Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, October 28, 2023

17

 SPORTSSPORTS

Mountain View News Saturday, October 28, 2023 

DUARTE’S RHONDA LUNA INDUCTED INTO THE 

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S BOXING HALL OF FAME


Duarte Boxing Club’s very own former Junior 
Lightweight World Champion, Rhonda Luna, 
was inducted into the International Women's 
Boxing Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, Nevada on 
Saturday, October 7, 2023. 

For Luna, the induction marked a full-circle 
moment in her boxing career. She made her 
pro debut in 2003, and retired from the sport 
in 2013. Throughout the duration of her boxing 
career, she earned her Master’s degree, 
carried a full-time job working in education, 
and trained with Duarte Boxing Coach, Victor 
Valenzuela, at the Duarte Boxing Gym (1400 
Buena Vista). The ceremony made Luna realize 
that alongside all of the women in-ducted 
this year, she was now one of the women paving 
the way for future female fighters, just like 
many women had done for her when she was 
just starting out. 

“My career would have been complete regardless 
of the induction." said Luna. “I made some 
incredible memories and this was just the cherry 
on top.”

Before her boxing career, Luna was an accomplished 
softball player at University of California, Santa Barbara. 
Boxing eventually became her way to continue fulfilling her 
compet-itive nature post-graduation. A family connection led 
her to Victor Valenzuela at Duarte Boxing Gym, where she became 
the first female fighter Valenzuela coached in 2006. 

“Coach Valenzuela saw something special in me,” said Luna. 
“His training was invaluable; he honed in on my specific talents 
as a boxer. No one would have trained me as well as he did.”

Luna's time spent at the Duarte Boxing Gym also allowed her to 
develop a strong bond with Marilyn Mays, the Teen Center coordinator. 
This connection led to Luna's role as a recreation leader 
at the Teen Center, further deepening her ties with the Duarte 
community. Over the course of her six-year tenure in this role, 
she became an integral part of Duarte.

“I love Duarte, I love our tight knit community, and I love being 
a part of the gym. My career would have been very different if 
I was in a different City surrounded by different people,” said 
Luna. “Here in Duarte we’re a family, and it’s just an incredible 
community to be a part of. Before every fight, I would ask the announcer 
to mention I was training at the Duarte Boxing Gym.”

One of the most memorable moments of Luna's career was winning 
a world title practically in her own backyard. The culmination 
of her hard work and dedication resulted in a victorious 
six-round fight at the San Manuel Casino in Highland. Luna had 
an incredible amount of support from the Duarte community; 
a number of Duarte coaches and boxers were in her corner to 
cheer her on and watch her win the world title. 

“It was an incredible fight and it felt like a win for not only Rhonda 
and myself, but for the entire community,” said Valenzuela. “I 
was truly honored to be Rhonda’s coach and it was very rewarding 
to be there to see her win the world title and get inducted into 
the Interna-tional Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame.”

Luna’s legacy lives on at the Duarte Boxing Gym with her son 
now training there. 

“Being able to watch my kid train and share this part of my life 
with him has felt so natural,” said Luna. “He’s surrounded by 
good people in the Duarte Boxing Gym and the Teen Center 
gives him so many opportunities too. I appreciate them for everything 
they did and continue to do for me and my family.”


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42 E. LIVE OAK 
ARCADIA, CA. 91006 
( 626)445-8822Lie. #1902-0997 
MAYFIELD JUNIOR 
SCHOOL EARNS 

INDEPEDENT LEAGUE 
TOURNAMENT

CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 
GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL, 
"A" FLAG FOOTBALL

(PASADENA, CA) – The Fall Sports 
season concluded on a high note for 
Mayfield Junior School as the girls' 
volleyball and "A" flag football teams 
won Independent League tournament 
championships.

Girls' volleyball entered the postseason 
tournament as the No. 3 seed. In 
the opening round, Mayfield topped 
Chandler 25-22 and 25-17 to earn 
a spot in the championship match 
against Rio Hondo. After taking 
the first set, 25-13, MJS secured the 
league tournament title in come-
from-behind fashion with a 24-21 
vic-tory in Set No. 2.

After a commanding 28-0 win over 
High Point Academy, Mayfield's "A" 
flag football team jumped out to a 
two-touchdown lead over Chandler 
in the tournament championship 
finale. The Mustangs would tack 
on 24 more points in the second 
half for a 38-30 win, cementing 
their status as both Independ-ent 
League Champions and League 
Tournament Champions.

About Mayfield Junior School

Founded in 1931 by the Society of 
the Holy Child Jesus and located 
adjacent to historic Old Pasadena, 
Mayfield Junior School is a leading 
Catholic Independent coeducational 
school serving Kindergarten 
to Eighth-Grade students. 
Mayfield is distinguished by the 
Holy Child educational philosophy 
of developing the Whole Child as an intellectual, spiritual, creative, and athletic 
person. Mayfield's educational program best prepares students for high school and 
beyond. Learn more at www.mayfieldjs.org.


Above: MJS Volleyball - League Tournament Champions: Back Row (L to R): Isabella 
Gavia, Sadie Dansinger, Allie Charvat, Arabella Schlaerth, Miya Akasaki Front Row (L to 
R): Alexandra Mason, Sophie Mills, Ali Trujillo, Francesca Bonsignore-Arabolaza, Avery 
Windass, Isabel Wang, Kaila Casalino

Below: MJS Flag Football - League Tournament Champions Back Row (L to R): Jude 
Suguitan, Jack Michelson, Del Rock, Zach Ito Wilson, Oliver Jones, Ryden Yamada, Head 
Coach Scott Salsman. Middle Row (L to R): James Klarin, Eleanor Gordon Smith, Louis 
Tanaka, James Francis, David Villagra, Zach Attanasio. Front Row (L to R): Bobby 
Clougherty

Photos courtesy Mayfield Junior School


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