Parent’s push brings sports to Thurston Middle School

Thurston Middle School parent Lisa Rossi wondered why the Laguna Beach Unified campus didn’t have an after-school sports program, so she did something about it.

“Everyone was frustrated that when kids get to middle school there are not a lot of great options when it comes to sports,” said Rossi, a parent of two students at Thurston and one at El Morro Elementary.

In January, Rossi said she approached Thurston Principal Jenny Salberg and city officials on the matter, and the idea went over well. The city agreed to manage tryouts and practices and reserved space in Thurston’s gym.

Rossi researched options, recruited more parents to help spread the word and in the last few weeks, 30 seventh- and eighth-grade students participated in tryouts for girls’ basketball and boys’ volleyball. There were enough players for two volleyball teams — one eighth-grade and one seventh-grade — but not enough for a girls’ basketball team.

The plan now is for Thurston teams to play exhibition games while seeking entrance into the Coastal Athletic League, a seven-school league comprised of teams from Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, including TeWinkle and Harbor Day.

Laguna Beach High boys’ volleyball Coach Darren Utterback agreed to oversee the boys’ volleyball team.

On Sept. 25, players huddled around Utterback as he demonstrated serving during a tryout inside Thurston’s gym.

“The goal is setting a solid foundation technically,” Utterback said. “Anything beyond that is a bonus.”

Volleyball players will learn setting and passing, but not digging since the latter is a more advanced technique, he said.

“If you want to win, you better be the best passing team in the gym,” Utterback said.

Utterback had help during tryouts from Laguna Beach High seniors Luke Jamison and Liam Christiansen.

Rossi sees the sports program as an option for parents who cannot afford costs associated with club teams.

Per-player fees are $180, which help pay for coaches, gym space and administrative costs.

“Some kids fall back when it comes to middle school,” said Rossi, who coached teams in National Junior Basketball, a nonprofit youth league for players in grades one through 12. “Some moms can’t drive students to practices and games.”

Rossi said she knows not every family can afford player dues, so she is working to establish a booster club that could provide financial scholarships.

Rossi hopes the program expands to include other sports in the winter and spring, which depends on how the fall season goes.

“This will bring kids together,” Rossi said. “It will create [school] pride. During high school, they will cheer friends on whether or not they are on the team.”