High School Athletic Events Face Disruptions Due to Ongoing Mountain Fire

This week, the city is facing challenges as various high school athletic events are affected by the devastating Mountain Fire. The fire has impacted safety, leading schools to scramble for alternate practice and game venues for their teams. Administrators from several local high schools are working hard to ensure that student-athletes can still compete.

For instance, the CIF-Southern Section Division 5 playoff game between Rio Mesa and Ventura High, originally set to take place at El Rio, has been moved to Royal High in Simi Valley on Friday. Despite the inconvenience, Rio Mesa’s athletic director Chris Ruffinelli remarked, “We lost a day of practice. People have lost their houses. This is a football game,” putting things in perspective amidst the chaos.

In another change, the Division 7 matchup between Camarillo and Oak Park is now scheduled to occur at Oak Park High, shifting from its original location at Camarillo. 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.”

Meanwhile, St. Bonaventure High’s Division 4 game against Orange Vista has also seen a venue change, moving from Buena High to Santa Barbara City College. Due to shifting fire conditions, this decision was made to prioritize player safety, according to St. Bonaventure athletic director Raul Camacho.

The Santa Paula team had its Division 11 playoff game at Encino-Crespi rescheduled to Saturday at noon, allowing them some practice time after a disrupted week. Coach Mike Montoya was relieved, stating, “Moving the game back gave us two days to get at least one in.”

The air quality across several local districts has also influenced decisions, with unhealthy conditions reported in Oxnard and Camarillo. The CIF-SS has strict air quality guidelines, prohibiting events when the AQI exceeds 151. On the other hand, Nordhoff’s playoff game against Hamilton is still set for Friday night, although coaches are keeping a close watch on the air quality.

In response to the fire’s impact, the Citrus Coast League has canceled its cross country finals, originally on Thursday at Lake Casitas. The final league standings for cross country will be determined based on previous results. Other leagues, including the Channel League and the Tri-County Athletic Association, have opted to reschedule their finals to ensure all athletes have the chance to compete safely.

As local teams continue to navigate this challenging situation, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of all athletes while providing them with an opportunity to compete.