SPORTS & FITNESS
A beloved youth soccer coach and friend to many in Scripps Ranch has been diagnosed with a severe and aggressive form of lung cancer, leaving former players and their families shocked and heartbroken.
Affectionately known by her players as ‘Coach O,’ Ouying Zhang is a two-time Olympian and was a star player for the Chinese National Team in three successive Women’s World Cups. According to a GoFundMe page set up in the coach’s name, “since coming to the United States in 2006, she has been a devoted coach and mentor in assisting kids and young adults at Poway High School, Mesa College, San Diego Futbol Academy, and beginning in 2010 at San Diego Soccer Club [SDSC].”
While coaching girls soccer with SDSC she met and made an impact on families from Scripps Ranch.
“Coach O is definitely special. She really loves all of her players,” explained Mia Arredondo, a 14-year-old Scripps Ranch resident who played on Coach O’s SDSC teams for two years. “She wants the best soccer experience she can give to them. That’s what made her stand out. She really cared about all of us.”
Former teammate Marissa McSweeney echoed this sentiment.
“She doesn’t think about herself. She thinks about other people,” McSweeney said. “She cares about everybody and makes you feel like you matter.”
In addition to the poignant emotional impact Coach O has had on her players, she certainly has not fallen short in helping them to excel in their sport.
“She had a major impact on me. She made me a better person overall and a better soccer player,” said Emma Hass, who played for Coach O for two years and now plays on the junior varsity soccer team at Scripps Ranch High School.
Her mother, Lecia Hass, agreed, saying, “in the last couple of years, Emma has grown by leaps and bounds through Coach O’s ‘tough love.’ She pushed them, but not over the edge. She made it fun. They learned a lot from her.”
While Coach O maintained focus on the team overall, her players agree that she took the time to understand each player’s method of learning and worked to coach them in an individualized fashion.
“She paid attention to how we could change as a player and she helped us grow together,” said Tory Swenson, who also played on the coach’s team for two years.
Coach O was on an annual trip to China in April when she fell ill and complained of chest pain. She was taken to a local hospital where a series of tests revealed evidence of cancer in her lungs. Players and their families were stunned when they learned the news of their coach’s diagnosis.
“The last time we had seen Coach O, she was perfectly fine,” said Christina Arredondo, mother of Mia Arredondo. “She was so strong and fit. We never imagined that someone so fit and healthy could be hit with something like this. We were in total and complete shock.”
Parents of current and former players immediately mobilized a “call to action” through a series of emails aimed at brainstorming ways they could provide support. The first email in the thread, which was originated by Ben Lee, father of two daughters who have played on Coach O’s teams, read in part, “Like us, I’m sure everyone’s plate is already overflowing with life’s and work’s activities and responsibilities. But during these very, very tough times, I implore you to think of all the wonderful memories that Coach O has given to us and our daughters, and to reach deep into your energy and time reserves to help in these efforts.”
Organization leadership from SDSC promptly set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money to assist her family – husband Edde and two children, ages 7 and 3 – with mounting medical bills. Within the first 24 hours of the page going live, it had surpassed its initial fundraising goal of $50,000. The goal was then extended to $100,000, which was exceeded within a week. By May 12, a new goal of $200,000 had been set, and momentum for the fundraising campaign remained strong.
Coach O has returned to San Diego and is receiving treatment at a local hospital. Lee explained that during a recent visit with the coach, when he shared news of the community’s tremendous response, she broke in to tears, completely overwhelmed by the love and support.
“I cannot believe everyone is doing this,” she said. “I’m just a soccer coach.”
Convinced that Coach O is more than “just a coach,” Christina Arredondo explained, “when you have a good coach or a good teacher, it makes all the difference in the life of a child. Coaches and teachers help to mold our kids, and Coach O is one of the good ones.”
Additional fundraising events are scheduled in the weeks ahead and can be found on the SDSC Facebook page. The GoFundMe campaign can be found by visiting gofundme.com/coach-o.
The Scripps Ranch High School varsity boys lacrosse team defeated Rancho Bernardo High 12-7 in the CIF Division 1 Quarterfinals on Friday, May 11, to advance to the Semifinals.
Scripps Ranch played aggressive and smart to gain the victory. The Falcons scored first, then Rancho Bernardo scored. Rancho Bernardo gained the lead in the first quarter 3-2, but Scripps Ranch came back and dominated the rest of the contest. Senior Joey Tudor had an impressive game for Scripps Ranch, scoring eight goals.
The Falcons travel to Santa Fe Christian High on Tuesday, May 15, for the CIF San Diego Section semifinals at 5:30 p.m.
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
The Scripps Ranch High School boys varsity lacrosse team took out La Jolla Country Day 15-10 in a San Diego CIF Section Division 1 first round playoff victory on Tuesday night, May 8.
The Falcons played an aggressive game to stay ahead most of the contest to capture the victory. The win will bring Scripps Ranch face to face with Rancho Bernardo High on Friday, May 11 at Rancho Bernardo in the CIF San Diego Section Division 1 quarterfinals. The second-seeded Broncos boast a 12-9 record against the Falcons at 8-9.
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
It was a tough loss, but the players enjoyed a great season with plenty of highlights to remember for years to come.
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
The Scripps Ranch High School boys varsity lacrosse team closed out the 2018 regular season at home on Senior Night with a 6-11 loss to the Islanders from Coronado High School on Tuesday, May 1.
While the Falcons suffered a defeat, the team can look forward to post-season play beginning in about a week.
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
The annual Scripps Ranch High School Powderpuff game was held Friday, April 27 pitting a Falcons senior girls team against a junior girls team. The seniors wore blue jerseys and the juniors wore maroon during this high school tradition.
The senior girls scored first and often, gaining a 20-6 victory. The junior girls were only able to score once, which happened in the fourth quarter.
While it was a friendly game, pride was on the line. There was a lot of pushing and shoving. Some of the girls ended up with bruises and cut their knees and arms on the artificial turf.
Parents and friends came out as the girls took the field in this traditional flag football game. The coaches for the team were high school boys. Junior boys coached junior girls and senior boys coached senior girls.
Some of the high school boys were cheerleaders during the entire event. The boy cheerleaders were coached by some members of the regular Falcons cheerleading squad.
There was a student DJ, Blake Andersen. The play-by-play was done by two students: Nick Hatch and Chris Nguyen.
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
The Scripps Ranch High School varsity baseball team defeated Christian High School 6-1 at home on Friday, April 27. It was a heated game as emotions were high on both sides. One player from Christian was even ejected. But the Falcons kept their focus and captured a victory.
The next game for the varsity will be a conference contest at home against Saint Augustine High School on Monday, April 30 at 3:30 p.m.
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
According to SRWAC President Mary Lawler, the organization “was born out of the wives of Old Pros wanting their own social club. They formed SRWAC in order to have sports leagues in addition to social activities.”
The group started out with soccer as its main league and has since expanded to include volleyball, basketball, and co-ed softball leagues.
Erin Rowland is registrar for SRWAC softball and has been playing in the league with her husband for 20 years.
“It’s a great way to get to know other people in Scripps. It’s been super fun,” Rowland said.
Softball games at Sycamore Canyon Park are “like family night. Everyone is out there, they bring their kids, they all have their bikes, they’re all playing together outside and they’re so happy. And of course, the parents are having fun,” she said.
While there is certainly room for spirited, friendly competition, according to Rowland, the leagues are generally more recreational and social in nature.
“It’s super laid back. There are players from all skill levels,” and often, conversation following games is more about “who is bringing drinks and snacks next time,” she said.
SRWAC leagues run throughout the year, offering opportunities for local women to remain active during any season. Softball runs throughout the summer; soccer plays January through June, then August through December; and both basketball and volleyball play all year long. All sports meet on weekday evenings.
Part of what sets SRWAC apart from other leagues, Lawler said, is that “people can sign up as individuals. In most other leagues, you need to be invited or already have formed a team. We also invite people of all athletic abilities to participate,” she said.
Another differentiator the group is proud to claim is their service to the community. As a non-profit organization, once operating expenses have been accounted for, all remaining funds collected from membership dues are spent on sponsoring high school sports teams, including softball, soccer, water polo, as well as youth sports in the community. Additionally, each April, the organization selects between two and four graduating high school senior female athletes to receive scholarships to help finance their higher education.
The organization also sponsors local events like the annual Symphony in the Park, and takes an active role in community fairs and the Scripps Ranch Fourth of July Parade.
“We’re trying to do more activities and get more people to know about us,” Rowland said. “There are a lot of athletically-minded women out there who maybe don’t know about the organization, and we’d love for them to join.”
Lawler shares Rowland’s enthusiasm for recruiting more members, adding that she would also love for more members to become involved in organization leadership and join the SRWAC Board.
“We’re always looking for more women to join the board and to come to our social events,” she said. “We like to go to Sanctuary to have our board meeting, and have everybody come out and play pool and darts. A lot of us have been on the board for a long time and it’s awesome when new people join. We welcome new blood and new ideas.”
Annual membership dues for SRWAC are $41.20 per year, and members are offered a discount for every sport they choose to play. More information is available at srwac.org.
Scripps Ranch High School hosted a tournament between five junior varsity softball teams on Saturday, April 21.
These photos show players from both Scripps Ranch JV teams in action. The JV1 team is in cardinal red and the JV2 team is wearing white.
Here is the breakdown of the results for the Scripps Ranch High teams that played in the tournament:
Lady Falcons JV1
In Game 1, Scripps Ranch defeated San Marcos High 6-0. The most exciting part of the game, aside from Scripps Ranch winning, was the home run by Julia Cornelissen.
In Game 2, Scripps Ranch defeated Bonita Vista High 3-2.
Lady Falcons JV2
In Game 1, Scripps Ranch defeated San Marcos High School 3-2.
In Game 2, Scripps Ranch had to settle for a 1-1 tie with Del Norte. Neither team scored their first runs until the seventh inning. Due to tournament rules, the game was timed and was called in the eighth inning as a tie.
Not only was this a tournament, but Scripps Ranch High School also held a fundraiser. The concession stand was filled with food for sale, with the specialty being chicken teriyaki.
Upcoming games
The JV1 team will play against Point Loma High in Point Loma on Wednesday, April 25, starting at 3:30 p.m.
The JV2 softball team will play San Marcos High at home starting at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 26.
The next game for the varsity softball team will be against Point Loma High School in a conference game at home on Wednesday, April 25, starting at 3:30 p.m.
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
At first glance the owners, D. Davis and Chris Davis, seem to run the operation in a casual manner. But their approach has purpose. It’s a non-threatening way that allows their jiu jitsu students to learn and thrive at their own comfort level.
But make no mistake, some serious martial arts training takes place here. In fact, Primal Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Training Center has a competitive team as well as a black belt program.
“The personal philosophy as far as jiu jitsu and life is just don’t quit,” D. explained. “We have a sign up there: ‘It doesn’t get easier, you just get better.’”
Classes last about one hour each. Parents usually line the back part of the studio to watch. The first half starts with basic yoga to gain flexibility, conditioning and the ability to move, according to D. It includes stretching and learning techniques.
The second part is practical use: grappling. This is when students are paired withy others and practice their skills on one another. It’s not unusual to see a small child take down a heavier opponent.
No punching, kicking or elbowing is allowed. Everything is controlled. The sport is 100 percent leverage-based, D. said.
The kids enjoy it and take it seriously, D. explained.
“They just can’t wait to get here,” Chris said. “They come running. They love it.”
Students wear the traditional white gis worn in many forms of self-defense, and there is a colored belt system to gauge progress, but there is a difference.
“It’s not a paid-for belt system,” D. said. “You show up, you get better, you move forward.”
Brazilian jiu jitsu is different from other forms of martial arts. Judo, for instance, is 90 percent throws, but Brazilian jiu jitsu all about leverage and submission, D. explained.
“It’s like chess with human body parts,” he said.
Everyone who becomes a student at Primal Training Center starts with a period of 30 days in which they can try the classes. That’s the first step. The second part is making sure the student likes Brazilian jiu jitsu and the studio.
D. has advice for parents considering martial arts for their children: “Don’t do it because it’s for you. Do it for your kid. Make sure the kid likes it.”
The studio offers classes for all ages and levels. There is a women’s program. There is a full competition team. Among classes for kids are the Tot Program (ages 3-5), Tiny Piranhas (ages 6-10) and Juniors and Teens (ages 11-16).
There is even an executive class at 11 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays consisting mostly of executives from Scripps Ranch who can get away during lunchtime for a workout.
D. and Chris have one son attending Miramar Ranch Elementary School and have lived in Scripps Ranch for 11 years. Their studio has been in the same location 11 years also. Both are proud of the fact they have helped their students, especially children, gain better self-confidence, mental focus and the skills to defend themselves, plus the right words and temperament to deal with altercations. Chris added that many times a child’s grades will improve; it’s not just physicality.
“We’ve received a lot of personal messages from parents who are grateful for the skills their children have learned here,” she said. “It helps them be at ease … because they know their child can defend themselves.”
For more information, visit primalbjj.com.
SPONSORED STORIES
Most of us know that more sun exposure means higher risk for skin cancer, right? Well, there are also other, more specific factors that can also contribute to skin cancer.
- Fair skin (rarely tans but burns easily)
- History of bad sunburns as a child and teenager
- Family history of skin cancer
- Lots of moles and growths on body
If you are prone to sunburns and/or have a family history of skin cancer, then the latest I would recommend seeing a Dermatologist is at age 30.
The risk of skin cancer decreases if you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum.
- Olive toned skin (rarely burns but tans easily)
- Avoids extended sun exposure now and as a child and teenager
- No family history of skin cancer
- Little to no moles or growths on body
The most important rule when it comes to skin cancer prevention is to ALWAYS have a suspicious mole or growth evaluated by a dermatologist.
And remember your ABCDEs when doing self-evaluation for what is suspicious:
A - asymmetry (put an imaginary line in the middle of the mole or spot, the two sides should match, if not it is asymmetric)
B - border (should be smooth and not jagged)
C - color (should be uniform and even)
D - diameter (should be smaller than a pencil eraser)
E - evolution (watch out for any symptoms like itching, burning, and especially bleeding)
I hope this helps to serve as a reminder to begin getting annual skin exams and regularly examine your moles and skin growths. You may end up saving your life.
Dr. Tess Mauricio is a Board-Certified Dermatologist. She is a graduate from Stanford University School of Medicine and is the founder of M Beauty Clinic by Dr. Tess. She currently has three clinics: Miramar, Chula Vista, and Beverly Hills. Dr. Tess grew up in San Diego and is a long time Scripps Ranch resident.
M Beauty Clinic by Dr. Tess
9888 Carroll Centre Rd., Ste. 101
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 689-4990
www.mbeautyclinic.com
Regenerative Medicine is a revolutionary technology which uses OUR VERY OWN stem cells to repair degenerative conditions and signs of aging. We start out with millions of stem cells when we are born, but that number decreases as we get older, which makes it more difficult for our bodies to heal when we are injured. Regenerative Medicine allows us to harvest and process our stem cells to reintroduce them to different areas of the body where the stem cells are needed.
There are numerous ways to obtain stem cells, but we prefer getting them from your own fat via liposuction since fat is rich in stem cells and people also like decreasing the amount of fat they have on their stomachs.
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Individual results will vary and we cannot promise the extent of your results because this procedure depends on your own stem cell’s ability to repair and regenerate. However, ALL of our patients so far have reported a noticeable improvement with pain and their quality of life after the procedure.
Contact our clinic at (858) 689-4990 for more information about Regenerative Medicine.
Dr. Tess Mauricio is a Board-Certified Dermatologist and a leader in Regenerative Medicine, training other doctors all over the world on the latest anti-aging techniques. She is a graduate from Stanford University School of Medicine and is the founder of M Beauty Clinic by Dr. Tess. She currently has three clinics: Miramar, Eastlake, and Beverly Hills. Dr. Tess grew up in San Diego and is a long time Scripps Ranch resident.
M Beauty Clinic by Dr. Tess
9888 Carroll Centre Rd., Ste. 101
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 689-4990
www.mbeautyclinic.com
