publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

The statewide movement “Let Them Play” saw local action from athletes in Santa Barbara County, specifically Santa Ynez Valley athletes that are so frustrated with their athletic seasons not happening. 

“Our mantra is to teach the kids to only worry about what they can control, because giving negative energy just makes everyone’s life worse,” said Josh McClurg, head football coach at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. 

The rally held on Jan. 15 at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse saw players from not only Santa Ynez High, but Lompoc High, Santa Barbara High, Bishop Diego High and others. The “Let Them Play” movement was conceived to convince Gov. Gavin Newsom to allow high school student athletes to return to competition and the importance of youth sports. 

“When school was shut down last March our senior athletes were for the most part almost through all the seasons, and they have their junior games to show their growth year over year. That’s what scouts and recruiters look at,” McClurg explained. 

So last year’s juniors who are seniors this year only have their junior records and some kids who literally grew and gained muscle mass haven’t been able to showcase their skills, McClurg added. 

“I have one kid who was 5’10” and 165 pounds last year is now 6’2 and 205 pounds this year and he has exploded in his talent, but we haven’t been able to get him on the field to compare last year from this year, which is critical to getting recruited for Division I-A,” McClurg said. 

The California Department of Public Health announced in December it would not decide on youth sports until Jan. 25. According to the National Federation of High Schools, 34 states completed a football season, while 30 states have begun playing basketball. California is one of seven states that have not had any sanctioned high school sports since March.

“I am worried for our current junior players as well because without this year to measure their progress into next year, which who knows if that will happen, how will they get the attention they earned over playing their entire lives of whatever sport they love,” McClurg said. 

The California Interscholastic Federation, which oversees all sports, said it is relying on state guidelines to make any decisions to resume high school sports. The Stay At Home Order would need to be lifted and then officials will evaluate which low-risk sports can play based on the previous colored tier system. Football in particular would need to be in the “orange” tier. 

“I am in the unique position because I am also a dad to two twin boys who have grown up thinking of nothing but football,” McClurg said. “I never pushed them into this, but I encourage them the whole way.” 

SYHS varsity football players Christian Shaw and Luke Gildred expressed how much football has been a big part of their lives.

“For some of us, this is everything,” Shaw, a senior, said of playing high school football. “This is something we’ve worked for since we were 6 years old. For me, it means a bond to my brother, something I’ll never have with anyone else. The things that football is able to give, they’re not going to realize that, the people that are making the decisions.

“By doing things like this (rally), we’ve got to keep showing them how much we care.”

Gildred, a sophomore quarterback, said playing football is more than compiling statistics.

“Football is more about what you learn and life lessons,” he said. “I feel like if our whole season is taken away, we’ll always know with football that we’ll have our brotherhood. And that’s something we can always rely on.”

The teams are hoping for answers soon on whether or not they’ll be able to play this season. 

“If we can get at least one game played this year that will help our athletes not only focus on staying conditioned and healthy to get to that point, but their athletic careers going into college,” McClurg said. 

Beyond the college admissions or scholarships opportunities senior and junior athletes may lose out on, all student athletes’ mental health is in question. The University of Wisconsin released a study on the effects of school sports closures on student athletes and found in the short-term mental health impacts decisions on using drugs/alcohol, staying in school and even graduating from high school. In long term those decisions can become chronic and can determine whether they go on to college and having meaningful lifelong relationships. 

“Medical providers, parents, and policy-makers must recognize the mental health strain the current pandemic is placing on adolescent athletes,” the study reports. “Schools play an important role in providing access to mental health services for disadvantaged students.” 

The study also said limiting exercise and organized sports opportunities during the 2020/21 academic year can be expected to exacerbate these harmful health conditions and outcomes.

To read more on this study visit https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/33fe-2195426/McGuine_study.pdf. 

Another study done by the University of Wisconsin suggests that high school athletes aren’t at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. One of the finding was out of 30,000 athletes, 271 COVID-19 cases were reported. Those attributed to sports contact were 0.5%. The greatest percentage came from household contact (55%) and community contact (40.7%). About 30% couldn’t determine how they were transmitted the disease.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also said that re-engaging in sports activity has physical and psychological health benefits for children and adolescents.

“Participating in sports allows youth to improve their cardiovascular health, strength, body composition, and overall fitness,” according to the AAP report released in December of 2020. “Mentally, youth may experience benefits from the increased socialization with friends and coaches as well as from the return to a more structured routine. These psychological and physical benefits can help support their developmental growth. Exercise also has immune system benefits.” 

McClurg and the SYHS athletic department have their conditioning schedule continuing to at least offer their athletes a way to stay in shape and to be ready when and if the seasons can start. 

“I really hope the governor and public health officials are listening,” McClurg said. “We will take it day by day and continue our goal of getting to play this year. We can’t get caught up in negative thoughts and we will work everyday to be strong once we can play.” 

For more information on “Let Them Play,” visit its Facebook page and subscribe to email updates at https://www.subscribepage.com/x4a0l0. 

Noozhawk’s Sports Editor Barry Punzal contributed to this story. He can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com.

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publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

The library at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School was packed Monday with more than 150 people, including students, parents, teachers and community leaders, who urged the Board of Education to consider options to reduce the district’s budget without laying off teachers and cutting programs for the upcoming school year. 

The special meeting was called to discuss why the district has a structural deficit of more than $750,000 and to find possible solutions to the issue. No decisions will be made until the next board meeting on Tuesday, March 12. 

The situation arose because state funding models changed, increasing the costs of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) and State Teachers Retirement System (STRS), salaries and special education programs. In addition, tax revenue was reduced by the moratorium on oil production after the 2015 Refugio oil spill from a large transmission pipeline, according to Superintendent Scott Cory. 

“When the funding model changed in 2013-14, we lost $700,000. Other factors, including losing the oil revenue and increased costs of salaries and benefits,left us in a tight position. This is even before the Olive Grove issue, and if we are forced to pay the money to them, we really need to start this process of figuring out solutions now. They might not be solutions we like, and I of course don’t want to lose essential teachers and staff,” Cory said before the meeting. 

A recent decision by the state Board of Education ordered the high school district to pay as much as $1 million annually to support the Olive Grove Charter School campus in Buellton, though the district is contesting that order.

Cory outlined three possible approaches to the district’s budget:

• Maintaining budgeted expenditures with reserves at 30 percent as well as keeping a $500,000 budget item for parking lot repairs. This option would leave the district with a $1.5 million structural deficit and a reserve of $4.2 million. 

• Maintaining expenditures with reserves at a static $3 million (reserves are at $6.5 million currently) and keeping the $500,000 budget for parking lots. This option would leave the district with a $1.5 million structural deficit and a reserve of $3 million. 

• Cut $250,000 in expenditures, reduce reserves to a static $3 million and cut the $500,000 budget for the parking lot. This option would leave the district with a $1.3 million structural deficit and a reserve of $3 million.

If the district is to make any reductions in staff, it has a deadline of March 15 to send pink slips to certificated staff (teachers) to warn them that they might be laid off, even if their positions aren’t ultimately eliminated. The district would have 60 days to notify classified (non-teaching) staff, Cory said. 

Whatever the board chooses to do has to eliminate more than $400,000 at least, Cory added. 

“Even if we lower the reserve and not spend the monies set aside to do the parking lot, it’s a temporary fix and not a long–term solution. This doesn’t even take into account Olive Grove,” Cory said after the meeting. 

The certificated positions that could be eliminated would be a special education teacher (this person resigned and the position wouldn’t be filled), a Spanish teacher, a physical education teacher, a vacant English position, an auto shop teacher, an art teacher, the band teacher and choir teacher.

Programs lost could be Intro to Education, the auto shop and one section of the EAST technology program. Other programs possibly lost would be the freshman technology class, five sections of media/film/yearbook, the theater program, and elective classes. 

The classified positions at risk are the staff services technician, in–house suspension supervisor, and the registrar. 

Other options are to eliminate the principal’s position to create a superintendent/principal position for a savings of $185,451, or to eliminate the vice principal’s position to create a principal/vice principal for a savings of $169,517. 

Cory recommended not filling the vacant special education job, cutting the physical education position, reducing English and EAST to one full-time position each rather than 1.2 FTE (full–time equivalent), cutting the staff services position and in-house suspension supervisor, and cutting the registrar to part time. Those savings would total $405,137. 

Dozens of students, teachers and parents expressed their opposition to laying off Josh McClurg, the physical education teacher and head football coach. 

“Losing Coach McClurg would only hurt the students as he’s more than a football coach and P.E. teacher. He’s a mentor and so many other clubs and organizations would feel the loss of his presence,” said Athletic Director Cris Avery. 

“Coach McClurg is the epitome of Pirate Pride and he helps our youth to succeed. As a female football player he pushes me and challenges me and gives me confidence I wouldn’t have gotten from anyone else,” said student Quincy Valle. 

McClurg spoke and said he wouldn’t be setting a good example for his kids if he didn’t stand up and fight for his position. 

“On paper we are just salary numbers, but what is intangible is our Pirate Pride. I urge you to keep cuts away from the classroom,” McClurg said. 

“Coach McClurg tells us to stand up for what we believe in, and I believe in him. I have been on countless teams and this is the first team I felt the camaraderie in because of him. Coach is like a second father to me and all the other kids he’s coached,” said student Jacob Davies. 

Teacher Melanie Dickey said the district needs to remember that just last year the dean and two teaching positions were eliminated at the district’s Refugio High School and, after much protest and damage to the students, they were ultimately brought back. 

“This is a lesson we just learned, and is a disservice to our students if we put this stress and anxiety on them before we look at all the options,” Dickey added. 

Former board member Bruce Porter said that these decisions are being made because of actions by government leaders. 

“Ask our (county) district supervisor why she voted to put oil production on hold. Those revenues are critical to education funding. Just look at what that decision is doing to Vista Del Mar Union District,” Porter said. 

Vista’s tax revenue plunged after a leaking transmission pipeline halted South Coast oil production in May 2015. The school relied for more than half its budget of roughly $1.2 million on revenues generated by the companies that were affected by the spill, according to the district.

Vista is now considering a merger with Buellton Union School District.

Porter said there are solutions if the board is willing to take a breath and listen to ideas from the community. 

“You have a reserve, and this is exactly what it’s for,” he said. 

EAST teacher Chip Fenenga said that looking ahead three years is unrealistic. 

“As someone who survived Stage 4 cancer, three years is nothing. There are so many variables that can occur in those three years to make a valid prediction,” Fenenga said. 

“If it weren’t for the auto shop department, I wouldn’t have gone onto trade school and become the person I am today and have a successful career. College isn’t for everyone, and having the auto department gave me the skills I needed to succeed in life,” said alumnus Rory Burnett. 

Burnett was followed by Bob Stokes, executive director of the fundraising Wheels ’n’ Windmills Car Show. 

“We have help supported the auto department in the last 10 years by specifically donating at least $50,000 to the program. Rob Hill (the current auto shop teacher) has given his heart and soul to this program and the kids, and his teachings are invaluable,”  Stokes said. 

Wheel n’ Windmills donated $17,000 to the program this year. 

When the board members discussed the item, they all expressed appreciation for those who came to speak. 

“We hear you. We need to keep the cuts as far from the classroom and students. The reason we were elected is to honor our constituents, and it’s pretty clear what they don’t want,” board member Tory Babcock said. 

Board President Jan Clevenger agreed, saying the school is only as good as the students it produces. 

Board member John Baeke said he knows how hard it becomes when teachers are laid off, as his mother was one in his hometown.  

“She felt that for years after, and this is exactly the opposite of what I campaigned for. I want to bring in teachers and programs, not eliminate them,” he said. 

The board is holding a special closed session today at 3 p.m. before the next regular meeting, but any decision to hand out pink slips or eliminate programs will be made by the March 15 deadline. 

For more information on this meeting, log onto www.syvuhsd.org and click on Agendas and Minutes. 

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Family: I’m married to Angela McClurg with sons Cash, Canyon and Ryder.  My parents Brent and Chris McClurg own Brent and Jeff’s Flooring. My brother Jeff McClurg and sister Sarah Snow both live in the valley as well.

Favorite movies: “Tombstone” and “Braveheart”

Favorite book/author: “At Night She Cries, While he Rides His Steed,” by Ross Patterson

Favorite music and musician: ’90s rap and outlaw country (I know, a weird combo), and Kid Rock

Hobbies: Weightlifting, waterfowl hunting, waterskiing/wakeboarding, watching my kids’ sporting events, barbecuing at home for the family.

Your Bio in One Paragraph: I was born in Santa Barbara on a sunny, beautiful spring day in April. Parents and I move to SY one year later.  Attended Santa Ynez Elementary School (Bobcat Pride!). Graduated from SYHS in 1994 (played football, basketball, and track).  Played football at Allan Hancock for two years then transferred to Chico State, where I played football and then graduated in 1999.  I met my wife in college, got married in 2001 and then had our twin sons, Cash and Canyon, in 2003. Then in 2007 we had our youngest son, Ryder.

Pet Peeves: People who are late!  People who are not accountable for their actions.  People who make excuses or blame others for why they didn’t get a fair shot at something.

Road to the Santa Ynez Valley: My first teaching Job was at Kit Carson Middle School in Sacramento, where I was also the head basketball coach.  In 2003 we moved back to the valley to raise a family.  I was hired by Lucia Mar Unified School District to be an elementary PE teacher.  I taught at Harloe Elementary, Grover Beach and Shell Beach.

In 2004 I was able to transfer to Nipomo High School to teach PE and be the head JV football coach.  In 2005 I was moved up to coach varsity football as the defensive backs coach. In 2006 I coached the varsity defensive line.  From 2007-2010 I was the defensive coordinator at Nipomo.  In 2011, Ken Gruendyke asked me to be an assistant football coach at SYHS, and I of course accepted.  In 2012 I was hired at SYHS as a PE teacher and head football coach following Coach Gruendyke’s retirement.

Favorite Place in the Santa Ynez Valley: Nira, Fig Mountain lookout, and anywhere in the Santa Ynez backcountry.

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Every day before the football players walk onto the field for practice or a game, they reach down and touch the Jeff Rio Memorial rock that sits just outside the field at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School.

“I realized that our younger players had no idea why they touched the rock, or who the rock was memorializing so we decided we needed to do something to bring back the Rio name, and what better way than with a fundraiser,” said Pirate Football Head Coach Josh McClurg.

The previous golf fundraiser had been called the Jeff Rio Memorial Golf Tournament and McClurg talked with Jeff’s father and fellow coach Carl Rio about bringing it back, but it was ultimately put on the back burner. When Carl passed away two years ago, McClurg decided it was time to revive the golf tournament and rename it. With the blessing of Rio’s widow Mary Ellen, the Rio Memorial Golf Tournament will be Saturday, June 23 at the River Course at the Alisal.

https://youtu.be/7YkTJaVgrRA

Jeff Rio
Photo contributed

Jeff Rio was McClurg’s coach his senior year of high school and one of the reasons McClurg got into coaching and becoming a physical education teacher as well.

“The football team is more than just players, we are a family and the Rio’s have been apart of this family for 30 years. Carl especially was responsible for turning these boys into upstanding young men and part of the community,” he added.

Carl Rio got more involved with volunteering for valley organizations and coaching the football and baseball teams at the high school, when his son Jeff died in a car accident in 1996, but he had always been involved in the community.

“We want people to come out and have a great time and know that they are not only celebrating the Rio legacy but supporting our football program as well,” McClurg said.

The football program only gets more expensive to operate each year, according to McClurg. They are looking at $100,000 for one year which includes the cost of coaching, equipment replacement, travel costs, scholarships and more.

“Each football costs $90, helmets run about $400 and those have to be replaced and certified each year,” McClurg said.

The money raised at the golf tournament will sponsor three scholarships, one being the Jeff Rio Memorial Scholarship, the Sean Misner Memorial Scholarship and one football program scholarship, McClurg said.

The tournament starts at 9 a.m. with registration at 7:30 a.m. and will host 144 golfers in four-man teams for 18 holes. The cost of $200 per golfer includes a cart, goodie bag as well as a tri-tip and chicken lunch. There are sponsorships available for golfers, at each tee and corporate sponsorships available.

“The Rio’s are apart of this football family and we need to honor them for all they have done for the program,” McClurg said.

For more information contact Don Kadlec at pirategolftournament@gmail.com or McClurg at jmcclurg@syvuhsd.org. You can also register and pay online at www.sypiratefootball.com or log onto their Facebook page

The Pirate Pass Savings Card is also open for businesses to sign up which need to be turned in by May 1. The boosters print 1,250 cards pass discounts and savings at many Santa Ynez Valley businesses valid from August 1, 2018 to July 31, 2019. To download an application click Pirate Pass Contract New Merchant 2018.

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By Raiza Giorgi

The Santa Ynez Pirates won a football game, 49-12, against the Santa Maria Saints on Sept. 29, but both teams came away with a big win for sportsmanship.

As a team manager, Alec Watson has always felt that he is a part of the Pirate football team. However, his coaches and team members decided they wanted to do something more to honor his great love of the sport.

At the home game on Sept. 29, Alec got to suit up and not only run onto the field with his teammates but also to run the ball on the first play of the game.

“This made me feel great, and there was a lot of hard work by both coaches to let me do this,” Alec said on the sidelines after that first play.

His teammates and opponents all cheered for him as he walked off the field with shouts of “You got this, Alec.”

Watson, 19, was born with a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot. Before he was a year old he had gone through two open heart surgeries, his mother, Leanne Watson said.

“We have been talking about this since last spring, and it was just as meaningful for both teams because they were emotionally involved and it impacted everyone in a positive way. … Two opposite teams shared a common goal,” said SYHS Coach Josh McClurg.

McClurg said when he contacted the Saints coach, Dan Ellington, that he came back right away to pledge his team’s support.

“We gave them our first play so they knew how to counter and make sure that Alec didn’t get hurt,” McClurg said.

The night of the game Watson didn’t know how to put on his pads so his teammates stepped in to help him.

The Pirates players helped Alec practice the week before the game. He said he didn’t want the first play to be something automatic where he would get the ball and just run into the end zone. He wanted to earn it.

On the night of the game he didn’t know how to put on his pads, so his teammates helped him with that, too.

“My husband was MVP for his football team senior year, and seeing him practice with Alec the past few weeks, and watching him seeing his son run onto that field and make the play, was probably the highlight of our lives,” Leanne Watson said through tears of joy.

Any parent would feel that same, she said, knowing that their child loved something so much but couldn’t participate due to a disability.

“All you want for your kids is to feel loved and supported and accomplish their dreams. This moment was all that wrapped up in one amazing ball. Hearing people chanting his name and cheering, I know we all won’t forget that night,” his mother said.

The support didn’t end there, either.

In an interview with KSBY television, Alec mentioned that he fell in love with football at 8 years old while watching a Brigham Young University game. He also said that BYU’s quarterback at the time, John Beck, was his inspiration.

The video somehow found its way to Beck, who retired from professional football in 2015 after playing for the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins and the Houston Texans.

“John called the SY athletic department and they gave him my number. It made Alec’s life that he talked to him and now they are friends. The widespread love and gratitude we have for our community to make this all happen is amazing. This is what our valley is about; it’s about uplifting and supporting one another,” Leanna Watson said.

“This is the epitome of coaching, using sports to create amazing community members that are thoughtful, grateful, caring, and make the game worth playing win or lose,” she added.

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Pirates open season by dominating San Marcos

Staff Report

The Santa Ynez Pirates team started their 2017 football season by crushing the San Marcos Royals, 65-22, on Aug. 25.

“I am proud of the team and their effort. It was a total team victory,” said Coach Josh McClurg.

In the first quarter the score was 42-10. The second quarter was scoreless, but the Pirates scored another 23 points in the third to the Royals’ 6. In the fourth, the Royals got another touchdown without the extra point.

Travis Vreeland ran in a 56-yard reception just before halftime, and quarterback Dustin Gregg scored another one to gave the Pirates a 42-7 halftime lead.

Trey Duus made one of the memorable plays of the game when he broke free of the line and ran the ball 70 yards up the middle of the field.

The Pirates then played the Carpinteria Warriors on Friday, Sept. 1, after the Star’s print deadline. Results are posted on the SYV Star social media and at www.santaynezvalleystar.com.

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Both Varsity and Junior Varsity players will wear pink socks during their games on Friday, October 21 against Lompoc High School. Junior Varsity begins at 4 p.m. and the Varsity game kicks off at 7 p.m.

“Go Pink Night is a meaningful Santa Ynez Football tradition as players and coaches honor all women in their fight against breast cancer.  This year it’s more than that. We want to recognize all those battling cancer and who have fought hard against this insidious disease, the recent passing of Coach Carl Rio makes this year’s event especially meaningful for our team” said Varsity Head Coach Josh McClurg.

“Carl was an amazing man and mentor to all the kids who new him,” McClurg added.

Rio passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 11 from a battle with cancer, according to the family. Per his wishes, there will be no memorial service. Rio got more involved with volunteering for valley organizations and coaching the football and baseball teams at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, when his son Jeff died in a car accident in 1996, but he has always been involved in the community.

Football Boosters with Charlene Hiatt will hold fundraising efforts at the game including a Pirate Football helmet signed by all players, a 50/50 raffle, cupcakes donated by the Solvang Bakery and other baked goods.  A local medical device company has offered to match donations up to $2000 in support of this year’s fundraising program.

In memory of Carl Rio, 100 percent of the fundraising proceeds will go to the Jeff Rio Memorial Scholarship Fund and all of the matching contributions will go directly to the Sansum Multi-Specialty and Cancer Center in Solvang.

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Star Staff

The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School football team has been working especially hard this summer to ensure that all its varsity and junior varsity players were ready for the season, and it showed as their first home game against Carpinteria High School was a victory 42-0.

“We have a lot of first-time varsity players this year and it’s been great to watch the kids bond and the older ones share their knowledge,” Head Coach Josh McClurg said.

The defense is led by returning all-league middle linebacker Travis Vreeland and AJ Reynoso, cornerbacks Michael McCoy and Gabe Prendergast, and strong safety Ben Schaeffer.

Team captains this season are Michael McCoy, Gustavo Zarate and Ramon Lazarit.

“McCoy is our quarterback and he will be joined by returning wide receiver Gabe Prendergast and tight-end Travis Vreeland. We have a strong team and can’t wait to see what they do on the field,” McClurg said.

Every Thursday you can find the varsity team on the field practicing game situations, with McClurg and his staff leading the players and showing them how to get through each play.

The schedule of the Pirates’ home games is printed in the September issue, and their entire schedule is posted at syvpirates.org.

The team’s next home game is at 4 p.m. for Junior Varsity and at 7 p.m. for Varsity on Friday, Sept. 23, when Santa Ynez hosts Templeton High School.

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