The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Former Jackrabbits Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
More than two dozen athletes were recognized inside the Long Beach Poly Auditorium, at the school’s annual Signing Day celebration for student-athletes headed to four-year colleges.
Friends and family for 28 Jackrabbits in the Class of 2026 were on hand to cheer them on as they donned their future school colors and took part in the Signing Day ceremony. The athletes were spread across nine different sports, led by 11 representatives from the school’s track & field program.
A group of 16 Spring signees joined 12 student-athletes who’d already committed during previous signing periods to complete the Class of 2026.
“We want to make this day for (the athletes) and our parents, acknowledging all of the hard work and dedication that they have committed to throughout the 13 years that they may have played their sport,” said Long Beach Poly athletic director Rob Shock as he addressed the crowd. “We want to make sure we honor them, so today is about them and you. So be loud, be proud, cheer for every one of these athletes, because you know what, they’re going to college, ladies and gentlemen.”
Noah MJ Smith is one of the 11 members of the track team that earned a college scholarship this year, and he’s staying local, headed up the freeway to USC to continue his career.
“Since seven years old, this is the one school I’ve always wanted to go to,” Smith said of becoming a Trojan. “It’s been a weird feeling just seeing it all come to fruition like this, but words can’t describe how grateful I am. I’m grateful to God, grateful to my family, everybody that’s helped put me here. I’m literally living out my dream, so I’m just ready to work, and I’m ready to earn it.”
The Class of 2026 also has a pair of Ivy League athletes, with boys’ basketball player Jonas Oware heading to Yale, and girls’ rugby player Lolua Tauanu’u signing with Harvard. While the Jackrabbits don’t have a rugby team, Tauanu’u said she still felt very connected to the rest of the athletes on stage and is a proud Poly legacy with a large group of supporters in the audience.
“It’s all surreal, being able to go to Harvard. You know, there’s so many opportunities that rugby can bring you, and I’m a prime example of that,” said Tauanu’u, who competes for Belmont Shore Rugby Club. “To be a part of this Signing Day is also very special. To be with my friends at the school that my parents went to, my aunts and uncles went to, I’m glad to leave that legacy behind, and it’s all fun. I’m very honored to be here from Long Beach Poly, and grateful for the experience that I got to have.”
There’s plenty of star-power in the signing class, with athletes headed to some of the top collegiate programs in the nation–especially in the diamond sports. Tate Hammond is headed to UCLA, where the Bruins are ranked No. 1 in the country, and on the softball diamond, Ki’ele Ho-Ching signed with perennial powerhouse Oklahoma, and she’s been ranked as the top recruit in the nation in her class.
“Being at Poly, being able to play softball and flag football, and just be surrounded by so many like-minded athletes has been a blessing,” said Ho-Ching. “There’s not a lot of people that can say that they love their high school team, that they love all their staff members, their coaches, the players. There’s always some drama, but I feel like at Poly I’ve never had that, it’s always been a family, and I’m just so excited. I’m very blessed with this team, but it’s definitely bittersweet. I’m definitely gonna come back and visit.”
State champion swimmer Lucas Jue leaves behind a bevy of school and Moore League records for the Jackrabbits, and is officially signed with Louisville. He’s one of six athletes who signed with “Power 4” schools, joining Smith, Hammond, Ho-Ching, softball player Emoni Lam Sam (Cal) and track & field jumper Khalen Shepherd (Arizona).
“The one thing that I do want to tell you, and it’s very important for you guys to understand, is please complete your degree,” said Shock to the Class of 2026. “Your education is forever. Sports are temporary. So make sure we take care of that degree … And please make sure you pay it forward. There are many underclassmen out here hoping to be in the same position as you one day, so please come back, tell them what the experience is like for you in college, and it will help them with their decisions moving forward.”
Complete List of Signees in the Class of 2026:
Armon Bly – UC San Diego, Track & Field
Aniyah Brooks – UNLV, Track & Field
Malachi Dawson – Utah Tech, Track & Field
Savion Day – Chicago State, Football
Lauren Foster Elisara – Quincy University, Volleyball
Tate Hammond – UCLA, Baseball
Jaden Hernandez – Colorado State, Football
Ki’ele Ho-Ching – Oklahoma, Softball
Deuce Jefferson – Navy, Football
Luca Jue – Louisville, Swimming
Ryan King – Cal State Bakersfield, Baseball
Emoni Lam Sam – Cal, Softball
Persjah Lam Sam – Cal State San Bernardino, Softball
Brooklyn Lee – Sacramento State, Track & Field
Abryannah Mama – Cal Poly Pomona, Volleyball
Jaylen McNeil – Fresno State, Track & Field
Janelle Morris – Southern University, Softball
Lynnox Newton – Utah Tech, Track & Field
Jonas Oware – Yale, Basketball
Avery Peck – Williams College, Track & Field
Anthony Rodriguez – UC Davis, Football
Khalen Shepherd – Arizona, Track & Field
Noah MJ Smith – USC, Track & Field
Aliyah Stokes – Sacramento State, Track & Field
Lolua Tauanu’u – Harvard, Rugby
Arianna Thomas – Howard, Track & Field
Berlynn Te’Rinah Solia-Tago – Millikin University, Wrestling
Alayna Veavealagi – Mississippi Valley State, Softball
