The Sweetwater High School boys volleyball team was off to a great start to the 2020 spring sports season, possibly even off to a South Bay League championship season following a strong 8-1 start in non-league play.
“This is a year that we wanted to continue recent success,” Red Devils head coach Erick Hernandez said. “We had five returning starters, four additional returners and also some other players who we wanted to develop for next year since we are senior heavy.
“Having many returners allowed us to start where we left of last year and continue to get better. Having won the league the last two years we knew it would be difficult to win three years in a row but we were ready for the challenge.”
Sweetwater opened the season by hosting its annual preseason tournament on Feb. 28-29. The event grew this year to include 51 teams.
“We were excited to host a field of 51 with all divisions and many leagues being represented,” Hernandez said. “I love hosting this tournament because I get to see all the teams get better.”
The Red Devils finished in the Gold Bracket after defeating a pair of Metro Conference rivals — Hilltop in pool play and Olympian in the playoffs.
The Bishop’s School won the Gold Bracket with a perfect 7-0 run, including a 2-0 sweep over Coronado in the finals, to improve to 15-1 on the season.
Mater Dei Catholic and Olympian also participated in the Gold Bracket playoffs while Hilltop, Bonita Vista and Chula Vista competed in the Silver Bracket.
Bonita Vista defeated Serra and Del Lago Academy in the Silver Bracket playoffs before losing to El Camino in the semifinals.
Sweetwater defeated Hilltop, El Cajon Valley and Liberty Charter in pool play all by 2-0 sweeps, and also scored a 2-0 sweep of Olympian in the teams’ playoff game.
However, the Red Devils could not get past University City in the next round to end their tournament run with a 4-1 record.
Sweetwater posted non-tournament wins over Kearny, Morse, Serra and Clairemont.
Senior Jose Raul Pina Garcia led the Devils with 38 kills in nine games while senior Brandon Robles followed on the scoresheet with 22 kills.
Sweetwater’s top five kills leaders were all seniors.
Not ready for prime time
While the 51 teams present at this year’s preseason event got a preview of what to expect at the end of the season in the San Diego Section’s division playoffs, the season ended prematurely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The section playoffs will not happen after the CIF State office released a statement last Friday announcing it has cancelled all section, regional and state championship events due to the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
“Based on the recent statements issued by Governor Newsom and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, regarding schools turning to distance learning for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, the California Interscholastic Federation does not see an avenue for the spring sports season to continue,” CIF Executive Director Ron Nocetti said. “As such, in consultation today with the 10 section commissioners, the decision has been made to cancel spring section, regional, and state championship events.
“We understand this is disappointing for everyone involved in education-based athletics and empathize with our student-athletes and all who are impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. As always, our top priority is everyone’s ongoing health and safety during this challenging time, and we all look forward to the day when education-based athletics resumes.”
It’s unclear if the section’s individual athletic conferences will hold post-season events or all-star games in the wake of the state CIF governing body’s decision.
It’s also unclear if individual conference, school districts or school teams will announce all-league, all-conference or even if team can present MVP awards.
When schools closed early for spring break, about a third of the spring sports season had been played.
For high school seniors, it will be a lost season.
Without the completion of the season, there will not be an opportunity to impress college recruiters or seal special memories with teammates as they prematurely conclude their high school careers.
At the time of the schedule pause Sweetwater had the top record among the section’s Division III teams.
Will some sort of final CIF rankings or mythical league championships be released by administrators?
Will there be any post-season all-star games or tournaments?
That might be hard to organize with many seniors trying to get ready to go off to college.
Next year’s seniors may have something more positive to look forward to.
SWEETWATER PRIME SPORTS INVITATIONAL
Gold Bracket Playoffs
First-round
Sweetwater def. Olympian 2-0
Coronado def. Grossmont 2-1
Canyon Crest Academy def. Patrick Henry 2-0
Bishop’s def. Pacific Ridge 2-0
Otay Ranch def. Fallbrook 2-0
Classical Academy def. Point Loma 2-1
University City def. Mater Dei Catholic 2-0
Poway def. Elsinore 2-1
Quarterfinals
University City def. Sweetwater 2-0
Bishop’s def. Otay Ranch 2-0
Coronado def. Classical Academy 2-0
Canyon Crest Academy def. Poway 2-1
Semifinals
Coronado def. University City 2-0
Bishop’s def. Canyon Crest Academy 2-1
Championship
Bishops def. Coronado 2-0
End of spring season is hurtful for high school seniors
It’s been an emotional time for everyone associated in a support role for high school athletics, from athletes to coaches, from parents to administrators.
San Diego Section Commissioner Jerry Schniepp posted an open letter to student-athletes on the section’s website.
It reads:
“To all student-athletes, as you have likely heard the most recent updates regarding COVID-19 restrictions in California, you know that school, as we know it, will not resume for the remainder of the year. Your lives abruptly changed a couple of weeks ago and I know that you miss being around your friends, having a daily routine and playing the sport that most of you have loved since you were very young.
“You also recognize now that with no schools open physically for the remainder of the year, we do not see an avenue to resume the spring sports season. The CIFSDS held out hope and worked on plans for some semblance of a season for as long as we could. We contemplated and drafted different scenarios where we would have shortened seasons, modified schedules with no playoffs and games with no spectators. But now that it has been determined for good reason that schools will not re-open, there is no scenario that allows us to resume practicing and competing at this point.
“I recognize that this is devastating news. I especially feel for the seniors on teams that will not be able to compete for their schools again. Frustration, confusion and sadness are normal emotions in this abnormal time and although I hope that you comprehend the gravity of our situation as a city, state and country, it is also normal to feel badly for yourself. It’s okay to feel that.
“But remember this: athletes understand adversity. You’ve all had to get past injuries, tough losses and failure. You’ve doubted yourself when things haven’t gone your way. You’ve struck out, lost a race you should have won or been beaten after having a big lead. Yet you still showed up for practice the next day, you got in the batter’s box, the starting blocks, on the field, pool or court and told yourself, ‘I can do this…we can do this.’
“As an athlete, you are better equipped to handle this tough time than most. You’ve dealt with difficult situations and have overcome them. Remember the lessons that you’ve learned in sports and use them. Just as you have done as part of a team, we now must battle through this, stick together and do our part. Stay positive and know that we will get past this and you will be stronger in every aspect of your life as a result.”
