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As we come down to the final weeks of the 2024-25 high school athletic calendars, it’s always a time of year when student-athletes are put to the test – postseason competition or graduation.
This year Amador Valley, Foothill, Livermore and Granada students are facing such a dilemma.
The San Ramon Valley Unified School District has its graduation date on June 6 for California, Dougherty Valley, Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley.
Dublin has taken an interesting approach, holding its graduation next Tuesday (June 3).
This Friday (May 30) is the graduation dates for the first four schools. It is also the first day of the CIF State Track and Field Championships, and the final weekend of the North Coast Section Baseball and Softball Championships.
Track and Field takes place on Friday and Saturday, with the championships for baseball and softball scheduled for either Friday or Saturday. The semifinals are set for Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
In the simplest fashion, athletes are faced with deciding between going through graduation ceremonies with their class or competing for a state/section title.
I don’t think there is a right answer, as it is something each family must make on their own.
On the graduation side, what if the student is the first from a family graduating high school. This happens, and it means the world to the entire family.
Or, say it’s the only school graduation the student will have – not everyone goes to college – and the family wants to celebrate.
The athletic situation is easier for me to decide as having played high level athletics when I was younger, my decision would be easy.
I’m playing. Graduations are fun, but I had educational goals beyond high school so I knew there would be other graduations.
If you are blessed enough to get to the spot to compete for a section or state title, you have put in a lot of time training and reaching that level is the reward for your effort.
If it is an individual event/sport, the decision is easier in that the decision deals with one person.
A team event is an entirely different situation. Now you must factor in your teammates who heavily depend on your contributions to the team. A key player missing a championship game can alter the outcome for the entire team.
I have always looked at the situation for a simple fix: School districts and the California Interscholastic Federation should work together and try to come up with a school calendar where everyone is covered.
This year it could have been June 6 to solve the problem as opposed to sticking with the students facing this decision.
It seems like an easy fix but the reality — it must be tough, as this is a problem every year.
NCS Meet of Champions Track/Field
Here are the East Bay Athletic League athletes who won events or qualified for the CIF State Track and Field Championships that will be held May 30-31 at Buchanan High in Clovis.
The EBAL boys had an incredible meet paced by Dougherty Valley senior Arrin Sagiraju who took the 1,600 by almost two seconds.
Jaden Jefferson of De La Salle won the 100 and 200 to claim the sprints king role.
The top three athletes in each event, as well as anyone who recorded a CIF At-large title in either the trials or the finals qualified for state.
Boys
4×100: 2) De La Salle 41.20
1,600: 1) Arrin Sagiraju (DV, Sr.) 4:10.46
110HH: 1) Chase Young (SRV, So.) 14.04; 2) Nathanial Maddox (Dub, Sr.) 14.49; 3) Aaron Adamos (Dub, Sr.) 14.50.
400: 1) Chase McMullen (SRV) 48.90; 3) Ikembuchukru Udeh (DLS, Sr.) 49.88
100: 1) Jaden Jefferson (DLS, Jr.) 10.30
800: 3) Thomas Hekl (AV, Jr.) 1:54.74
300H: 1) Edward Boeschenstein (Foot, Sr.) 38.90; 2) Chase Young (DLS, So.) 39.20
200: 1) Jaden Jefferson (DLS, Jr.) 21.11
3,200: 1) Trey Caldwell (DLS, Sr.) 9:08.91; 2) Tadhq Murry (DLS, Sr.) 9:09.75
4×400 relay: 1) De La Salle (Ikembuchkwu Udeh, Chase Young, Dominic Kelley, Toa Faave) 3:20.78
HJ: 2) Benjamin Stout (AV, Sr.) 6-6
LJ: Kaleb Pleis (SRV, Sr.) 22-6
TJ: 1) Anthony Dean (DLS, Sr.) 47-11; 3) Nathanial Maddox (Dub, Sr.) 45-11.5
Dis: 3) Zach Bruce (Cal, Jr.) 154-2
Girls
100H: 1) Emma San (Dub, Sr.) 14.59; 2) Tatum Trucks (Car, Fr.) 14.73; 3) Hope Diekmann (SRV) 14.76.
400: 3) Isabella Moriyama (MV, Sr.) 57.54
800: Ava Padilla (MV, Fr.) 2:11.97 (CIF Automatic time in trials)
200: 3) Isabella Moriyama (MV, Sr.) 24.90
4×400 relay: 2) Dublin (Josephine Bayer, Ria Inamdar, Naeemah Grant-Gurganious, Kayci Phillips) 3:55.54
HJ: 1) Riley McMullen (SRV, So.) 5-6
PV: 3) Miranda Howeth (Dub) 10-11
4×800: 1) Monte Vista (Cate Miller, Nadya Makarova, Sofia Fernandez, Ava Padilla)
Editor’s note: Dennis Miller is a contributing sports writer for the Pleasanton Weekly. This column originally appeared in Tri-Valley Preps Playbook, a weekly sports e-newsletter published by Embarcadero Media Foundation.
If I were competing at a top level in a sport, I would speak with my parents. If they wanted me to receive the diploma in hand, I would do it for them. If they were happy with me competing and receiving my diploma informally, I would compete with their support. There are sports after high school and after college. One can compete for years in life. Marathons, fun runs, etc.