San Diego, CA
‘The greatest feeling’: La Jolla lifeguards win annual relay
![‘The greatest feeling’: La Jolla lifeguards win annual relay ‘The greatest feeling’: La Jolla lifeguards win annual relay](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/lifeguard-games.jpg?w=432&h=325)
The Olympics place the world’s top athletes on a global stage, but San Diego lifeguards have their own version — the Lifeguard Relay, which pits teams against one another in Herculean challenges for bragging rights.
The annual event, held Aug. 6 in Mission Beach, featured four lifeguard teams of 17 members each from different areas of San Diego: La Jolla; Mission Beach and Pacific Beach combined; Ocean Beach and Sunset Cliffs combined; and the boating safety unit and bay lifeguards combined.
At the end of the day, team La Jolla came out on top.
“We were thrilled to win that. It was a tough feat and tough competition,” lifeguard Sgt. Kelsie Gleason said. “The athleticism we have in La Jolla is top notch.”
The team participated in multiple events ranging from running to mock rescues using challenging equipment, said team captain and Windansea lifeguard Tommy Cavanaugh.
In the first leg, he said, one team member runs a half-mile on the beach (a quarter-mile to a cone and back) to launch the relay race.
“It’s one continuous race,” Cavanaugh said. “There is no stopping until it’s over.”
After the running comes the landline portion, “the most crucial part in terms of teamwork,” Cavanaugh said.
Once the opening runner tags the rest of the team, the 16 other members must engage in a mock rescue that includes using techniques that are considered outdated.
Lifeguards get a vessel called a “rescue can” — like a buoy — to the victim to hold onto, and the people on the beach pull the person to shore with a rope, Cavanaugh said.
In the relay exercise, teams had a swimmer pretend to be in distress while another went out with the rope. Team members on the beach let out the rope on pace with the speed of the rescue swimmer.
If the team lets out the rope too slowly, the swimmer is slowed; too fast and the rope goes ahead of the swimmer.
Also, coils of rope bundled on the beach have to be released at the right time.
“It’s this big orchestrated effort and difficult to do it correctly,” Cavanaugh said. “As soon as the swimmer [reaches] a flag, two landline pullers work together to pull the swimmer through the surf back to the beach. It can go catastrophically wrong or really well, depending on how everyone performs.”
Once everyone is on land, the next leg of the race begins.
For the rescue swim, a swimmer goes back out to the flag at sea and has to be rescued by another member of the team. The two then swim back to shore together.
Once they are both on land, they tag another pair who does the same thing.
“The rescuer is leading and the swimmer is holding the flag. They have to maintain contact with the rescue can,” Cavanaugh said. “If there is a good wave, they can try to catch the wave together.”
Then comes the longest leg of the relay — a 700-yard roundtrip swim.
“That is for the fastest swimmers,” Cavanaugh said. “They swim to the furthest flag. They have to be strategic and look at areas of lack of surf. They have to get to the flag. At that point, they can take any line back to shore. It shows who can read the water.”
The last leg of the race is the paddle swim rescue, in which a swimmer goes out to a flag and has to be rescued by a lifeguard on a paddleboard. Then the pair must paddle back to shore together.
“There was a wave that came to [the runner-up team] and then a wave to us, so for a split second, it looked like their wave was going to be better than ours. It made the race extremely dynamic,” Cavanaugh said. “I honestly thought we might not get a wave and they could take the lead. It was pandemonium for that moment; everyone was screaming. We managed to catch a wave and at that point it was clear we were going to win it.
“It’s so much more fun like that. You can’t put it into words.”
Winning the title “was the greatest feeling we have ever had in sports,” Cavanaugh said. “It was hands-down the greatest feeling ever. It was so competitive and the other teams were gunning just as hard as we were, which made it extra special.
“There were five lead changes throughout the race. The other teams had some of the best athletes that have ever worked. It made it super special to come out on top.”
It also was special because lifeguard Lt. Lonnie Stephens will be retiring in November, making this his last relay with team La Jolla.
“The team is very selfless and prides themselves in their roles as public servants,” Stephens said. “They are extremely supportive of each other and have amazing chemistry. Even on the roughest days they are smiling and always willing to give back to the community.”
“All four districts have amazing athletes,” he added. “And any of the districts were more than capable of winning the relay race.” ♦
Originally Published:
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
San Diego, CA
Robert Gage Carr
![Robert Gage Carr Robert Gage Carr](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Skyline_Fallback_Image_flat.jpg)
Robert Gage Carr
OBITUARY
Robert Carr was the youngest son of Milas Walter Carr and Grace Hamerly Carr. He lived his entire life in San Diego. He was beloved by many. A backyard memorial service will be held on Sep. 14, 2024. Contact his brother Michael for details ( mmcarr2@gmail.com )
San Diego, CA
PREVIEW: Dozens more San Diego-area high schools playing flag football this fall; here’s who to watch
![PREVIEW: Dozens more San Diego-area high schools playing flag football this fall; here’s who to watch PREVIEW: Dozens more San Diego-area high schools playing flag football this fall; here’s who to watch](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/tobias-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter.jpg?w=1024&h=689)
Girls flag football
First contest: Saturday
Section finals: Nov. 21-23 (Playoffs will be in four divisions, up from two)
Defending champions: Bonita Vista (Division 1), Classical Academy (Division 2)
Offensive Player of the Year: Laurel Gonzalez (Torrey Pines)
Defensive Player of the Year: Mahilya Wilson (Bonita Vista)
Top teams (in alphabetical order): Bonita Vista, Brawley, Calexico, Cathedral Catholic, Classical Academy, Grossmont, La Costa Canyon, Mater Dei Catholic, Mira Mesa, Olympian, Our Lady of Peace, Morse, San Dieguito Academy, Torrey Pines.
Overview: The CIF introduced flag football as a varsity sport last year and it was a rousing success. The quality of play was beyond expectations. Success breeds success, and the sport has grown from 46 teams to 72 with the North County and East County schools jumping in.
Changes: Games have been lengthened from 20-minute halves to 24-minute halves.
Gabe Stamat Poway is among the newcomers to girls flag football. (Gabe Stamat)
Notable
• San Ysidro hosts a showcase Saturday, beginning with Calexico vs. Grossmont (10 a.m.), Southwest-El Centro vs. Kearny (noon), Central Union vs. Mira Mesa (2 p.m.), Brawley vs. Bonita Vista (4 p.m.) and Imperial vs. San Ysidro (6 p.m.).
• Escondido hosts a tournament on Aug 24 featuring Mt. Carmel, Santana, Carlsbad, Steele Canyon, Sage Creek and Poway. The same day, Hoover will host a tournament featuring Madison, Scripps Ranch, Morse, Mater Dei Catholic, Brawley, Central Union, Holtville, San Diego High and Mission Bay.
• For the first time, the annual Honor Bowl will feature flag games. Grossmont will play host Cathedral Catholic at 5 p.m. on Sept. 6; the next day, Bonita Vista plays Classical Academy at 1 p.m. at Cathedral Catholic. The Honor Bowl also features three top-flight tackle football games.
• Classical Academy led the county in scoring last season, averaging 30 points a game behind freshman QB Ella Moore. The Caimans’ defense allowed an average of just 4.5 points a game.
• San Ysidro returns six all-league players, including WR-DB Kristine Fadriquela and DB-LB Mia Gonzalez.
• Grossmont returns nine of 14 starters, including QB Marissa Farace, who threw for 2,181 yards and 33 TDs; and DB Xairiah Gromus, who had 19 interceptions.
• Bonita Vista returns All-CIF player Jamiya Valenciano; Khamaya Rockett, who had 10 sacks last season; and Layla Schoen, who had 43 catches.
• California is one of just seven states that offers flag football. The others are Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Nevada, Alaska, New York, Arizona and Illinois.
• Flag football for men and women will be an Olympic sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Players to watch
(in alphabetical order)
Nurah Arrellano, Our Lady of Peace
Azul Amador, Central Union (7 receiving TDs, 9 interceptions in 2023)
Jennifer Aguas, Escondido
Justine Batcheller, Classical Academy (All-CIF in ’23)
Ashley Beard, Grossmont (38 tackles in ’23)
Siena Botkin, Grossmont, (4 interceptions in ’23)
Iris Brogan, Mission Bay (All-CIF in ’23)
Alegra Camacho, Mission Bay
Jaylah Conner, Central Union (All-CIF in ’23)
Demi Cornejo, Brawley
Isabelle Cruz, San Ysidro
Paula Cruz, Calexico (1,641 passing yards in ’23)
Yareli Del Rio, San Ysidro
Elly DeGuzman, Classical Academy
Belinda Diaz, Morse
Nia Diaz, Escondido
Lauren Donovan, Classical Academy
Eliana Dorsett, Oceanside
Jaylene Duran, Castle Park
Catie Eberhard, Scripps Ranch
Kristine Fadriquela, San Ysidro (1,112 passing yards in ’23)
Rhiane Fadriquela, San Ysidro (1,000 receiving yards ’23)
Marissa Farace, Grossmont (2,181 yards and 33 TDs in ’23)
Myesha Frank, Hoover
Kaylah Franke, Otay Ranch
Jacqueline Gonzalez, San Ysidro
Mia Gonzalez, San Ysidro
Kaila Gonzalez, Classical Academy
Paola Gonzalez, San Ysidro
Olivia Grant, Hilltop
Xairah Gromus, Grossmont (19 interceptions in ’23)
Emma Gryn, Classical Academy
Naomi Gutierrez, Escondido
Frankie Haley, Mater Dei Catholic
Mary Haynes, Classical Academy
Rita Hazard, Oceanside
Dayanna Hernandez, Mira Mesa
Shairya Hollingsworth, Morse
Jae Jensen, Grossmont
Anna Jimenez, Mater Dei Catholic
Isabel Johnson, Classical Academy
Keilana Johnson, Morse
Kaitlyn Kaye, Oceanside
Paola Longoria, Vincent Memorial (All-CIF in ’23)
Mia Maldonado, San Ysidro
Jessica Manriquez, Vincent Memorial
Liz Martinez, Oceanside
Mia Martin, Otay Ranch
Sam Mather, Scripps Ranch
Leilani Mayne, Calexico
Nayelli McPherson, Oceanside
Kaitlyn Milano, Morse
Courtyln Mitchell, Mission Bay
Ella Moore, Classical Academy (All-CIF in ’23)
Bre Montano, Vincent Memorial (All-CIF, 3,973 yards passing, 54 TDs in ’23)
Ella Moore, Classical Academy (All-CIF in ’23)
Bridget Moreno, Classical Academy
Madelyn Morquecho, Central Union (1,582 yards passing, 24 TDs in ’23)
Hannah Narcy, Oceanside
Kaila-Mei Nelson, Morse
Cassandra Neva, Morse
Chloe Ng, Scripps Ranch (All-CIF in ’23)
Jiselle Nunez, Classical Academy (All-CIF in ’23)
Bryanna Ortiz, San Ysidro (447 rushing yards in ’23)
Lizbeth Ortiz, Calexico (All-CIF in ’23)
Evelyn Estrada Ramirez, San Ysidro
Mia Ramirez, Bonita Vista
Mary Reger, Mission Bay (All-CIF in ’23)
Lana Roche, Castle Park
Khamaya Rockett, Bonita Vista
Saraya Roope, Grossmont
Liliana Sanders, Mira Mesa
Natalie Savary, Scripps Ranch
Marena Schiess, Mater Dei Catholic
Layla Schoen, Bonita Vista
Alyzette Sierra, San Ysidro
Ari Simpson, Grossmont
Hailey Stepenosky, Scripps Ranch
Jenna Stroh, Classical Academy
Vyanna Ta, Mira Mesa (552 rushing yards in ’23)
Sinalei Talaitina, Cathedral Catholic
Gabby Thomas, Grossmont (523 yards of total offense in ’23)
Sydney Tobias, Our Lady of Peace
Azul Trujillo, Vincent Memorial
Jamiya Valenciano, Bonita Vista (All-CIF in ’23)
Atiana Velazquez, Scripps Ranch
Emma Valdivia, Our Lady of Peace
Tayana Venegas, Brawley (1,025 receiving yards, 9 interceptions in ’23)
Vania Victoria, Olympian
Abby White, Escondido
Nylah White, Mira Mesa
Jayden Wilson, Oceanside
Delylah Young, Brawley (956 yards of total offense in ’23)
JOHN MAFFEI
Originally Published:
San Diego, CA
Albert Einstein Charter Academy booming in San Diego, reflecting growth outside of traditional public schools
![Albert Einstein Charter Academy booming in San Diego, reflecting growth outside of traditional public schools Albert Einstein Charter Academy booming in San Diego, reflecting growth outside of traditional public schools](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ecb5dcc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1280x672+0+24/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx-default-stgec.uplynk.com%2Fause%2Fslices%2F2e7%2F790551469ef2448fbb6dfa541303db12%2F2e74125adf384711a1010f7b7f87922f%2Fposter_602efdacc18a43af8fff40c7588ddaa3.jpg)
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — In South Park, a charter school named after a famous scientist just keeps growing.
Albert Einstein Academies even has a long waiting list to enroll — at a time when many traditional public schools are losing kids.
So, what’s the secret?
“I enrolled my kids at Einstein because the community aspect was so attractive,” said Amanda Rowe, who has two young kids at Einstein. “The students. The parents. The teachers. I feel like it’s a really safe, nurturing environment”
Rowe said Einstein offered her children an opportunity to learn German as well as the basics.
“The language provides them a chance to get to know other parts of the world and also expand their minds while their minds are so elastic,” she said.
Albert Einstein Academies, 3035 Ash St., opened in 2002, and it’s under the San Diego Unified School District.
In 1992, California became the second state in the nation to pass a charter school law. As of May, there were 1,283 charter schools and seven all-charter districts in California, according to the state Department of Education.
In 2022–23, nearly 12 percent of all public school kids were n charter schools.
Charter schools in California typically are under the supervision of a local school district.
What makes charters unique is they can offer parents a different type of education such as an emphasis on a foreign language to performing arts.
At Einstein, students can enroll in German or Spanish immersion programs, and there’s an international baccalaureate curriculum.
There also were new classrooms when school began Aug. 12.
“Our students, after a long time of being in in temporary housing, so to speak, now get to have modern, clean, up-to-date classroom,” said Superintendent David Sciarretta.
Enrollment has boomed so much at Einstein that the elementary campus has been under construction the past two years.
Einstein has been able to tap into school bond funds approved by San Diego voters to expand its campus.
Next comes a new high school that will be located about a mile away next to Einstein’s middle school, 458 26th St.
“Our high school will be opening in fall 2027,” Sciarretta said. “At full capacity, we will be just over 2,300 students.”
The enrollment growth at Einstein is similar to what has been seen at other charter schools in San Diego County.
There were 62,672 kids enrolled in charter schools about a decade ago. Last year, there were 84,431, according to school enrollment records.
That’s a roughly 35% increase.
Sciarretta said charter schools first became popular more than 30 years ago by giving parents an educational choice for their kids.
“Charters were billed as the kind of hothouse for innovation, for practicing, kind of new approaches, a new vision to education,” he said “We currently have just under 500 students on our waiting list.”
Sciarretta credits his teachers for the high demand at Einstein.
“Just a relentless focus on connecting with our families,” he said. “That’s really what makes people keep coming back. When parents walk on our campus, it’s inviting. It’s beautiful.”
However, the overall growth of charter schools in greater San Diego could be slowing down.
More families are home schooling their kids since the pandemic and that means fewer kids in public schools.
Richard Barrera has been on the San Diego Unified School District Board since 2008.
He said many charters are now facing the same enrollment challenges as traditional public schools, and the district has not seen “many new charter petitions” the past seven or eight years.
“The other thing that’s happening with both charters and district run schools is the housing affordability crisis is pushing families out of San Diego,” Barrera said.
However, Sciarretta said Einstein will continue to be an attractive option for parents.
In fact, he says the school has a bit of a secret weapon.
“We’ve been fortunate to have a pretty amazing namesake,” he said. “Who doesn’t want to send their kids to a school named after Albert Einstein?”
-
Ohio3 days ago
Ohio taxpayers sent families $966 million for private school tuition: Capitol Letter
-
World1 week ago
Ex-Catalan leader Puigdemont headed back to Spain despite fear of arrest
-
Politics1 week ago
Kamala Harris shuts down anti-Israel protesters during campaign speech in Michigan: 'I'm speaking'
-
Finance1 week ago
Why stocks tumbled today
-
Politics1 week ago
Blinken pressured to freeze Afghanistan aid after revelation nearly $300M could have gone to Taliban
-
News1 week ago
Map: 5.2-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern California
-
Politics1 week ago
With 30 days until voting starts, 'election season' kicks off sooner than you think
-
Politics1 week ago
Tim Walz 'misspoke' about using weapons ‘in war,' Harris campaign says: report