High School Field Enters Brighter Era

For the first time in 27 years, the El Camino Real High Conquistadors will finally see the light--stadium lights, that is.

Tonight’s homecoming game against Cleveland High School’s Cavaliers will be the first night game ever played on El Camino’s field, said Natalie Davila, the school’s dean of students. Temporary stadium lights, donated by Musco Lighting of Orange County, will illuminate the field. The stadium has never been equipped with permanent lights.

“The students are absolutely delighted,” said Assistant Principal Larry Markle. “They tell me that we’re going to have a lot of former students coming, as well as a lot of students whose parents graduated from here.”

Festivities include the crowning of the homecoming king and queen, floats, and a parade. Councilwoman Laura Chick will participate in the parade.

Three years ago, the Stadium Lights Committee was formed to raise funds to install permanent stadium lights, said Jon Saul, a parent and co-chairman of the group.

Since the school opened in 1969, the Conquistadors have had to play night home games on the fields of other local high schools, Saul said. The school had to pay for school buses to take the team to other schools.

Through fund-raising events and the sales of commemorative, personalized tiles, the committee has raised $10,000. But $140,000 is needed for permanent lights as well as the restoration of the bleachers.

The donation of the temporary lights should help make fund-raising a little easier, with the money brought in from future night games at the El Camino Real field.

“We should be able to make up to $20,000 more a year which can go into our own school economy,” Saul said. “We’re hoping to have 3,000 people [tonight].”

The game is at 7 p.m. For information, call (818) 888-8920.