Compton Honors Its Athletic Champions

Players from three Compton basketball teams that won state championships this year received a celebrity greeting Saturday from community members, school officials, parents and students.

The Usher song “Yeah” blasted over loudspeakers as Centennial and Dominguez high schools and Compton Community College basketball teams were greeted with a standing ovation at the Compton Civic Center Plaza.

“They put Compton on the map in a positive way,” said Mayor Eric J. Perrodin, who declared Saturday “City of Champions Day.”

Centennial won its first state title in the Division III final. Dominguez won its sixth state title in nine years in the Division II final. Compton College won the California Community College Men’s Basketball Championship.

“This city has come together as one to show support for our young people,” said resident Joyce Taylor, 72, whose four children graduated from Compton Unified School District. Taylor attended Saturday’s celebration even though she doesn’t know any current players. “It brings us closer together,” she said.

Centennial Coach Rod Palmer said the ceremony was a reward for a tough and challenging season.

“This is absolutely great,” he said. “It means a lot to the team when they see adults really acknowledging them. We hear so much of the negative, but today we come together and just show appreciation.”

The teams were recognized with trophies and music from the Dominguez High School band. Cheerleaders and drill team members dressed in glittering red and gold costumes spun and swiveled as the band played “I Like the Way You Move” by Outkast.

After the award ceremony, players and coaches were given free helicopter rides over the city.

These players “are going to be successful in whatever they do in their life,” said Dominguez Coach Otis Russell. “They’re very, very special young men.”

Player Bryan Harvey, 17, of the Dominguez Dons said, “There’s a whole lot of successful people who come out of here. It’s too bad that, when some people think about Compton, it’s all negative.”

Centennial Apaches player Jesse Woodard, 15, said it had been exciting to bring the three championship teams together. Woodard said that he loved his team like family and that the game had kept him out of trouble and focused on college.

“Every team had tough coaches,” he said. “We all pushed and came together.”