Turning on the AC: Vacation doesn’t mean time off for pair of area coaches
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As area high schools return to a regular schedule and winter vacations wrap up, a couple of notable efforts deserve praise.
While many coaches and athletes took advantage of the break to recharge batteries, two soccer coaches were fast at work doing even more.
Crescenta Valley High’s Grant Clark and Flintridge Prep’s Esteban Chavez both laughed when asked if they were enjoying the time off.
“What vacation?” quipped Clark.
Chavez added that he’d “love one.”
Clark put together a wonderfully-run second annual Crescenta Valley Winter Classic boys’ soccer tournament at the Crescenta Valley campus from Dec. 27-30.
“Vacation is not a well-known word to me,” Clark said with a chuckle, “but I enjoy [running the tournament]. I have a personality that if it’s going to be done, it’s going to be done right. We had eight very competitive teams in this tournament and enjoyed some great games.”
Clark added that he had to turn teams down beyond the eight that played.
In between coaching his squad, the four-day tournament went off without a hitch, with Chaffey winning the championship.
Along with responsibilities of running a team and tournament, Clark has also taken on the arduous yoke of compiling schedules and results from all eight Pacific League boys’ soccer schools — both varsity and junior varsity — throughout the year.
This is something the veteran has done for nine years now and the holidays don’t equal down time.
Even during the break, there was plenty of action as the Pacific League played contests Wednesday and has a full slate Friday.
As for electing for a third annual Winter Classic, Clark says the benefits for the program outweigh other personal vacation considerations.
“It’s great for us since we don’t have to spend money as a program,” Clark said. “We get other schools to pay for the referees, while we don’t have to travel and pay a tournament fee to someone else. It’s a great money-saver for us.”
As for Chavez, the iron man is not only director of his own SoCal Academy soccer club, but this season the longtime Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer coach took on the reins of the boys’ team, as well.
So, that meant luxuries like winter vacations were a thing of the past.
“It’s a lot of work; I’ll tell you that because it’s every day,” Chavez said. “We have three weeks off from school, but I’m on the field every day except Sundays, all day with tournaments, games and practices. It’s challenging and draining, but I have a passion for it. It doesn’t feel like work, you know.”
Chavez has structured two-hour practices every day, while bringing in temporary lighting for the early darkness.
During the break, Chavez’ girls ran roughshod through the La Salle Tournament en route to winning a title with a 3-0 victory over St. Lucy’s in the championship on Dec. 29.
Since then, the Rebels have won two matches and enjoyed a double-header with the boys on Thursday.
The Flintridge Prep girls defeated San Marcos in Santa Barbara by a 4-0 tally in the first match that started at 3 p.m., while the boys fell in the nightcap, 5-1.
“The school has provided us with lights that really help, so no one gets cut short of good, quality practice,” Chavez said. “I work with the athletic director so there’s minimal conflict on the schedules. I love it. I love working with the kids and I don’t regret it. If I don’t get a vacation, oh well.”
