COLT FIELD DEDICATION

This past Saturday, the South San Francisco Unified School District celebrated not only a great Bell Game with a bleacher-packed crowd, but also a long anticipated dedication ceremony for El Camino High School’s new track and field, Colt Field. Since opening in 1961, El Camino has been one of the last high schools on the Peninsula to receive a new, state-of-the-art track and field, a field that accommodates football, soccer and lacrosse and a track that can host sanctioned meets as well as accommodate the full array of track and field sports. Jeff Bonner, SSFUSD’s Director of Facilities, said, “El Camino has waited a long time for a state of the art field, and I’m gratified to see this day come to pass where the hard working efforts of many have paid off.”

The weather, for South City, was exceptional like the day. District staff, city dignitaries, delighted students and a deserving community packed the new bleachers for the ribbon cutting ceremony and the grueling match between South City’s two rivals. Superintendent Alejandro Hogan introduced the Board members, and Board President Phil Weise thanked the community of South San Francisco for their tax dollars that made this field possible. El Camino’s Principal David Putney pumped up the crowd and then members from both the Colts’ team and the Warriors proceeded to cut the ribbon. Both teams went on to play a great game with the Warriors outplaying the Colts 29-28. Eric Jacobson, Athletic Director for El Camino, said, “Everything about the first game was perfect to me, except the final score. We wanted to win that game, not just for ourselves, but for anyone who was ever a Colt. This game meant a lot to everyone who ever attended El Camino from 1961- 2013. The first true home game against SSF, and while we lost, everyone seemed to go home happy by the effort our Colts gave, and everyone loved COLT FIELD.”

Many thanks to Beals Alliance architects’ Jay Beals and Chris Chisam  and SSF contractor, Mike Pariani of Interstate Grading & Paving for their efforts to make this day possible. Interstate has a few final touches to put on the Colt field before turning their full attention to the new Warrior track and field.

By: Donna Fentanes, SSFUSD Employee