Boosters Try to Remain Positive Until Sports Return

With coaches and athletes scrambling to find level ground in the high school sports landscape, San Marino High School booster clubs are often overlooked as programs position themselves for an eventual return to action.
Now that the California Interscholastic Federation has radically revamped high school sports seasons because of the coronavirus pandemic, parents who as recently as a few months ago signed on for what seemed innocuous volunteer positions will soon be scrambling to provide the resources to fully fund an athletic program.
The Titan football squad is the most expensive SMHS team to field and requires the most community. While games typically begin in late August, the pandemic has backed the season up until January 2021, giving Titan football booster President Greg Cribbs a little extra time.

“I feel that my biggest role is to lead the fundraising efforts in order to put the club in a position to provide whatever is needed, which includes equipment, trainers and sideline assistance, among other things, to keep the football program, the coaches, and the players safe and competitive,” Cribbs said. “However, my biggest goal is to somehow assist and facilitate in making the football experience for the kids at San Marino High School one that is positive, fun, and that will be remembered for a lifetime.”
Cribbs, who has two sons in the Titan football program, said his biggest challenge for the time being is to “stay positive.”
“COVID has taken away a lot of things from a lot of people and so many events that are important to these kids have either been rescheduled, restructured or simply canceled,” Cribbs said. “As football booster president, it has been difficult to keep people’s interest in the program and convince them that a season will actually happen. I believe that it will, and I believe that the kids really need it.”
Cribbs continues to hold regular virtual meetings with his board of directors.
“I remind them that when the season happens, we have to be dynamic, roll with and adjust to whatever more comes our way, and show these kids that we care deeply about their overall athletic and academic experience at San Marino High School,” Cribbs added.
He said families, alumni and friends of the program can help by maintaining their support of and interest in it.

“I want everyone to know there are many of us who continue to work hard and believe that our fall season will finally begin on Jan. 8, 2021,” Cribbs said with his trademark enthusiasm. “As frustrating as COVID has been as a booster club president, it is equally frustrating as a parent. As a parent, we naturally want to watch and support our kids participate in whatever activities they are involved in during these precious and fleeting high school years, especially Friday Night Lights. I worry not only about the lost athletic experiences but also the academic and social experiences. That is why I remain hopeful that the kids will be back on the San Marino High School campus, and on the football field, soon.”

TRYING TO KEEP BOOSTERS ENGAGED
Cynthia Ary, president of the cheer boosters, has encountered a similar challenge with the absence of the pageantry that accompanies the football season.
“The biggest challenge is keeping boosters engaged,” said Ary, whose daughter, Mary Jane, is a senior on the cheer squad. “We can’t have any fundraisers, including our car washes, which are a lot of fun for the girls and families.”
Last weekend, Ary and her cohorts distributed uniforms, pompoms and the now-prominent yard signs to varsity and junior varsity yell leaders. Seniors also decorated their cars to celebrate the final year of high school.
San Marino cheer coach Elizabeth Angiuli recently had a baby, and her assistant moved to Colorado, but Genny Sanchez has stepped in and is coordinating strength training for the girls during the sixth period of school until Angiuli returns.
“It’s just a sad time for students,” Ary continued. “They miss their friends, teachers and everyday school activities. Some parents and I have started Senior School Squads and we rotate houses one or two times a week. They have school together and then have lunch all together at someone’s home. I am very proud of the girls because they are trying to rally and keep the spirit,” she concluded.

LOSS OF BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS

Jay Fuerst returns as president of the Titan basketball boosters and — since one of his sons, Jack, is a freshman in the program — this most likely won’t be his last rodeo.
“The most difficult thing is planning for the unknown,” said Fuerst, whose son Joey, a senior, also plays for SMHS. “I would consider fundraising with families and businesses to be the most important part of the role of president. The two biggest events we have each season are the Palm Springs tournament in July and the Carlsbad tournament in December, and both have been canceled,” said Fuerst, adding that organizers of the latter event have targeted April as a possible time to hold it.
The CIF moved basketball to the spring sports season, with games not scheduled until March 12.
“It’s hard to ask people for money during this time,” said Fuerst. “I am waiting to see exactly what the season is going to look like before we resume structured fundraising efforts. Our major fundraiser is the free-throw shooting event, but some of the kids do not have basketball hoops at their home so we almost need to wait on that until we are at least back on the outside hoops on campus.”
Fuerst called the pandemic “a complete nightmare for everyone,” adding that it’s “difficult to stay optimistic in a state like California.” He said members of the community are, of course, welcome to assist.
“If anyone is so inclined, we appreciate any support possible,” Fuerst said. “The basketball coaches have worked really hard to implement the best virtual programs they can, and the players have done an amazing job working as hard as they can during the remote training sessions. The players have made huge fitness gains during the past six months in spite of not being able to play competitive basketball. You feel badly these young kids are having to cope with something that none of us as adults has ever had to face in our lives. The virtual classroom and athletic experience is at best a tiny fraction of the traditional physical on-site experience we are all accustomed to.”

DELAY OF SEASON IS HELPFUL
Girls’ volleyball booster President Julie Hill has to wait until December for the beginning of the sport played by her daughter, Erin, but the delay had some benefits. The Titans had a few extra weeks to hire a new coach and the players will get a reprieve from the oppressive heat inside Dingus Memorial Fieldhouse, which sometimes remains sweltering into October.
“One COVID silver lining for Lady Titan Volleyball is a reprieve from the unsafe practice and playing conditions the team battles in summer and the early fall months when temperatures inside the gym soar,” Hill said. “If we are able to return to play in December as scheduled, we will not have to worry about players or fans passing out — a real concern in our regular fall season. Earlier school and CIF fall season start dates have forced facilities needs. such as air-conditioning or other effective cooling solutions that many, including SMUSD, have not been able to prioritize. Booster groups are ready to be part of a solution. The shutdown has bought us a little extra time.”
Hill said the chief responsibility of a booster president is to “help pull together a community of supporters invested in fostering a winning program, whether or not the wins are reflected on the scoreboard.”
“As boosters, we do all we can to meet the needs of the program not funded by [the San Marino Unified School District] … uniforms, equipment, tournament associated costs including transportation, team building and skill development,” Hill said. “Add to that all that is needed as a backdrop for great Titan memories, including banners, balloons, T-shirts, Titan swag, and you can’t forget the ‘thank you’ pizzas for Coach Pop’s [basketball Coach Mihail Papadopulos] basketball players, who are the best volleyball cheer section ever. For now, it means supplying resistance bands for at-home workouts and considering the addition of masks for our spirit packs.”
She said her main objective is to turn “Can’t Do’s” into Can Do’s” for the players, families and Titan community.”
“Our scrappy, determined program works hard to see beyond limitations to create something to be proud of each season,” Hill said. “This season will be no different on or off the court.”
She said it is important for adults to “stay on our toes and have backup plans for our backup plans.”
“Meeting the needs of the program may not look the same so far this season, but we will do what we can to help out,” she said. Hill also encouraged the community to make an extra effort when conditions allow assemblies.
“When we are able to return to play and we find out how fans can cheer on the players safely, I encourage everyone in the San Marino community to stop by campus to cheer on our athletes, or attend a play or another type of performance,” said Hill. “I hope our forced disconnection will give all of us a new appreciation for simply being together, part of a community, cheering on the local kids in their pursuits.”