High School Sports Events Affected by Mountain Fire

In Camarillo, the Mountain Fire has made a significant impact on high school sports this week, affecting various playoff games and cross country finals. With safety as the primary concern, administrators from local schools have been busy trying to find alternative venues for their athletes.

On Friday, the CIF-Southern Section Division 5 playoff game between Rio Mesa and Ventura high schools will be held at Royal High in Simi Valley instead of El Rio. Rio Mesa’s athletic director, Chris Ruffinelli, remarked on the situation, stating, “We lost a day of practice. People have lost their houses. This is a football game. … Central Avenue yesterday was a wall of fire.”

Additionally, the Division 7 football playoff game between Camarillo and Oak Park has been relocated from Camarillo to Oak Park High. Camarillo athletic director Mary Bittner Perez expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play, saying, “We’ve been given an opportunity to play a CIF playoff game and we’re very grateful for a chance to show what Camarillo is about this year.”

Meanwhile, St. Bonaventure High will hold its Division 4 first-round game against Orange Vista at Santa Barbara City College. The shift in location was influenced by the fire moving towards Fillmore, making safety the priority.

Santa Paula’s Division 11 playoff game has also been impacted, now rescheduled for Saturday at noon, allowing the team some practice time. Coach Mike Montoya said, “Moving the game back gave us two days to get at least one in, which it looks like we’re going to be able to do.”

Camarillo, Pacifica, and Rio Mesa were unable to practice on Wednesday due to district closures. Fortunately, they were able to practice on Thursday at Camarillo High. Their games are still expected to go on as planned, although Pacifica’s home playoff game against Laguna Beach may soon be moved.

In the cross country scene, the Citrus Coast League decided to cancel its finals, originally set for Thursday at Lake Casitas. Instead, the final standings will be based on previous league meets. The Channel League finals have been postponed to Friday at 11 a.m., while the Coastal Canyon League finals have been shifted to Arroyo Vista Park in Moorpark for Friday at 1 p.m.

Moreover, St. Bonaventure’s girls tennis playoff match against Orange Vista has been moved to the Sunset Hills County Club on Friday at 2 p.m. This situation is constantly evolving as schools and athletes adapt to these unusual circumstances.

With safety as the top priority, everyone involved is doing their best to keep athletes ready for competition amidst the challenges posed by the Mountain Fire. Regular updates will continue as more information becomes available.