Before the start of a highly anticipated CIF Southern Section Boys Varsity Volleyball match on Friday, April 3, Arcadia High School (AHS) transformed its North Gym into a space of celebration, legacy, and pride as it inducted former Arcadian, distinguished coach, and Olympic athlete John Speraw into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
Speraw’s journey began on the very court where he stood to accept the honor. Speraw graduated in 1990, where he went on to play at University of California, Los Angeles [UCLA]. At one of the most distinguished athletic programs nationwide, he won two NCAA championships before transitioning into a coaching career that would define his legacy. From leading University of California, Irvine to multiple national titles to eventually becoming head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team, Speraw’s résumé reflects decades of excellence in playing and coaching. His career eventually reached a global stage when he guided Team USA to Olympic gold.
To start the ceremony AHS Assistant Principal Mr. Keith Kerney took the stage. Afterwards Mr. Kerney briefly explained how the induction process works and how people are chosen.
“And then what we’re going to do is announce it to the community and alumni so people can nominate or recommend individuals to be part of the Hall of Fame. After that, our committee will review the nominations, look at each person’s accomplishments and contributions, and decide who will be selected. The chosen individual will then be inducted into the Hall of Fame next year.’
A key moment in the ceremony came when former AHS volleyball coach Mr. Chuck Freberg took the stage and talked about what kind of player Speraw was before his national and Olympic success. Through a series of nostalgic stories, Freberg emphasized Speraw’s leadership and composure as a player. In one anecdote, he recalled Speraw stepping in during a difficult volleyball match and telling his teammates, “We’ve got this,” demonstrating Speraw’s raw and natural composure under pressure. In another story from a CIF championship match, Freberg described how Speraw executed a defensive adjustment designed to force an opponent into a mistake. What Speraw decided to do was a defensive move that was extremely difficult to execute. Speraw anticipated that the hitter would avoid Speraw’s block in the middle and instead try to hit off his hands to force a touch. To counter this, Speraw started a step inside rather than lining up directly on the outside. Then, at the last moment, he shifted outward and pressed his hands over the net, taking away the angle the hitter expected, which ultimately forced the hitter to hit outside. Speraw’s last minute decision led his team to victory.
When Speraw took the podium he devoted the majority of his speech to his gratitude for friends, family, mentors, and AHS. He reflected on his beginnings in Arcadia and gave thanks to his friends who first introduced him to volleyball and his coaches who saw his potential and pushed him to stay on this path even through all of the negatives. He also gave thanks to his family who continued to believe in him. He emphasized the importance of resilience in sports, as he recalled the many lessons Mr. Freberg had taught him that continue to shape his philosophy today. One of the biggest lessons was that once the ball crosses the net, it becomes the responsibility of everyone on the court.
“It is crazy to think sometimes I’ve been in gyms with 15,000 people, and I still think I’m just a kid from Arcadia,” said Speraw.
Speraw ended by expressing that his success wasn’t just achieved by himself but by everyone that supported him. The ceremony concluded with a standing ovation, as Speraw was presented with commemorative gifts and formally inducted into the Hall of Fame.
As this moment marked the start of the Boys Volleyball CIF match, it also served as a celebration of Arcadia’s past achievements and an inspiration for the current athletes.
