On Saturday Feb. 29 2020, the essence of what makes Glendale Community College one of the premier institutions in the state was on full display as a raucous standing room only crowd in the Verdugo Gym watched the Lady Vaqueros women's basketball team defeat East Los Angeles College 66-60 in a Southern California Regional Playoff game. While the game was exciting enough for obvious reasons, it was the gathering of administrators, former coaches, alumni, friends and the families of the players that cheered the team to its 27th win of the season and showed why it was great day to be a Vaquero.

A championship tradition. Once a Vaq, always a Vaq, A great day to be a Vaquero. All of these slogans accurately describe athletics at Glendale Community College but it's this and more as to why 330 plus student-athletes commit to be part of 16 men and women's teams each year. Be it on the field or the court, they are resplendent in cardinal and gold as they balance being students with demanding class schedules, practice and games for their respective teams and even work jobs if necessary.

Thanks to the support of over 50 coaches and support staff, the 2019-20 season saw the GCC Athletic Department celebrate a state championship by the women's cross country team as they won the triple crown, championships at the conference, Southern California and state level. Other team sport offerings for women include volleyball on the beach and indoors and soccer on the field. For the men, the football, baseball and tennis teams have not only won conference championships in recent years but have consistently transferred student-athletes to four-year schools evidenced by the baseball team moving on 12 players from the 2020 team and earning an ABCA team GPA award at 3.3.

The championship tradition for GCC Athletics also includes giving the student-athletes the resources to succeed on and off the field. In 2021, the new gym facility will be completed which includes new offices and meeting rooms, state of the art weight and training rooms and a new gymnasium that can serve as both a practice and game court for our students and fans to enjoy. The Center for Academic Success in Athletics, or CASA, has been a critical part of student success as it functions as a study and meeting area for students. The values learned through athletics include working as a team, perseverance, critical thinking and developing a work ethic that can be critical for success in life.

Once a Vaq, always a Vaq is the most often heard slogan that clearly defines what it means to be a GCC student-athlete during and after their playing days are over. Since the first ever football season in 1928, the tradition of developing young people who are academically, socially, and athletically sound remains the most important goal. This is done by marketing our students through social media as well as inclusion in matters of equity and social justice.

Lastly, whether we are cheering on GCC alumni Andy Reid, football class of 1977, coaching the Kansas City Chiefs to victory in the 2019 Super Bowl or recall that great championship season for the women's basketball team in 2020 where five sophomores transferred to four-year schools on a team that won 21 straight games at one point, GCC Athletics has proven itself a leader in developing young people on and off the court.