A surprised Karen Welliver was greeted by her team and athletic staff to help the women's basketball coach celebrate her 1000th game. Welliver, who is in her 32nd year with the Falcons, will lead her 13-9 team tomorrow at Mt. San Antonio College in a 5:00 p.m. South Coast Conference game. It was obvious that Welliver was caught completely off guard, as she had to compose herself before addressing her team and members of the Cerritos athletic department.

"I'm completely shocked and surprised by this," said Welliver, who has led her teams to a combined 663-336 record, along with seven state tournament appearances and 11 South Coast Conference championships. The Falcons have also finished in second place in the SCC 13 times.

"To be able to spend my entire career here has been truly a blessing," added Welliver. "I have such a great group of players this year and they are probably one of the most fun groupls I've ever had. They do what's asked of them and I am so happy to work with them every day. I've made some great friends over the years and am just so thankful to be at such a supportive school with a great group of people."

Welliver specifically mentioned recently retired Jeanine Prindle, who was her coach at Cal State Long Beach and then hired her to be her assistant at Cerritos. Welliver took over the Falcon coaching job in 1983. Prindle coached the team from 1978-82 before turning the program over to Welliver, but was a member of the Cerritos staff until May, 2013 when she retired.