Extreme heat and lightning caused several high school athletic competitions to be postponed Tuesday and forced coaches to be creative with practices.
The boys water polo match between No. 3 Huntington Beach and host Santa Margarita was called off because of concerns about high temperatures, which soared into triple digits in Rancho Santa Margarita.
“It was 107 when we hopped out (of the pool after a brief practice),” Eagles coach Paden Mitchell said.
Meanwhile, El Toro’s water polo match against visiting No. 10 Orange Lutheran and Tesoro’s game against visiting Aliso Niguel were postponed because of lightning.
Players from the frosh-soph water polo match at El Toro were asked to exit the water in the middle of the fourth period because of lightning in the area. With dark clouds over the school, the game was soon postponed.
“The principal and myself and the administration agreed that there’s too high a risk (to continue play),” El Toro athletic director Jimmy Martin said at the water polo match.
“Lightning was seen in the distance and there’s a severe weather report that was sent out by our district. … It’s absolutely the top priority for players to be safe, so it was an easy call to get everybody out of the pool.”
Northwood’s girls tennis match against visiting Santa Margarita and Crean Lutheran’s match at Foothill were called off because of weather.
With temperatures in Los Angeles expected to reach triple digits Tuesday afternoon, the top-ranked University girls tennis team had its nonleague showdown with Campbell Hall of North Hollywood called off.
As of Tuesday night, there were no plans to cancel a Wednesday afternoon match between No. 5 JSerra and No. 2 Corona del Mar at CdM.
“We played today against Newport Harbor. There was a nice breeze going actually,” CdM coach Brian Ricker said. “We’re pretty close to the ocean, so I wouldn’t call it severe heat conditions.”
Buena Park’s football program decided to beat the heat Monday and Tuesday by practicing from 5-7 a.m. and lifting weights from 7-8 a.m. The players practiced just outside the school’s football stadium, under the stadium lights.
“It was awesome,” Buena Park football coach Anthony White said.
After school, the players were surprised by free ice cream from a Mustache Mike’s truck, courtesy of a donation by owner Samantha Vy.
“Awesome lady,” White said. “It’s the little things (that are important).”
Especially in the face of large obstacles from Mother Nature.
– Kenny Connolly contributed to this report.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
