December 2024 - Good News
As the semester ends, we celebrate the wonderful activities and achievements of students, teachers, advisors, and coaches.
2024 Winter Formal Group
2024-25 Cheer Grand Champions
2024 GHS Cross Country Teams
GHS Flag Football 2024 League Champions
2024 GHS Unified Soccer Team
2024 A Midsummer's Night's Dream Cast Photo
August 2024 Senior Kicker Dylan Gary and Quarterback Thomas Donovan Holding the 1947 Metropolitan League Trophy
Winter Formal
Saturday, Dec 7th, the dance “Masquerade” was held at UCSD Price Center. Students came to see what was behind that mask as the dance was advertised as “mask-nificent”. Two ASB class members share their memories of the dance.
Shayla Sterling: “Through a clever fusion of golds, pearls, and glittering masks, an indelible night filled with dancing, ice cream, games, and raffles was born. Various students arrived in cleverly fashioned masks, adding an alluring sense of mystery to the dance’s atmosphere.
The lobby offered an area with a chance to win several prizes, along with an elegant photo op display for students to pose with. Once students stepped past the lobby, they walked on a lavish red carpet, which trailed towards the sizable dance floor, which was surrounded by tables with ornamented center pieces and a stage encapsulating a sophisticated masquerade vibe, along with gleaming balconies illuminated by crimson lights.
Through the night, students enjoyed playing games like poker (non- betting) and Uno, while others danced to a variety of songs such as “Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star or “Fe!n” by Travis Scott.”
Ava Hersch added, “A few lucky students ended their night with Starbucks gift cards. Students left the dance, heels in hand, feeling elated they had just had a night that would be a fond memory in their high school experience.”
Athletics
Varsity Football CIF Section Record Setters
Senior quarterback Tommy Donavan threw 53 touchdowns this season, tying Tyler Buchner of Bishop’s and Braxton Burmeister of La Jolla Country Day for the second all-time. Tommy led the county section with 4134 passing yards this season. Tommy also broke Grossmont’s single-season passing record, which were held by football Coach Anthony Lawrence, Class of 2014.
Grossmont receiver Noah Walker finished the season with a county section record 114 catches. That breaks the record of 110 set by Jahiem Allen Pompey of Mount Miguel in 2019. Walker’s 1,590 receiving yards also led the CIF section.
Varsity Cheer
Cheer coach Jill Clark shares that “Grossmont Cheer won our first competition of the season-1st place in the Varsity Level 1 Cheer Division. Then we were announced as the Grand Champions, the highest scoring team in the entire competition for all levels and divisions. We were so shocked and surprised.
The final accolade was when we were announced as the paid bid winners, which means they pay for our team to compete at Nationals in Las Vegas, where we will compete in January against some of the best high chools in California, AZ, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho!
We were so honored to hear our name called so many times. We hope to make Grossmont Proud!”
Cross Country Teams
Coach Ross Bartell celebrates the teams’ amazing seasons: “Both the boys and the girls teams placed second in the eleven team Grossmont Conference Finals. They followed that up at CIF finals with a top five finish for the boys and seventh for the girls!
Jane Telliard and Kaci Brownsberger earned All-League honors at Conference Finals for the girls, while Luis Naranjo, Paul Benrud, Myles Cata, and Jonah Edwards earned All-League honors for the boys!
The boys team just narrowly missed qualifying for State finals as a team by just a few points, but Luis Naranjo and Paul Benrud both finished in the top ten at CIF and qualified for State as individuals.
Jane Tellliard finished fifth at CIF and also qualified for State with the 2nd fastest CIF time in school history! Jane ran 18:59 at State Finals, which is the 4th fastest time in school history on the State Finals course! Luis Naranjo ran 16:02, which is the 9th fastest time in school history and a school record for a sophomore at State meet!”
Flag Football Team
Reflecting on the season, Head coach Tony Lawrence, shared that “Flag football debuted in 2023 and Grossmont fielded a team. However, since there were no other east county or Grossmont League teams, the team played in the Metro division with all of their league opponents in the Chula Vista area. The team had a successful season, being eliminated in the CIF Open Semifinals, and ranked 5th in the county out of 48 teams.
2024 saw the number of teams in the county jump to 72 (98 are expected in 2025), and a four-team flag football Grossmont League was born. Having graduated the top offensive and defensive players, a new group of players had to step up, and step up they did! They went 8-1 in league play and clinched the first ever Grossmont League Flag Football title.
The team was led by Grossmont League Offensive Player of the Year, Gabi “Spiderman” Thomas, and League Defensive Player of the Year Jae “Too Happy” Jensen. Both players also made first team All-CIF.
The highlights of the season for me was definitely watching students who never had played football before-from not knowing what a sideline or line of scrimmage was, or what it meant to “hike” or “snap” the ball, to being able to execute complex plays, schemes, and formations.
Amazingly, we had 14 different players score! Both Thomas and Jensen were the best and second best on offense and defense in the league; they were one and two in TDs and Interceptions.
Other players had amazing seasons as well. QB Marissa “Doctor” Farace threw 51 TD passes , leading the league, and Saraya “Shoop” Roope had 11 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in her sophomore season. Ashley “Pipsqueak” Beard led the team in flag pulls, the flag football equivalent of tackles. Both were also honored as first team all-league players.”
Unified Soccer Team
Coach Micella Ross celebrated her team : “Congratulations to the Unified Soccer Team for placing 4th in the Special Olympics soccer tournament.
Foothiller David Abendano received the MVP award at the tournament. David played goalie for 5 games, blocking 14 shots at the goal and helping his teammates on and off the field. Great work!”
Performing Arts
Drama
Drama teacher Amity Ecker: “The GHS Foothiller Players' Fall Production of A Midsummer Night's Dream enjoyed a sold out run of 6 shows In November! It was a show full of comedy, stage combat, and magic! Over 50 students participated in the production including 2 full technical theatre classes who build the set, designed, and ran the production.
Bravissimo, Foothiller Players!
Look for their next production, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical opening in March!”
Instrumental Music
Director James Villegas: “It’s been an exciting season for the Grossmont Band and Orchestras. The beginning band and intermediate, or concert band, each have their own class period for a total now of three bands, two orchestras, a jazz band, and a color guard as part of our daily schedule. The Royal Blue Regiment is its own entity, meeting evenings along with Indoor Percussion (now at 24 members!) and indoor Color Guard.
The Royal Blue Regiment has been busy with football games, competitions (taking 2nd at our first competition) and now performing at home basketball games.
Under the direction of Drum Major Artur Harutyunyan and assistant Steven Quinto, the Regiment did a fine job at the schools’ Annual Military Inspection and the San Diego Veteran’s Day parade. Our next parade is the upcoming Holiday Bowl Parade on December 27th.”
The achievements, enthusiasm, and spirit of Foothiller coaches, advisors, and teachers guiding their students remind us all of why “It’s Great to Be Young and a Foothiller!”
Visit the GHS Museum in 2025
10-1: Saturdays, January 25th, February 22nd, March 15th OR
Fridays by prior appointment when school is in session
Contacts: