Pacific Ridge School Athletics Program Celebrates Milestone Year

Since Pacific Ridge School opened its doors in 2007, its athletes have earned statewide recognition and a reputation as strong competitors. This year was no exception, as the girls’ varsity volleyball team reached the CIF quarterfinals, the girls’ cross country team closed its season with a league championship trophy and the boys’ varsity soccer team won the CIF Division V championship. The school’s spring sports teams are experiencing strong seasons as well, with the boys varsity lacrosse team seeded 2nd heading into the Division I playoffs. Adding to the year of accomplishments, Pacific Ridge School’s own athletic director, Darren Lawlor, was awarded the Positive Coaching Alliance Double-Goal Coach Award, an honor given to only 20 high school coaches throughout the country who embody the ideals of the Double-Goal Coach: striving to win, while also pursuing the even more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports.

 “The continued success of our athletics program is underscored by our commitment to an ‘Honor the Game’ culture shared by our students, parents, coaches and school community,” said Lawlor. “We have seen monumental growth in our athletics program over the last several years, made possible only by students who are engaged on the fields and courts, just as in the classrooms.”

 Athletic participation is an important part of education at Pacific Ridge School, promoting the pursuit of excellence and the rewards of ethical behavior. Together, the middle and high schools offer more than a dozen sports and more than 40 teams, ranging from basketball, volleyball, flag football, and lacrosse, to cross country, soccer, tennis and golf. In 2011, Pacific Ridge School became a member of the Coastal Conference, one of the most competitive independent high school leagues in the state. That same year, the boys’ varsity lacrosse team was honored as the top academic lacrosse team in the state of California. In addition, Pacific Ridge School was the first school in San Diego County to join the Positive Coaching Alliance, a program started at Stanford University that develops an “Honor the Game” culture among students, parents, and coaches within the school community.

Last May, the Pacific Ridge School athletics department reached another milestone as it celebrated the opening of its 35,236 sq. ft. Athletic Center, one of the largest and most state-of-the-art high school athletic centers in San Diego County. The new Athletic Center is home to 17 championship trophies and plaques. Today, more than 80 percent of Pacific Ridge School students play one or more sports.

 For more information about Pacific Ridge School and its athletics programs, visit www.pacificridge.org.