This week, the city is facing some significant changes in high school sports due to the ongoing Mountain Fire. Conditions related to the fire have greatly impacted the scheduling of several key events, including cross country league finals, football playoffs, and tennis matches.
Administrators from local high schools have been working hard to find safe venues for their athletes to practice and compete. For instance, the CIF-Southern Section Division 5 playoff game on Friday between Rio Mesa and Ventura High has been moved from its original location in El Rio to Royal High in Simi Valley. In response to the situation, Rio Mesa’s athletic director, Chris Ruffinelli, put things in perspective, stating, “We lost a day of practice. People have lost their houses. This is a football game.”
On the other hand, the Division 7 football game between Camarillo and Oak Park, which was also scheduled for Friday, has shifted venues to Oak Park High. Camarillo’s athletic director, Mary Bittner Perez, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play, saying, “We’re grateful for Oak Park for making it happen.”
Another notable change involves St. Bonaventure High, which will now play their Division 4 first-round game against Orange Vista at Santa Barbara City College instead of Buena High. St. Bonaventure’s athletic director, Raul Camacho, noted the fire’s movement towards Fillmore as a reason to relocate the game for safety precautions.
For the Santa Paula Division 11 playoff game, the match is set for Saturday at noon at Encino-Crespi, as the fire moved back towards Santa Paula. Coach Mike Montoya indicated that the extra time allowed them a much-needed practice day.
With the Oxnard Union High School District closing midweek, schools including Camarillo, Pacifica, and Rio Mesa were unable to practice as scheduled. However, they planned to regroup for practice at Camarillo High on Thursday. Meanwhile, Pacifica’s home playoff game against Laguna Beach is still set for its original location, though updates are awaited.
The Nordhoff Division 14 home playoff game is still planned for Friday night at the local Ojai Valley Community Stadium, with the air quality being monitored closely. Meanwhile, the air quality in Ventura, Oxnard, and Camarillo was reported as unhealthy on Thursday.
The Citrus Coast League decided to cancel the cross country finals initially scheduled at Lake Casitas, with the final standings being based on prior meets. The Channel League finals were postponed to Friday at 11 a.m., holding in Goleta.
With all these events in flux, local schools are working diligently to ensure students can safely participate in their athletic pursuits while dealing with the realities of the current situation.
