High school notebook: Grider steps down after four years as West football coach
BY ZACH EWING Californian staff writer zewing@bakersfield.com
The Grider era, Part II, has come to an end for West's football team.
Chad Grider resigned as the Vikings coach last week, West athletic director Deb Keller-Mitchell said.
"He is going to be pursuing other endeavors," Keller-Mitchell said. "He was quite distraught and upset and asked if he could step down. That was about it."
Grider, who previously was an assistant at Bakersfield College, had a 17-26 record in four years at West, including one playoff victory and a 1-8 mark in the 2011 season.
"The honest reason is right now, at this point in my life, it's not a good time for me to be a head coach," Grider said. "It has nothing to do with administration, which has been extremely supportive. This is more or less a decision I had to make for my family."
His father, Dallas Grider, won three Central Section championships at West in the 1970s and 1980s.
"The four years have been like a dream come true," Chad Grider said. "Being able to work with great people at West High, coaching at my alma mater, where my father coached, I was extremely fortunate."
Keller-Mitchell said Grider will remain as a special education teacher at West and that the school plans on beginning interviews for the vacant position Wednesday.
BHS, Poly finalize deal
Bakersfield High has finalized a contract to play a home-and-home football series with Long Beach-Poly, BHS principal David Reese confirmed.
The Drillers will travel to Long Beach in Week 3 this fall, Sept. 14, for a 7 p.m. varsity game. The Jackrabbits will return the trip to Griffith Field in 2013.
The games will be matchups of the most successful teams in California history. Bakersfield leads the state with 727 all-time wins; Poly is second with 709.
Ridgeview also has jumped on the Southern Section schedule wagon. The Wolf Pack, Division III section runners-up a year ago, will play a home game against Newhall-Hart, an 8-4 team in 2011 that reached the Southern Section's Northern Division quarterfinals.
Eight all-state in football
Eight local players were given honors on Cal Hi Sports' various all-state teams, led by three on the overall all-state teams.
Bakersfield quarterback Chris Hannible was a second-team utility player, Centennial lineman Chad Elmore made the third team and BHS defensive back Kevin Elijah the fourth team.
Drillers kicker Parker Campbell was a first-team selection for the Junior All-State team, BHS receiver Kevin Hayes is first-team all-sophomore and Ridgeview defensive back Shannon Edwards is a first-team all-Medium Schools selection.
Delano running back Zach Perigo, was a second-team Medium Schools pick. BHS linebacker Kenny Trueba is a third-team all-junior pick.
The website's overall first team, second team and third team are yet to be published.
Kovar wins shot put
Burroughs senior Jayson Kovar won the shot put at the Run for the Dream Indoor Track & Field Invitational last weekend in Fresno.
Kovar, who qualified for the outdoor state finals last year, hit a mark of 58 feet, 3.5 inches, nearly five feet farther than second place. It was the ninth-best high school throw in the nation this year.
Wrestlers free at CSUB
High school wrestlers can attend Cal State Bakersfield's dual meet against Arizona State on Sunday for free, courtesy of the Coyote Club.
The meet starts at 2 p.m. at the Icardo Center. For more information, contact CSUB coach Mike Mendoza at (661) 654-3372.
Hummel given honor
Former Ridgeview softball standout was named preseason All-Conference USA by softball coaches in that league.
Hummel's Memphis team was picked to finish fourth Hummel finished 2011 with a school-record 1.46 ERA. She is 36-18 with a 1.60 ERA and three no-hitters in two years there.
Coaches needed
Highland High continues to seek varsity and junior varsity boys tennis coaches. If interested, contact athletic director Steve Matney at (661) 872-2777.
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