During the past year the Islander Sports Foundation has experienced interesting and challenging times as the umbrella organization for sports fundraising at Coronado High School and Coronado Middle School. Until this year, the organization was best known for running the July 4 15K Run/5K Run-Walk and operating the snack bar at the CHS home football and basketball games, activities in which we are still heavily involved. Two years ago the ISF took on the responsibility as the fiduciary agent for Coronado Middle School sports, when funding cuts forced the Coronado Unified School District to withdraw their financial support from this important program. It can be said without fear of contradiction that without the ISF, as well as our team coordinators and coaches who assist with the CMS sports program, after school athletic opportunities wouldn’t exist for this age group.

One year ago, CHS Aquatics Program Director Randy Burgess and I met to discuss the new aquatics complex being built by the city of Coronado and a proposed on-campus aquatics facility for Coronado High School. During the course of the conversation, it became apparent to me that the new city facility, though beautifully designed and conceived, offered less total water surface area, specifically less deep water area, to Coronado residents than the old facility. Since the old municipal pool was over-subscribed by the community, the new, smaller facility would accommodate most, but not all of the groups desiring access to the pool.

Burgess suggested an alternative plan that was an on-campus aquatics facility, that had been in the discussion and planning stages for 4 years to that point. Community development agency funding could be used to construct the facility at no cost to the school district. However, since the district had no intention to expand their scope of operations into the pool business, a fundraising effort would be necessary to raise revenue to operate and maintain the facility.

In my opinion, the on-campus aquatics facility met the ISF’s mission statement of "Helping All Students Become Champions Through Sports." More importantly, the ISF Executive Committee of President Susan Schelkun, Vice President Tim Cusick, Treasurer Vic Todaro and Secretary Sue Howe agreed that the aquatics project concept was something the ISF should support.

Tom Sullivan, who had been involved in the aquatics facility project from the outset and I were joined by David Landon as the negotiating team that represented the ISF in committee discussions with CUSD Trustees Julie Grazian and Bill Seager, and CUSD staff members, that led to a maintenance and operations agreement between the two parties. Construction of the on-campus aquatics facility would only happen when designated fundraising levels, eventually reaching a total of $1.2 million, were met. No district general funds would be used in the facility’s operations. The 21-page contract between the ISF and the Coronado Unified School District was signed in February 2005. Proof of that commitment is that my signature, on behalf of the ISF, is on the operations and maintenance agreement between the foundation and the school district.

Three years ago, when the ISF was lead by President Dave Hammel, he and I undertook a two-man fact-finding campaign for artificial turf and a synthetic track at Niedermeyer Field to replace the dirt field and dirt track currently in use. Collectively we became convinced that due to the extreme use of the field by the CHS and CMS sports teams, that the only reasonable alternative to the dust bowl that existed where the playing field should be was an artificial turf surface. The only thing standing between us and the appropriate playing surface for our children and the community was roughly $1 million.

Hammel and I, with considerable assistance from other members of the Coronado community, made inquiries and contacts to see if the money could be privately raised for artificial turf. The response we continued to hear was "Why should I give money for turf when CDA funding will pay for it?" The public funding vs. private contributions discussion continued and interest in the artificial turf project eventually dissipated.

That is until this year.

Whether it was insufficient water on the field during the heat of the summer or way too much rain in the fall and winter, the once beautiful stand of grass that once covered Niedermeyer Field has long since disappeared. And if possible, the track is worse. Taken as a whole, they are embarrassing.

Grass was virtually non-existent through the middle of the field after the first three home football games this season. By the time soccer took over in the winter and lacrosse in the spring, the grass yielded to mud, which was replaced in short order by dust. Understandably the parents of the athletes who compete on these sub-standard playing facilities were upset with the extant conditions. Something needed to be done.

Again with the support of the ISF executive committee and our board of directors, the option of artificial turf and a synthetic track at Niedermeyer Field was explored. I made inquiries to several people that Hammel and I had contacted a couple of years ago and asked for a revised bid for the turf and the track.

The larger vision for the overall turf project was an artificial turf practice field at the site of Coronado Middle School; a fully lined and equipped (new goal posts, striping of the field for soccer and football, artwork in the center of the field, etc.) artificial turf field at Niedermeyer Field and a new top-line synthetic track. The price tag for that combination, which included a 10 percent contingency fund, was $1.822 million.

At the time that the artificial turf drive gathered momentum, it became apparent that spiraling costs for the construction of the high school were churning through CDA funding dollars at an alarming rate. Increases in the costs of cement and steel have escalated worldwide and educational institutions built to last 50 years consume huge quantities of both. The once seemingly inexhaustible financial resources available through the CDA were appropriated.

Subsequently the project manager for the district issued a report that the projects on the district’s approved list for construction now exceeded the available CDA funding by $8 million. To make matters worse, the 30-year span for the Coronado CDA to incur debt was running out in the final quarter of 2005.

Armed with that information, a group of concerned parents and community leaders met to discuss an artificial turf campaign. At that meeting, I presented a list of five options to the 22 people in attendance for artificial turf. The option selected was the same as above, minus the practice facility at CMS and carried a price tag, including a 10 percent contingency fund for unanticipated expenses, of $1.253 million. This is the project that the ISF and interested parties are now pursuing with the school district.

Knowing that CDA funding was about to be maxed out, the turf advisory committee thought the scaled back project made more sense from an approval perspective. Unfortunately, the downside of the project change has been that conflicting expense numbers have been floated in print and at public meetings.

Throughout all of the twists and turns related to seeking funding for the on-campus aquatics facility and the artificial turf/track projects, one element has remained constant – the ISF strongly supports both projects. Both the aquatics and artificial turf/track projects are equally important, but very different in nature. One project attempts to address an existing problem, while the other presents the community with a new and important educational and recreational opportunity.

The ISF’s concept is not to pit one project vs. the other; nor part of one vs. a lot of the other. Both the aquatics facility and the artificial turf are consistent with the ISF mission statement. The officers and board of directors of the Islander Sports Foundation have remained steadfast in the belief that the aquatics facility and the artificial turf/track are outdoor classrooms that directly benefit our children and the community at large.

This being Coronado, everyone has an opinion regarding the two projects, with most of the thoughts being well conceived, constructed, and always passionately delivered.

The Aquatics Division of the Islander Sports Foundation, under the capable leadership of Chairman David Landon and Co-Chairman Amy Steward, has passed the fundraising level mandated in the contract for October 2005 and is rapidly closing in on the April 2006 targeted donor level.

The CUSD Board of Trustees stated publicly at their last meeting that they would like to see the district’s construction projects accelerated, rather than delayed. It is the ISF’s hope that the original construction timeline that would allow the on-campus aquatics facility to be open in the third quarter of 2007 will retained.

I think it is fair to say that the entire CUSD Board of Trustees realizes the need for upgraded facilities at Niedermeyer Field. Also, the current system of seeding the field, allowing it to lie fallow over the summer and hope that it will last for the duration of the following school year is not working.

The drawbacks facing the project are twofold and are financial in nature. First, there are no available funding dollars from the CDA for either this project or the On-Campus Aquatics Facility. Second, the artificial turf has a guaranteed life of 8 years, with an expected life of at least 10 years. The track is guaranteed for 5 years, with a probable life span if 7 years. In round numbers, the $500,000 for replacement of the turf portion of the field will have to be designated from among a possible variety of sources, before the project can go forward.

Based on the successful formula employed for the aquatics contract negotiations, the district appointed CUSD Trustees Doug Metz and Bill Seager to meet with ISF representatives Schelkun, Cusick, Bruce Shepherd and me to try to find a financial solution that will allow us to pursue the artificial turf project. The CUSD Facilities and Oversight Committee will be represented by Scott Metzger. CUSD Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs Scott Buxbaum; and CHS Athletic Director Sandy Ferguson will be involved as well.

The critical element for the future of both the aquatics facility and the artificial turf/track project is the extension of the CDA agreement that currently exists between the city of Coronado and the Coronado Unified School District. Frankly speaking, if the extension isn’t accomplished for the 3-year period being discussed, neither of these worthy projects will be accomplished.

In the short term, express to our elected officials on the school board and the city council that you would like to see the CDA agreement extended. Currently, city attorneys are exploring the legal aspects of the extension, to make sure that the Coronado CDA fits the criteria for additional years of operation.

Also, if you are interested in assisting the fundraising efforts for the aquatics facility, the ISF would encourage you to make a private or corporate donation for that purpose. The ISF is a 501-c-3 non-profit organization. Please go to www.islanderpool.com for information regarding donation and naming rights possibilities for the aquatics facility.

That is where we currently stand on the outdoor classroom projects that the Islander Sports Foundation has become involved with this past year. Our new ISF leadership including: President Lee Pontes, Vice President Jim Purvis, Vice President of Development Karen Kerr, Treasurer Vic Todaro and Secretary Lauri Johnson, hope that you share our enthusiasm for both projects, that we feel will benefit our children and the community for years to come.

We have some unfinished business from the past high school season with awards and honors for some teams that had their post season banquets recently.

For the Girls Varsity Swim Team: Co-MVPs – Molly Patrick and Kaitlyn Gillingham; Co-Most Improved – Catherine Maguire and Danielle Goldblatt; Coaches Award – Taylor Clarkson; Team Captain – Sandra Fernandez; ISF Award for Integrity, Sportsmanship and Friendship – Sandra Fernandez. The Boys Varsity Swim Team awards were presented to: MVP – Preston Lujan; Most Improved – John Landon; ISF Award –Lujan; Coaches Award – Eric Clapper; Team Captain – Sean Castillo.

Girls Junior Varsity Swim Team: Most Valuable – Ashley French; Most Improved – Sabrina Chapman; Coaches Award – Aly Rodgers; Team Co-Captains – Megan Braun and Claire Nordlie. Boys Junior Varsity Swim Team – MVP – Jackson Crow-Mickle; Most Improved – Tyler Hustwick; Coaches Awards – Andy Clapper and C.J. Kerr; Co-Team Captains – Fernando Ramos and Jake Hunzeker.

The Top Senior Aquatics Athlete Awards were presented to: Senior Girl – Elizabeth Hopkins for water polo and swimming. Hopkins will attend the University of Maryland. Senior Boy – Andrew Ratcliffe, who also participated in water polo and swimming. He will attend the University of California – Santa Barbara.

The CHS Boys and Girls Track Awards went to: Girls MVP – Jamie Klages; Boys MVPs – Reid McLean, Adam Munns and Jake Ruzevick; ISF Award – Sarah Player.

Congratulations to Jamie Klages for being named The San Diego Union-Tribune Female Athlete of the Year. Past winners of the award include Monique Henderson of Morse High School and UCLA, who has starred in track on the international and collegiate levels; and last year’s winner Candice Wiggins, now a standout guard on the Stanford women’s basketball team.

Named to All-Section Teams in their sports by a media panel and the Breitbard Hall of Champions were: First Team Boys Lacrosse – Kevin Chenoweth; First Team Girls Lacrosse – Angela Naple and Marissa Nagler; Second Team Baseball – Kevin Couture.

The U-T All Section Awards for spring sports went to: Baseball Second Team – Couture; Boys Lacrosse First Team – Chenoweth; Girls Lacrosse First Team – Liz Thaete, Naple and Nagler; and Girls Track First Team High Jump – Klages.

All Academic First Team Honors as recognized by the U-T: Girls Lacrosse – Lindsey Negrete (4.19 GPA); Swimming – Dallas Chase (4.17 GPA) and Boys Track – Jake Ruzevick (4.46 GPA).

CHS Track and Field Head Coach George Green checks in with a quick update on the summer results of two Coronado athletes. "The high school track season is over, but two members of the Islander squad can’t seem to get enough.

At the AAU Region 13B national qualifying meet held at Patrick Henry High School last weekend, Sarah Player and Danielle Eckert qualified for the AAU Junior Olympics that will be held in late July in New Orleans (or as Sarah now says it, "Nawlns").

At the end of a long day last Saturday, Sarah emerged as the Pacific Southwest AAU high jump champion for the intermediate girls division (athletes born in 1989-90). Danielle did likewise for the pole vault. Sarah also qualified for the 400-meter hurdles with a second place finish.

In track this spring, Sarah set the school record for the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 45.96. Had she not been high jumping in the shadow of the all-time San Diego Section record holder, Jamie Klages, she would have set the school high jump record, at 5-feet, 5-inches. The 400-meter hurdles is still a stretch for her, but she’ll have time to get in lots of running before the nationals.

Danielle set the school pole vault record this spring at the CIF Finals, with a vault of 10 feet. Both girls return to CHS as juniors this fall. Sarah will be on the cross country team, and Danielle is on the cheer squad.

Saturday at Islander Field the first Coronado Island Home Run Derby contest was held, with the proceeds from the event going to CHS Baseball’s continuing upgrade of the team’s playing field, located behind Strand Elementary School.

According to event organizer Bruce Johnson, the event raised $2,873 for field improvements. The laundry list of projects for the stadium include a batter’s eye for center field, a wind screen, artificial turf for the batting cages, and continuing upgrades in the team’s new locker room.

Division Winners in the Home Run Derby included: Minors – Matthew Ovrom; Majors – Jake Meloche; Juniors – Bryan Crabb; Mom’s – Tamara O’Brien Pokorny; High School – Tim Leary; Silver Slugger or Ben Gay Division – CHS Head Baseball Coach Sam Ceci, who edged out Tom Kelleher; and Open Division – Geoffrey Thorne.

Thorne (CHS ’04), played baseball at UC-Irvine last year and according to Johnson, the former Islander catcher put on a show. "It was an absolute tour de force by Geoffrey. He hit the first six or seven pitches for home runs, including one out of the park. He really put on a display and every ball was crushed. He put on a display that couldn’t have been topped."