While Live Oak High has certainly had its share of challenges
and difficulties recently, it must be noted that its students have
access to one of the finest traditions of academic and athletic
excellence in the area.
While Live Oak High has certainly had its share of challenges and difficulties recently, it must be noted that its students have access to one of the finest traditions of academic and athletic excellence in the area.
In the classroom, Live Oak High students recorded the highest Academic Performance Index (API) test scores increase – a jump of 26 points to 706 – of any school in the Morgan Hill School District. Fewer than half the schools in California met their target growth rates in the standardized testing, while Live Oak exceeded its goals.
In athletics, Live Oak again enjoyed an outstanding fall sports season.
At the head of the class is the precedent-setting cross-country program. Leading the way is junior Christine “Cobbie” Jones, who won the school’s first individual section cross-country title since Nick Yray won one in 1965 (the first year CCS held the competition). Jones and fellow Acorn junior Lisa Herrera are headed to the state finals in Fresno on Saturday, Nov. 27.
And, the LO boys cross-country finished fourth overall, its best finish since the Acorns earned runner-up status in 1987 and 1988. LO senior Billy Wong just missed qualifying for state with an eighth-place finish.
One cannot overlook the impact of the group of parents and boosters who form the South Valley Wine Auction organizing committee. Led by Jon Hatakeyama, this group goes all out every year to raise money for area schools’ running programs – cross-country and track, including Live Oak. Without their collective effort and dedication, considering the current lack of funding for sports, the Acorn runners wouldn’t be enjoying the unprecedented success they are today.
And, the Acorns continued their winning athletic tradition in other sports as well.
Perhaps the biggest surprise this fall has been the success of the resurgent LO football team. After two and a half seasons without a win, the Acorns rebounded to finish third in the Tri-County Athletic League with an 8-2 record (their only losses to TCAL co-champs Palma and Hollister-San Benito), and make the CCS playoffs.
In addition, both the LO boys and girls water polo teams, led by the TCAL MVPs Ryan and Ronni Gautschi, won league titles and advanced to the CCS playoffs, while the LO girls volleyball made the CCS playoffs for the ninth straight season under the guidance of Coach Laura Coleman, who has never missed the postseason in her career at the school.
Once again, these teams have relied on community fundraising efforts led by the LO Booster Club for their survival.
It’s been a banner school year so far for Live Oak, both in learning and playing. Here’s to hoping it continues.
