Sacramento Bee article published April 21, 2005 (in PDF format)

Whether you have a student at Rio Americano or not, the following editorial

addresses how well intentioned environmental laws are being abused, and in

this case could delay some much needed improvements for our high school.

Sacramento Bee Editorial published January 28, 2006 (in PDF format)

First home game a winner

Students and alumni find a true homecoming on Rio Americano's own football field.

By Bill Lindelof - Bee Staff Writer

Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, October 12, 2006       
 

For the record, the game score was 30-8 in favor of Rio Americano High School.

The home crowd went home happy. But the fans were not only glad that the Rio Americano Raiders won their homecoming game.

They also were jazzed that the football team was able to play its first varsity game ever on campus. For decades, "home games" were played at El Camino High School because the Rio field was substandard.

That all changed on Saturday.

"It was so awesome," Anika Polyak, a senior and a cheerleader, said as fans poured out of the bleachers after the game.

Jim Ray, father of a Rio senior football player and a group organizer of the sports facilities improvements, said the game and homecoming festivities were a resounding success.

"We are looking forward to our next game," Ray said. "We will work on any glitches we might have had. I have asked a lot of people if they had suggestions for improvement."

The stands were packed for the day game against River City High School. Students painted their faces the school colors, green and gold.

The moto for the day evoked Oz: Homecoming T-shirts worn by many read, "There's no place like home."

And on two of the dozens of posters attached to the fence behind the brand-new scoreboard were the words "Better than Oz" and "1st Home Game EVER!"

San Juan Unified School District trustees, by unanimous voice vote in August, gave the proponents, the American River Sports Association, the go-ahead to start refurbishing the football field for day games only.

Temporary bleachers, which will be replaced with permanent seats, were installed, a snack bar opened and a new scoreboard erected. The field itself was improved so athletes would not injure themselves.

Other improvements planned include upgrading soccer, baseball and softball fields, relocating the tennis courts and installing an all-weather track.

Some neighbors had fought against having the varsity games on campus. They feared noise and game day traffic on American River Drive.

Traffic jams failed to materialize. Volunteers directed vehicles into parking spaces on campus. And after the varsity game, a California Highway Patrol officer directed traffic on American River Drive in front of the school.

Parking spots were always available on campus during both the junior varsity and varsity games. A minority of fans chose to park on side streets off American River Drive.

Sound was minimal on American River Drive during the games. Only the thump of a drum and the faint sound of an official's whistle could be heard.

But on Whitehall Way, a street that parallels the east side of the campus, the sounds of the crowd and the band were audible.

"You are going to have the crowd, the speaker and the band. But that's what you do at a high school," organizer Ray said.

For students and alumni, the game on campus was much appreciated. Gabriel Lanthier, a junior varsity football player, said many more people attended Saturday's game than the games held at El Camino.

"It should help school spirit," he said.

Jon Simas, the junior varsity football coach, graduated in 1979 from Rio. He has been part of the campaign to raise the private money that is funding the improvements.

He said there is a true home field advantage to playing on campus.

John Skoien, class of 1971, signed a book in which the names of Rio graduates were being compiled at the alumni booth. He was happy to see the game held on campus.

"Very much so," Skoien said.

Kristopher Geist, class of 1981, wished he had played on the Rio campus when he was a Raider flanker.

"We had our homecoming game at El Camino High School," he said. "This feels great."

ARSA Fact Sheet (in PDF format)