Sports

FELTON—A group of San Lorenzo Valley High student-athletes will continue their athletic careers after officially signing a Letter of Intent to play sports at the collegiate level.     Seniors Cory Nounnan, Casey Crouch, Azalea Groleau and Erin Johnson all signed their letters during a ceremony that...

Many folks know Pat Verutti from his years behind the counter at the Felton branch of the Veruttis’ liquor stores. What many fail to recognize is the athletic prowess he brought to the playing field for San Lorenzo Valley High School in the early 1960s.

Scotts Valley High girls lacrosse coach Colleen Niklaus has been having a blast watching this year’s senior class, especially Ellie Raffo and Siena Wong who helped launch the program during their freshman year. The third-year skipper mentioned this particular group has been through it all,...

The Scotts Valley High girls’ basketball team was off to a bumpy start after losing its first three games to begin the season. But things rapidly shifted after a long pep talk was given by Falcons coach Gabe Gonzalez, who had a come-to-Jesus moment with...

Mrs. Fernald, the PE Teacher at Baymonte Christian School, organized a one lap marathon for students, family members, and a dog, on April 3rd.  Students at Baymonte Christian, from kindergarten through 6th grade, joined together for this fun, safe, and healthy activity.  In order to promote social distancing at the event, participants were instructed to remain in their cars until they were told to run a lap, by themselves, or accompanied by family members, while adequately spaced staff cheered them on.  Mrs. Fernald recalled the faculty meeting about four weeks ago at Baymonte, when they were informed of going virtual.  “Our principal told us we’d be transitioning to a distant learning model.  My heart immediately sank.  I had so much planned in the spring, like Presidential Fitness and track and field day.”  During the meeting, Steve Patterson, the principal asked his teachers what they could do to overcome their newest obstacle.  Fernald says, “It came to me immediately.” She summarized her idea to the attendees, “We’ll host a one lap marathon!  Parents drive their kids up, their kids or their family get out, run a timed lap, get back in the car, and drive off.” Mr. Patterson had an “extremely supportive response.  If you dream it, he’ll say go for it.  He makes my job fun and easy.”  Since that meeting, Fernald has been planning the marathon, alongside other teachers, Patterson, and the office manager, Leslie Rapolla, who “made awesome signs. The signage was huge.  It needed to be organized and everyone needed to know what to do when they came, to maintain a safe environment.” Fernald also reached out to local law enforcement, to double check safety procedures during the event.  Captain Wilson, of the Scotts Valley Police Department, gave a resounding “Yes!” and added, “The Santa Cruz County Health directive tells us to get out and exercise in a healthy manner.  This is perfect!” On April 3rd, Fernald and the other teachers of Baymonte Christian were so excited to see the long line of cars, “being distant during learning, you can’t see the kids.  I miss them… Everyone had to remind themselves to not hug and stay at their assigned cones.  I, and a few others, almost cried to be able to see our kids and give them lots of support as they ran around the track.  What amazing confidence we’re pouring into these kids, after all the negativity they’ve been exposed to in the news.” Overall, the event was a huge success, with 113 runners, and a family dog.  To virtually experience and hear about the award winners, check out:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY4NRsdqzkU&t=184s.  The 1st-3rd place winners were each rewarded with an amazon gift card, to give the older kids “a little incentive.”  Fernald was so pleased with the turn out as she feels, “a sense of responsibility to keep kids healthy during this time.  We already have a huge problem with childhood obesity.  I want to motivate them in a positive way for the benefit of them. There’s so many video games, TV shows, movies, and so much screen time.  I just want the kids to get out and have fun.  If there’s anything I can do to promote positivity, getting out and exercising, I’ll do it.”Fernald’s socially distanced creativity does not stop with the marathon!  She’s putting together a drive-in movie night for the school and has started her own YouTube Channel.  PE TODAY! With Mrs Fernald suggests new activities and exercises for kids, alongside the Baymonte mascot Leo the Lion and a new theme each video. You can subscribe or view her videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeFw-O9n9zVNCcZ-HzwceSA.

Scotts Valley Sophomore Ashlyn Boothby won race No. 1 to help the Falcons cross country team take third place at the 2.6-mile Ram Invitational at Westmoor High on Sept. 25. Boothby, the defending Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League champion, finished in 15 minutes, 40 seconds...

By Juan Reyes, Staff Reporter The wait for most youth sports just became a lot shorter as the California Department of Public Health released an updated version of its guidance, meaning that schools and privately organized clubs or leagues could begin full contact practice and...

Scotts Valley sophomore Ashlyn Boothby is no stranger when it comes to running on the 3-mile course at Pinto County Lake in Watsonville. It’s where the Falcons won one of their league meets earlier this season. It’s also the place where she won her first...

Another chapter of the winter sports season is officially in the books following the conclusion of the Central Coast Section and California Interscholastic Federation NorCal playoffs. Scotts Valley High girls’ soccer team was snubbed from a postseason berth, yet they still stood out as one...

Scotts Valley High senior Kaitlin Imai needed just three points to reach the 1,000-point milestone as a member of the Falcons girls’ basketball team. What better way to do it than on senior night and in front of a home crowd as Scotts Valley posted...