JULY 5, 2019
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HIGH SCHOOLS, RECREATION & SIGN-UPS
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Longtime teacher, coach named Freedom High athletic director by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
Sandra Torres has led Freedom High School’s cheer team to new heights during her 13 years as head coach. Now she’s set to expand her routine. The longtime English teacher and cheer coach has been tapped to serve as the Falcons’ athletic director following Steve Amaro’s promotion to assistant principal. “It’s a fun place to be and a fun place to coach,” Torres said. “I have always really enjoyed it and loved watching all the different sports on campus… I am excited for the new challenge.” Torres has elevated the Falcons cheer team in her time guiding the squad. Just a handful of the team’s achievements have included winning traditional competitive cheer national championships in 2009, 2010 and 2011; finishing as national runner-ups in 2014, 2015 and 2017; winning a state championship in 2018 and winning back-to-back North Coast Section competitive sport cheer titles the past two seasons and reaching the state semifinals last school year. The former Bay Valley Athletic League Coach of the Year was also instrumental in turning cheer into a sanctioned California Interscholastic Federation sport and ensuring the BVAL adopted the
Photo courtesy of Sandra Torres
Freedom cheer coach and English teacher Sandra Torres was recently named the school’s athletic director, following Steve Amaro’s promotion to an assistant principal position. sport in its inaugural competitive sport cheer season. In her new role, she will oversee the Falcons’ entire athletic program, which includes guaranteeing the school complies with various rules, overseeing the athletic budget and facilities, supporting
coaches, planning fundraisers, tournaments and events, and handling athletic clearances. She will continue teaching English in a part-time capacity and will carry on with her cheer coaching duties. “We are truly looking forward to having Sandy come in as athletic director,” said Kelly Manke. “Her passion for kids and athletics certainly makes her a top choice. She’s a talented coach and her ability to work with students and staff will continue to help Freedom thrive in the community.” Torres voluntarily enrolled in the district’s Aspiring Administrators Academy last year, with an eye to being an athletic director in the distant future. But her chance came quicker than expected with Amaro’s role change. “I was a little hesitant because it was something I had thought about for down the road, but then I thought, if it’s open I can apply. Maybe it’s meant to be sooner than I thought,” she said. Despite the quick transition, Amaro affirmed Torres is more than ready to take over. “Throughout Coach Torres’ tenure here at Freedom, she has been respected as a leader and advocate for all athletics,” he said. “What sets her apart is that she works to find ways to make our community
better and understands that high school sports is a powerful way to teach students character. I am excited to see her in this new role as we work to make Freedom and our students the best they can be.” Torres said she’s excited for the opportunity to build on Amaro’s success, noting she has a passion for sports, running athletic programs and, just recently, felt a desire to expand her campus role beyond the classroom. “I just want to continue in his footsteps and learn as much as I can, support the coaches and the programs,” she said. Two of Torres’ most immediate highprofile tasks involve filling Amaro’s vacated position as the school’s boys’ and girls’ tennis coach and finding a new varsity basketball head coach after her husband, Drew, resigned after 15 years to spend more time with his family — especially the couple’s 8-year-old son, who has taken an increased interest in participating in recreational sports. Torres said this week she looks forward to mentoring young coaches and watching programs grow — activities she has witnessed in her long coaching career, which previously included stints coaching cheer squads at Carondelet and Antioch high schools. see Coach page 16
Local team competes in International World Series by Michael Dixon Correspondent
The Brentwood Blast 12U team recently traveled to Southern California for the International World Series, where it competed against 19 other strong traveling clubs. The Blast did quite well for themselves. They finished tied for third place out of the 20 teams. Over the eight games of pool and bracket play, the Blast went 5-3 and outscored their opponents 49-32. “Everyone contributed,” said Jason Peterson, team manager. “We had some really amazing players.” Anthony Bellone was one of the key performers in helping the Blast get where they did. In the game that put them in the final four, he threw five shutout innings. In the first game of bracket play, a 3-for-3 performance from Angelo Salazar helped spark the Blast offensively. Peterson also identified Zack Oksanen as one of the
team’s key players as both a hitter and a pitcher who closed out two of the wins. Peterson noted that every 12-yearold traveling team takes a trip every year. Early in the year, the Brentwood Blast decided it would make the trip to the International World Series. While the Blast did not leave California, they did travel as far as nearly any other team in the tournament. One other team was from Hawaii. The other 18 were all Southern California based. In addition to the games, the event featured a skills competition. Events included were a relay race, an aroundthe-horn contest, and a Home Run Derby. Austin Gould was one of the top performers in the Home Run Derby, finishing third. “His coach, Jim Barbour, was pitching to him — I don’t know who was more nervous,” Peterson said. “There were three or four guys in front of him who actually hit four over the fence. He hit his fourth on his final pitch.”
Photo courtesy of Brentwood Blast
The Brentwood Blast 12U squad recently stood out at the International World Series in Southern California, finishing third out of 20 teams.