Spring brings plethora of sports
Spring sports are in full swing at our local high schools. While baseball and softball will dominate the headlines, let’s take a moment to recognize some of the other sports going on this spring.
In fact, the only all-inclusive Imperial Valley League sport takes place in the spring and it’s a sport that’ll surprise you.
Swimming is the only sport that includes all eight Imperial Valley high schools plus Palo Verde Valley of Blythe. Rarely do all the schools mix in one league, but apparently in swimming, it’s a case of everybody in the pool.
Another of the spring sports that always draws a lot of participants is track and field.
The IVL features seven Imperial Valley schools plus Palo Verde. The only school not currently fielding a track and field team is in Calipatria.
Track and field is always a fun sport to watch because the spectator has so many options. There are always multiple events going on at once and you can keep track of a few field events and watch a race or sprint all at the same time.
Certainly not a spectator sport is golf, and springtime brings out the boys’ golf season. The IVL features competition between Brawley Union, Central Union, Holtville, Imperial, Southwest and Palo Verde, while Vincent Memorial competes in the Citrus League out of San Diego.
Golf is always a fun sport to participate in, but certainly not spectator friendly. Normally the only spectators out on the course are the “helicopter” parents following their sons from hole to hole.
One sport that has been dominated by the south end of the Imperial Valley is boys’ tennis. Credit to Calexico and Vincent Memorial for fielding highly competitive tennis teams, not just in spring with the boys, but also in the fall with the girls’ teams.
The IVL boys’ tennis competition stacks up Vincent Memorial, Brawley, Calexico, Central, Holtville and Southwest. It’s an easy enough watch for spectators and can be entertaining when you get two tough singles’ players going head-tohead or two strong doubles’ teams battling it out.
The final spring sport that is hopefully starting to gain some momentum in the Imperial Valley is boys’ volleyball.
There are only two schools fielding boys’ volleyball squads and both are in Calexico with Vincent Memorial and Calexico Mission Academy.
I believe it’s the third season for volleyball at Vincent Memorial and the question begs to be asked, why not at the other Imperial Valley high schools?
Girls’ volleyball is always a well-attended sport with every school in the Valley fielding teams.
Boys’ volleyball in the spring would also be well-received. The gyms are basically available with basketball teams out of the way and the cost to field a volleyball program can’t be too expensive as most of the equipment is already in place with the girls’ programs.
Athletics directors in the Valley need to take a look at offering boys’ volleyball. It might take a year or two to get the buy-in from the athletes, but once they see the competition, they’ll be just as committed as the girls.
Men’s volleyball in the Olympics is always one of the most-watched events and who knows, maybe there is a Karch Kiraly looming somewhere in the Imperial Valley.