Game Goes On at Pomona Garey High

Four planes hijacked and crashed. The 110-story twin towers of the World Trade Center burned and collapsed to the ground. The Pentagon attacked.

What’s a teenager to think, let alone an adult?

“I had tears when I heard about it,” 17-year-old senior April Casillas said.

Who would play an athletic event with America under siege? Pomona Garey High, that’s who. Casillas and her volleyball teammates went onto the court Tuesday afternoon and played San Dimas in a nonleague match with approval of the Pomona Unified School District.

USC and UCLA canceled their sporting events. So did major league baseball. Most high schools in Southern California followed suit. But at Garey, life went on despite horrifying images on television.

“We feel it’s best to allow the students continuity,” district spokesman Bill Stelzner said.

Bob Teeple came to watch his daughter, Bailey, a freshman, play for San Dimas. The issue of playing was complicated.”There’s two schools of thought,” he said. “One is out of respect for the tragedy you don’t play, but at what point is canceling everything a concession to terrorists? I don’t know what is right. Do you cave in and cancel everything in your life because we’ve been attacked?”

Francisco Sanchez served as the referee. He spent much of the day watching television.

“Most definitely, I wouldn’t do the game if I had a choice,” he said. “I’m doing it for the kids.”

Garey Coach Louis Ventura spent time in the Navy. He had conflicting feelings about playing the match and wanted to show resolve and respect.

“It’s very shocking,” he said. “It’s like reading a Tom Clancy novel, but it’s reality.”

Wanda Sodoma, 73, is the grandmother of Bailey. She was 14 when the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor. Sitting in the bleachers, Sodoma wondered how teenagers today would be dealing with death and destruction.

“They’re so young,” she said. “They’re about the same age I was when Pearl Harbor went on and I didn’t get the significance. But kids nowadays have television and see the visual things. I’m a little surprised they’re playing, but life has to go on.”

Teeple contemplated what he’d say to Bailey and her twin brother, Scott, when they were home after the match.

“It’s a complicated thing,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m going to tell the kids. They’re in high school. If I had children in grades kindergarten through third grade, I might monitor what they’re watching. In high school, good or bad, they have to be aware of the pressures and political landscape.”

Pomona school administrators shouldn’t be criticized for allowing the volleyball match to be played. In the end, the players were relieved to take their eyes away from television and for at least 90 minutes, be teenagers again, with no worries in the world.

“We didn’t want to put our life on hold,” said Thoi Inthavong of Garey, which lost to San Dimas. “You take your mind off what’s happening and play the game you love.”

The players weren’t trying to send a message to anyone, but by going through with the volleyball match, they were making a statement.

“I think we’re fulfilling an obligation,” Teeple said. “I’m fine with the decision to play. I have faith they took into consideration the safety of the kids.”

Bailey’s grandmother had no regrets about coming to the match.

“It’s a scary day and if anything should happen, I’m here to be with her,” she said

On the scariest of days, a group of girls’ volleyball players proved life can go on.

*

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com