowledge of how athletics can impact an individual comes from her own experience, and her willingness to help create new generations of champions and leaders built at Long Beach State is unparalleled.
Kyle Abbott was the ace of the iconic 1989 Long Beach State baseball team, the "Dirtbags" who were previously inducted into the LBSU Hall of Fame as a team. Joining the team for only that season, Abbott played a major part in the turnaround that saw the Dirtbags improve from 14-45 to 50-15 and reach the College World Series for the first time. A first-team All-American and the only All-American on that team, Abbott posted a 15-3 record with a 2.73 ERA, striking our 140 batters in 135.0 innings pitched, earning First Team All-Big West honors. The ninth overall draft pick in the 1989 MLB Draft, Abbott went on to pitch for four seasons in the show with the Angels and the Phillies.
One of the finest Men's Volleyball players in the country both during his time at Long Beach State and following, TJ DeFalco will enter into the Long Beach State Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. A two-time AVCA National Player of the Year and a four-time First Team All-American, DeFalco led Long Beach State to back-to-back National Championships in 2018 and 2019, and reached the Final Four as a freshman and a sophomore. Busting onto the scene as the AVCA Newcomer of the Year as a true freshman in 2016, and bookended his career by being named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after leading the Beach to a second straight title, winning the championship at home on the Walter Pyramid floor. DeFalco led Long Beach State in kills in all four of his seasons at Long Beach State, and his 1,661 career kills rank fifth in program history. His 183 career aces are far and away the program record, and his 773 digs rank seventh all-time in program history. He finished his collegiate career with 98 matches of 10 kills or more, bested only by fellow program legends Brent Hilliard and Brett Winslow. DeFalco's legacy is still being written as the outside hitter has gone on to be a USA Men's National Team mainstay, playing and starting for the team in each of the last two Olympics. Most recently in Paris, DeFalco helped lead the USA to a Bronze Medal, becoming the fifth former player from LBSU to Medal in Men's Volleyball.
Long Beach State's career goals scored leader with 36, Ashley Gonzales was a dangerous striker for women's soccer whose consistency in front of goal helped lead the Beach to a great run of success, reaching three NCAA Tournaments in her four seasons played where she was a four-time All-Region and All-Big West selection. Bursting onto the scene as a true freshman, Gonzales a team-high nine goals on the way to being named a Freshman All-American, and her productivity never dropped. Leading Long Beach State in goals scored in all four of her seasons, she was named the Big West Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 with 11 goals. Returning from injury, Gonzales again led the team in scoring in 2018, helping the Beach return to the NCAA Tournament. Incredibly efficient, Gonzales is fourth in shots taken for the Beach to earn that goal scoring record, and also holds the record for game-winning goals at Long Beach State with 15, coming through in the clutch.
Shayna Kimbrough was an outstanding shortstop for Long Beach State, and one of just two players in Big West history to be named both the Big West Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. A two-time defensive player of the year and the 2013 Big West Offensive Player of the Year, Kimbrough led Long Beach State to two Big West titles and two runner-up finishes in her four seasons at the Beach. Her .353 career batting average in second-best in program history, and her 255 kits and 131 runs scored both rank in the program's top five in school history. She was a four-time All-Big West selection, earning First Team three times and was a second-team All-Region selection in 2013 after hitting .374 with 74 hits, eight doubles and stealing 13 bases in 14 attempts.
One of the first national stars of Beach Volleyball after the NCAA added the sport in 2012, Caitlin Ledoux was a standout in multiple sports at Long Beach State. In Beach Volleyball, Ledoux was a two-time First Team All-American as a junior and senior in the first two years of the sport. Playing in the top flight with Tara Roenicke, Ledoux helped Long Beach State upset No. 1 Pepperdine to win the 2013 National Championship. Ledoux was also a star indoors, A four-time First Team All-Big West selection, Ledoux burst onto the season as the 2008 Big West Freshman of the Year, and went on to three First Team All-Region selections. Leading LBSU to four NCAA Tournament appearances and three Big West titles, Ledoux finished her career tied for fifth all-time at Long Beach State with 1,589 kills.
Returning to an annual schedule, the 2025 Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, February 5 at the Long Beach Airport Marriott Hotel. For more information contact Gladie Jaffe at Gladie.Jaffe@csulb.edu. Registration for the event is live now at http://www.longbeachstate.com/HOF25.
The names Mike and Arline Walter have been synonymous with the city of Long Beach upon their arrival in 1993 at which time Mike began his tenure at Long Beach State University as Dean of the College of Business. Over the span of a 30 plus year relationship with the institution, Mike and Arline have served The Beach in numerous capacities as professionals, board members, philanthropic supporters of units across the college, and cheering on the various athletic teams. Their passion and investment in education and community have been paramount to supporting numerous programs that positively impact students, student-athletes, and the citizens of Long Beach. Mike and Arline's generosity is felt across all Beach Athletics programs to this day, and their lead gift was critical to the final development of the iconic Walter Pyramid. Their time and financial support have earned the pair unending respect and affection at LBSU, the community of Long Beach, and beyond.
Marilyn Bohl has made an unmatched impact on Long Beach State Athletics and beyond. Her gifts have helped transform Bohl Diamond at Blair Field, already an iconic baseball stadium with a rich tradition and one of the best sight lines in the nation into a premier Division I facility both for the Dirtbags and for the city as one of the busiest diamonds in the country. Her efforts are far from limited to just baseball. Supporting all of Long Beach State's student-athletes on a personal level as well as financially, her knowledge of how athletics can impact an individual comes from her own experience, and her willingness to help create new generations of champions and leaders built at Long Beach State is unparalleled.
Kyle Abbott was the ace of the iconic 1989 Long Beach State baseball team, the "Dirtbags" who were previously inducted into the LBSU Hall of Fame as a team. Joining the team for only that season, Abbott played a major part in the turnaround that saw the Dirtbags improve from 14-45 to 50-15 and reach the College World Series for the first time. A first-team All-American and the only All-American on that team, Abbott posted a 15-3 record with a 2.73 ERA, striking our 140 batters in 135.0 innings pitched, earning First Team All-Big West honors. The ninth overall draft pick in the 1989 MLB Draft, Abbott went on to pitch for four seasons in the show with the Angels and the Phillies.
One of the finest Men's Volleyball players in the country both during his time at Long Beach State and following, TJ DeFalco will enter into the Long Beach State Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. A two-time AVCA National Player of the Year and a four-time First Team All-American, DeFalco led Long Beach State to back-to-back National Championships in 2018 and 2019, and reached the Final Four as a freshman and a sophomore. Busting onto the scene as the AVCA Newcomer of the Year as a true freshman in 2016, and bookended his career by being named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after leading the Beach to a second straight title, winning the championship at home on the Walter Pyramid floor. DeFalco led Long Beach State in kills in all four of his seasons at Long Beach State, and his 1,661 career kills rank fifth in program history. His 183 career aces are far and away the program record, and his 773 digs rank seventh all-time in program history. He finished his collegiate career with 98 matches of 10 kills or more, bested only by fellow program legends Brent Hilliard and Brett Winslow. DeFalco's legacy is still being written as the outside hitter has gone on to be a USA Men's National Team mainstay, playing and starting for the team in each of the last two Olympics. Most recently in Paris, DeFalco helped lead the USA to a Bronze Medal, becoming the fifth former player from LBSU to Medal in Men's Volleyball.
Long Beach State's career goals scored leader with 36, Ashley Gonzales was a dangerous striker for women's soccer whose consistency in front of goal helped lead the Beach to a great run of success, reaching three NCAA Tournaments in her four seasons played where she was a four-time All-Region and All-Big West selection. Bursting onto the scene as a true freshman, Gonzales a team-high nine goals on the way to being named a Freshman All-American, and her productivity never dropped. Leading Long Beach State in goals scored in all four of her seasons, she was named the Big West Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 with 11 goals. Returning from injury, Gonzales again led the team in scoring in 2018, helping the Beach return to the NCAA Tournament. Incredibly efficient, Gonzales is fourth in shots taken for the Beach to earn that goal scoring record, and also holds the record for game-winning goals at Long Beach State with 15, coming through in the clutch.
Shayna Kimbrough was an outstanding shortstop for Long Beach State, and one of just two players in Big West history to be named both the Big West Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. A two-time defensive player of the year and the 2013 Big West Offensive Player of the Year, Kimbrough led Long Beach State to two Big West titles and two runner-up finishes in her four seasons at the Beach. Her .353 career batting average in second-best in program history, and her 255 kits and 131 runs scored both rank in the program's top five in school history. She was a four-time All-Big West selection, earning First Team three times and was a second-team All-Region selection in 2013 after hitting .374 with 74 hits, eight doubles and stealing 13 bases in 14 attempts.
One of the first national stars of Beach Volleyball after the NCAA added the sport in 2012, Caitlin Ledoux was a standout in multiple sports at Long Beach State. In Beach Volleyball, Ledoux was a two-time First Team All-American as a junior and senior in the first two years of the sport. Playing in the top flight with Tara Roenicke, Ledoux helped Long Beach State upset No. 1 Pepperdine to win the 2013 National Championship. Ledoux was also a star indoors, A four-time First Team All-Big West selection, Ledoux burst onto the season as the 2008 Big West Freshman of the Year, and went on to three First Team All-Region selections. Leading LBSU to four NCAA Tournament appearances and three Big West titles, Ledoux finished her career tied for fifth all-time at Long Beach State with 1,589 kills.
Returning to an annual schedule, the 2025 Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, February 5 at the Long Beach Airport Marriott Hotel. For more information contact Gladie Jaffe at Gladie.Jaffe@csulb.edu. Registration for the event is live now at http://www.longbeachstate.com/HOF25.
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