Long Beach State Announces 2026 Hall Of Fame Induction Class
9/30/2025 9:15:00 AM | General
Six greats and a National Championship team will be inducted on January 21.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State Athletics and Executive Director of Athletics Bobby Smitheran are excited to announce the 2026 inductees into the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame, as five former players, an iconic coach, and a national championship team will be recognized as Beach legends on January 21, 2026.
Long Beach State is excited to honor Abe Alvarez, James Ennis, Angelica Garcia, Bob Summers, Sherron Walker, and Andy Sythe individually, as well as recognize the accomplishments of the 1993 Women's Volleyball team.
Abe Alvarez is one of the greatest pitchers in Dirtbags history. The all-time winningest lefthander in school history with a 23-5 overall record, Alvarez dominated the Big West for two seasons, earning back-to-back Pitcher of the Year awards in 2002 and 2003 and joining Jered Weaver in a dominant 2003 rotation as he was named an All-American for the second straight season. He went on to a professional career, winning a World Series ring with the Boston Red Sox in 2004.
James Ennis was a transformative player for the Men's Basketball program. Joining the "Fab Four" as a junior college transfer, Ennis helped elevate an excellent team to new heights as one of the most successful groups in the modern era. In 2011-12, Long Beach State went 25-9 overall, including two Top 25 wins, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament after winning both the Big West regular season and conference tournament. Returning the next season, Ennis was the undisputed leader on another Big West Championship team in 2012-13, earning Big West Player of the Year before being drafted by the Miami Heat. He went on to an excellent NBA career, ultimately playing 395 games, the fifth-most by any Long Beach State alum in the NBA.
Angelica Garcia was one of the early stars of Long Beach State Women's Water Polo, helping guide the Beach to one of its most successful periods. A four-time All-American, Garcia was named to the First Team as a senior as Long Beach State finished the season ranked No. 4 in the nation for the third consecutive year, posting a 21-9 overall record. She is one of just two players in program history to score over 200 goals, ranking second with 206 behind now fellow Long Beach State Hall of Famer Cassie Azevedo.
Bob Summers was one of the stars for Long Beach State Men's Golf in an era of success for the program. Summers saved some of his best for the Big West Championship, tying for first place before falling in a playoff in 1982, then claiming the individual title in 1983 as a senior. He was part of the last team to compete in the NCAA National Championships in 1982 and earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in 1983. Summers is co-president of the Private Management Group, Inc., an investment advisory firm in Irvine. He has been married to his wife Carol for 40 years and has three sons and four grandchildren.
Sherron Walker, nearly 50 years later, is still the Long Beach State record holder in the long jump with a mark of 21 feet set during the 1978 season. Her efforts helped Long Beach State Women's Track claim its first conference championship in 1978, and she became one of the program's first All-Americans after finishing in fifth place in the long jump that same season. She was also an Olympian, competing in the 1976 Montreal Summer Games after finishing second at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the long jump.
Joining the Hall of Fame as a coach will be the freshly retired Andy Sythe, after 35 years at the helm of Long Beach State Track & Field. Over his tenure, he was named Big West Track and Field Coach of the Year 11 times, guided the program to eight Big West Men's Track and Field Championships and three Women's Championships, and coached his student-athletes to 77 All-America honors, 32 conference Athlete of the Year awards, and 24 Track or Field Athlete of the Year accolades. In 2024, his teams achieved a historic milestone by sweeping the MPSF Indoor Championships. Additionally, his drive and leadership completed a full renovation of Jack Rose Track, which under his design became a world-class venue recognized with World Athletics certification.
Finally, Long Beach State will induct an iconic team, the 1993 Women's Volleyball NCAA National Champions. Led by National Player of the Year Danielle Scott and All-Americans Nichelle Burton and Joy McKienzie under the guidance of head coach Brian Gimmillaro, the 1993 team went 32-2 overall and won 15 straight matches to close the year, culminating in a 3-1 win over Penn State to give the program its fourth national championship and second NCAA title.
The induction ceremony will once again be held at the Long Beach Airport Marriott ballroom, with dinner and the program held on the evening of Wednesday, January 21. Tickets can be purchased now at http://www.longbeachstate.com/HOFTickets.
Long Beach State is excited to honor Abe Alvarez, James Ennis, Angelica Garcia, Bob Summers, Sherron Walker, and Andy Sythe individually, as well as recognize the accomplishments of the 1993 Women's Volleyball team.
Abe Alvarez is one of the greatest pitchers in Dirtbags history. The all-time winningest lefthander in school history with a 23-5 overall record, Alvarez dominated the Big West for two seasons, earning back-to-back Pitcher of the Year awards in 2002 and 2003 and joining Jered Weaver in a dominant 2003 rotation as he was named an All-American for the second straight season. He went on to a professional career, winning a World Series ring with the Boston Red Sox in 2004.
James Ennis was a transformative player for the Men's Basketball program. Joining the "Fab Four" as a junior college transfer, Ennis helped elevate an excellent team to new heights as one of the most successful groups in the modern era. In 2011-12, Long Beach State went 25-9 overall, including two Top 25 wins, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament after winning both the Big West regular season and conference tournament. Returning the next season, Ennis was the undisputed leader on another Big West Championship team in 2012-13, earning Big West Player of the Year before being drafted by the Miami Heat. He went on to an excellent NBA career, ultimately playing 395 games, the fifth-most by any Long Beach State alum in the NBA.
Angelica Garcia was one of the early stars of Long Beach State Women's Water Polo, helping guide the Beach to one of its most successful periods. A four-time All-American, Garcia was named to the First Team as a senior as Long Beach State finished the season ranked No. 4 in the nation for the third consecutive year, posting a 21-9 overall record. She is one of just two players in program history to score over 200 goals, ranking second with 206 behind now fellow Long Beach State Hall of Famer Cassie Azevedo.
Bob Summers was one of the stars for Long Beach State Men's Golf in an era of success for the program. Summers saved some of his best for the Big West Championship, tying for first place before falling in a playoff in 1982, then claiming the individual title in 1983 as a senior. He was part of the last team to compete in the NCAA National Championships in 1982 and earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in 1983. Summers is co-president of the Private Management Group, Inc., an investment advisory firm in Irvine. He has been married to his wife Carol for 40 years and has three sons and four grandchildren.
Sherron Walker, nearly 50 years later, is still the Long Beach State record holder in the long jump with a mark of 21 feet set during the 1978 season. Her efforts helped Long Beach State Women's Track claim its first conference championship in 1978, and she became one of the program's first All-Americans after finishing in fifth place in the long jump that same season. She was also an Olympian, competing in the 1976 Montreal Summer Games after finishing second at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the long jump.
Joining the Hall of Fame as a coach will be the freshly retired Andy Sythe, after 35 years at the helm of Long Beach State Track & Field. Over his tenure, he was named Big West Track and Field Coach of the Year 11 times, guided the program to eight Big West Men's Track and Field Championships and three Women's Championships, and coached his student-athletes to 77 All-America honors, 32 conference Athlete of the Year awards, and 24 Track or Field Athlete of the Year accolades. In 2024, his teams achieved a historic milestone by sweeping the MPSF Indoor Championships. Additionally, his drive and leadership completed a full renovation of Jack Rose Track, which under his design became a world-class venue recognized with World Athletics certification.
Finally, Long Beach State will induct an iconic team, the 1993 Women's Volleyball NCAA National Champions. Led by National Player of the Year Danielle Scott and All-Americans Nichelle Burton and Joy McKienzie under the guidance of head coach Brian Gimmillaro, the 1993 team went 32-2 overall and won 15 straight matches to close the year, culminating in a 3-1 win over Penn State to give the program its fourth national championship and second NCAA title.
The induction ceremony will once again be held at the Long Beach Airport Marriott ballroom, with dinner and the program held on the evening of Wednesday, January 21. Tickets can be purchased now at http://www.longbeachstate.com/HOFTickets.
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