The Scripps Ranch High School varsity football team defeated University City High School 48-14 on Friday, April 16 in a hard-fought game.

The Scripps Ranch High School varsity football team defeated Kearny High 48-6 on April 2.

The next scheduled game for the Falcons is Friday, April 16 at home against University City High School with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

The Scripps Ranch High School varsity football team suffered a tough loss to Patrick Henry High School 34-14 on March 19.

The next game for the Falcons is scheduled for Friday, March 26 at home against Morse High School with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

With the battle against Covid-19 entering its second year and with California high school athletics just now starting to regain a semblance of normalcy, it might be easy to forget that outdoor sports have been impacted severely. In particular, those involved with the Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) cross country team have been forced to make adjustments while finding a way to remain competitive.

Nevertheless, the SRHS boys won the Western League title over Cathedral Catholic, which placed second during league finals at Morley Field on March 16. The women Falcons placed second to Cathedral Catholic. Additionally, SRHS boys runners Caden Farrow, Giancarlo da Silva and Brian Maguire received All-League honors. Jaiden Wick,
Chloe Ellermeyer and Michaela Martin received Girls All-League honors.

“They have fought extremely hard and will continue to do so,” said Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) cross country coach Chuck Warren.

Warren, who enters his 10th year at the helm, has done an impressive job with the help of assistant coach Eileen Quinn as they do their best to face the challenges caused by the pandemic and implement social distancing protocols at the same time.

In addition, their cross country team wasn’t able to meet with coaches for three months and had to endure a large decrease in the number of runners on the team which usually stands at more than 100 and currently sits at 40 (23 boys and 17 girls).

“The cross country team doesn’t cut any runners, so it was disappointing seeing less athletes training this season,” said captain Giancarlo da Silva. “We have made the most out of this abbreviated season.”

Despite this, both the men and the women were still in the running to win the Western League title as the season got underway.

“After going so long without racing, it has been difficult to get back into it. But with all the hard work our teams have been putting in, we are quickly getting used to competing again,” senior Delphine Maurer said. “I am grateful that running is a sport that can be done relatively safely so that I was able to continue training during the shutdown.”

Despite fall competition being cancelled, that did not stop the Falcons from beating their rival and number 1 ranked Cathedral Catholic High School in an earlier competition as they aimed for an impressive showing during league finals along with competing in the UC 2-mile on March 27.

“Being a runner has been difficult during the shutdown due to all of the restrictions and all of our races being cancelled,” said senior Caden Farrow. “My team had trouble staying motivated at times, but our teamwork kept us working hard and not giving up on a possible season in the future. Now we are back in season and I’m glad we continued to work hard during this pandemic because now we are able to compete.”

The Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) varsity football team shut out Mira Mesa High School 21-0 in the first game of a very unusual season which began March 12 on the Scripps Ranch High campus.

Numerous fans, presumably being mostly parents of the players, lined up along the fence on the sidewalk along Scripps Ranch Boulevard above the field to watch the action since the San Diego Unified School District prohibited spectators. Inside the stadium, the game was played with empty stands.

Meanwhile, sleet pelted the players for a short time as they battled during what the official SRHS sports web page labeled as a scrimmage. Neither team wore their team’s formal stickers on their helmets for this contest. Still, Falcons players celebrated as they hoisted the traditional Battle of the 15 trophy following the SRHS victory.

(March 13, 2021) In light of the displeasure of numerous parents not being allowed to view their high school athletes compete inside stadiums and gyms this spring due to a rule by the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) based on concerns of spreading COVID-19, SDUSD Superintendent Cindy Marten this morning released the following announcement touting a program offering the streaming of live, on-demand high school sports.:

The wait is almost over. Nearly every CIF sport is back in action at San Diego Unified high schools, with practices already underway or starting today, and regular season games will soon begin for sports such as football, softball, baseball and lacrosse.

When San Diego Unified student athletes take the field this spring, they will be able to have family members and friends watching them via live webcast – and also from the stands, subject to State and County guidance on COVID protocols including distancing, wearing of masks and attendance capacity.

District physician Dr. Howard Taras said extensive restrictions will need to remain in place for outdoor events, even as small numbers of observers will be able to attend games.

Current California regulations stipulate that attendance for outdoor sports is limited to 100 people for locations in the purple tier, like San Diego. Those limits increase to 20% capacity in the red tier, 33% in the orange tier and 67% in the yellow tier.

At last Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Marten shared the district’s plan to work with high school principals and athletic directors to create safe plans for sporting events so family members can attend and watch their students play.

District leadership is working with school sites to get these plans approved starting next week, and will make sufficient funds available to schools in order to help facilitate attendance at outdoor sporting events.

The district has also secured a landmark agreement with NFHS Network, a nationwide live and on-demand high school sports broadcasting company, which will provide coverage of regular season sporting events played by San Diego Unified high school teams in their home stadiums and gymnasiums.

The NFHS agreement means parents, students and fans will be able to watch San Diego Unified home games for free throughout the spring season. More details on how to watch will be provided to each high school for sharing with their community.

Players on the Scripps Ranch High School varsity football team will finally get their chance to play a new season of football with a home game against archrival Mira Mesa High School starting at 7 p.m. on March 12.

This most unprecedented season will begin due to COVID-19 restrictions forcing the cancellation of 2020 high school fall sports in California.

Now, the Falcons football team will open a new, but abbreviated, winter-spring season with only four scheduled games at this time, according to the school’s sports web page. The team returns after an incredible one-loss season in which the Falcons went all the way to the San Diego CIF championship game.

Scripps Ranch News plans to post photos of this opening game over the weekend.

The Scripps Ranch Softball Association (SRSA) said it is committed to providing all of its players and their families with the best possible experience for the 2021 softball season. It knows how important it is for players to be active, socialize and have fun in a safe environment.

With that in mind, SRSA wanted to lay out the plan for the season ahead, so that there is complete transparency into how it will make this work.

Season registration

Registration will be $150 per player, which will include a full practice up to three days a week to maximize the experience for all players with registration open indefinitely so girls can join when they are comfortable or when things change.

Coaches will provide drills and practice plans for a safe group experience to allow players to be active and develop their love for softball. SRSA will operate these practice sessions under the safe guidelines established by the County of San Diego.

The SRSA softball program is dedicated to offering girls the opportunity to learn and play recreational fastpitch softball in a fun and safe environment. In addition, it is dedicated to providing a league for girls of all skill levels with the goal of improving their softball skills, making new friends, developing team building skills and having fun.

Season information

Competitive practices including pitching and catching will be held during the week including Saturdays, either morning or afternoon. The league will adjust accordingly if county restrictions change.

Afternoon and evening weekday practices will be added once Daylight Savings Time begins.

Coaches may choose to add optional additional cages or practices.

Quality team jerseys are included in the registration fees.

Divisions

• T-Ball: Birth year 2015

• Rookies: Birth year 2014

• 8U: Birth years 2012-13

• 10U: Birth years 2010-11

• 12U: Birth years 2008-09

• 14U: Birth years 2006-07

The Scripps Ranch Lacrosse Association has been following the San Diego County and State of California health guidelines in preparation for the upcoming spring season.

The safety of players, coaches and families are the top priority. If permitted and safe, there will be a spring season. Some options under consideration include a shortened county-wide season or one that involves distanced practices and clinics, or SRlax only scrimmages.

The Poway Chamber of Commerce will hold the eighth annual Mickey Cafagna Memorial Golf Classic on Friday, April 16, at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive. The event will include golf and lunch, games and drawing prizes, as well as a virtual silent auction.

The Mickey Cafagna Memorial Golf Classic was established to honor Mickey Cafagna, former Mayor of Poway. He was one of the most loved and respected elected officials in the city’s history, and distinguished himself by his thoughtful leadership and enthusiastic support of numerous nonprofit organizations.

In keeping with Cafagna’s charitable spirit, a portion of this year’s profits will be donated to the Poway Performing Arts Company (PowPAC), Poway’s community theatre. The Poway Performing Arts Company is Poway's only community theatre, established in 1981 with its home in the center of Poway at the Lively Center on Poway Road.

On Dec.1, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced that high school sports in California will not be allowed to proceed with full practices or competitions until after Jan. 1. Here is the CIF statement:

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — Due to the continued surge in COVID-19 infections, the California Department of Public Health has postponed the issuance of its updated youth sports guidance. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) does not expect the CDPH will issue any guidance allowing for schools to return to full practice and competition until after January 1, 2021, at the earliest. Thus, all full practice and competition start dates are officially on hold until updated guidance is issued.

Therefore, to provide the 10 CIF Sections, our 1,605 member schools, and more than 800,000 student-athletes the best opportunity to compete in Season 1 Sports, once allowed by the CDPH and local county offices of public health, the CIF State Office is removing all Regional and State Championship events from the Season 1 Sports calendar. By canceling Regional and State Championship events, more student-athletes will have the opportunity to participate in a longer season, rather than a truncated season with Regional and State post-season play for a limited number of schools.

Additionally, boys volleyball will be moved to Season 2 to avoid the loss of a second full season, and an updated Season 2 calendar to include boys volleyball will be posted in January.

The CIF is confident this decision is a necessary and reasonable action for our member schools, student-athletes, and school communities in light of the current statewide crisis. This revision to the CIF State 2020-21 Season 1 Sports calendar offers our Sections and Leagues the flexibility and needed time to plan for the return to practice and competition once updated guidance is provided by the CDPH.

CIF San Diego Section released the following statement Dec. 14 along with a link to guidelines for sports issued by the California Department of Health and Safety regarding sports programs as the state heads into 2021 under COVID-19 restrictions: