Greetings Spartans,

Hay un artículo de la Federación Nacional de Asociaciones Estatales de Escuelas Secundarias (NFHS) titulado “Growing Is the Purpose: Keeping Education First in High School Sports” que realmente me llega al corazón. Es un buen recordatorio de por qué hacemos lo que hacemos en los deportes de preparatoria.

Sí, ganar juegos es emocionante, pero no es el objetivo principal. Nuestro trabajo es asegurarnos de que la educación siempre sea la prioridad y que el deporte ayude a nuestros estudiantes a crecer como personas. Practicar deportes enseña lecciones que no siempre se aprenden en el salón de clases: disciplina, trabajo en equipo, resiliencia y liderazgo. Son habilidades que nuestros atletas-estudiantes llevan consigo mucho después de que termina la temporada.

Este artículo refuerza algo en lo que siempre he creído: la verdadera medida del éxito en los deportes de preparatoria no está solo en el marcador, sino en cómo nuestros estudiantes se desarrollan, aprenden y aplican esas lecciones en su vida, dentro y fuera del campo.

Greetings Spartans,

We hope you are enjoying the holiday season and finding time to celebrate and relax with family and friends. As we approach the break, our student-athletes are keeping busy with a full schedule of games and tournaments across basketball, soccer, and wrestling.

Starting Monday, December 22, our girls’ basketball teams travel to Camarillo for non-league matchups, while on Tuesday, December 23, our boys’ basketball teams return home to Hueneme for league and non-league games, including Senior Night for our varsity players.

During the holiday week, from December 26–30, we have multiple tournaments taking place. Our boys’ basketball teams will participate in the Holiday Classic, with games across various locations including Calabasas and Camarillo, while girls’ basketball travels to Oxnard for non-league contests and tournaments. Soccer also has exciting action at the Oxnard Shores Tournament, with varsity boys competing against teams like Channel Islands and El Camino Real. Wrestling is busy too, with girls’ varsity traveling to Corona and boys’ varsity and junior varsity participating in tournaments such as the Del Sol Tournament at Crespi.

As we kick off the new year, our girls’ basketball and wrestling teams continue tournament play through January 2–3. Then on Monday, January 5, boys’ basketball returns to league action at home against Buena, starting with the Frosh/Soph game at 4:00 PM, Junior Varsity at 5:30 PM, and Varsity at 7:00 PM.

We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes for their dedication and sportsmanship during this busy holiday period. We encourage everyone to enjoy the holidays safely, recharge, and get ready for a strong start to the new year.

Greetings Spartans,

Upcoming Athletic Events at Rio Mesa High School!

It’s a busy week ahead for Rio Mesa Athletics as our teams take on a full slate of competitions across multiple sports.

On Saturday, December 13th, our boys’ basketball team will head out for the Clash on the Coast Showcase at Pacifica High School, with game times to be announced. Wrestling also kicks off with the Camarillo 10 Way Tournament for varsity boys at 1:00 PM, while our junior varsity wrestlers compete at Westlake starting at 10:00 AM. Our girls’ water polo team hosts a scrimmage at Rio Mesa, facing off against Foothill, Santa Ana, and Santa Paula, with times to be determined.

The week continues on Tuesday, December 16th, with a packed day of soccer, basketball, and water polo. Boys’ soccer will be in action at Buena High School with the frosh/soph team at 3:30 PM, junior varsity at 5:00 PM, and varsity at 6:45 PM. Meanwhile, the boys’ varsity basketball team travels to Dos Pueblos for a league game at 7:00 PM. Back at home, girls’ water polo hosts Pacifica/Oxnard with varsity play at 3:15 PM and junior varsity at 4:15 PM. Our girls’ soccer teams take on Buena at Rio Mesa, with junior varsity at 3:30 PM and varsity at 5:15 PM. On the hardwood, girls’ basketball welcomes Dos Pueblos with junior varsity at 5:30 PM and varsity at 7:00 PM.

On Wednesday, December 17th, girls’ wrestling heads to Buena for a league match. Boys’ basketball will face Dos Pueblos, with frosh/soph at 4:00 PM and junior varsity at 5:30 PM. Boys’ wrestling competes in league matches at Buena, with junior varsity at 5:30 PM and varsity at 7:00 PM.

The week wraps up on Thursday, December 18th, with girls’ water polo traveling to Buena for varsity and junior varsity non-league matches at 3:15 PM and 4:15 PM. Girls’ soccer heads to San Marcos/Santa Barbara for non-league matches, with junior varsity at 3:30 PM and varsity at 5:15 PM. Back at home, boys’ soccer hosts San Marcos/Santa Barbara, with frosh/soph at 3:30 PM, junior varsity at 5:00 PM, and varsity at 6:45 PM.

It’s sure to be an exciting week for our student-athletes as they compete at home and on the road—come out and support our teams!

Greetings Spartans,

Ruff Talk is back!
We’d like to congratulate Junior Derek Luna for placing 8th at the CIF State Cross Country Championships with an impressive 14:59 time for three miles. Our winter teams are also off to a strong start, with Girls Basketball securing a victory this week. As always, we encourage our community to come out, show support, and cheer on our Spartan athletes.

Here’s what’s coming up next week in Spartan Athletics:
This Saturday, our Girls Soccer teams head to Littlerock for tournament play, while Boys Basketball travels to Nordhoff for their varsity tournament. Our Girls Water Polo team will be competing in Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks, and both Girls and Boys Wrestling will hit the mats in major tournaments across the region. Meanwhile, our Frosh/Soph Boys Basketball team will host the Ventura County Classic Tournament right here at Rio Mesa.

On Tuesday, the action continues with Girls Water Polo taking on Thousand Oaks, Girls Soccer facing Ventura on the road, and Girls Basketball heading to Pacifica/Oxnard for league and non-league matchups. The boys will defend home turf with Soccer and Basketball hosting Ventura and Pacifica/Oxnard throughout the afternoon and evening.

Wednesday brings more wrestling as our Girls team competes at San Marcos/Santa Barbara, followed by Boys JV and Varsity Wrestling league matches later that evening.

Thursday is a packed day: Boys Soccer travels to Pacifica/Oxnard, Girls Basketball heads to Santa Barbara, and our Girls Wrestlers host the Camarillo Girls 6-Way Tournament at home. Boys Wrestling will also compete at home in the Camarillo 6-Way. Girls Soccer will host Pacifica/Oxnard in non-league action, while Boys Basketball takes on San Marcos/Santa Barbara across all levels.

We close out the week on Friday with Varsity Boys Wrestling competing at home in the Camarillo 10-Way Tournament.

Come out and support our Spartans wherever you can—your energy makes a difference! Let’s keep the momentum going into winter break.

Greetings Spartans,

We’re back with more Ruff Talk! Our boys’ cross country team is heading to the CIF Semi-Finals after a season full of hard work, breaking personal and school records along the way. Congratulations to our athletes for their dedication and perseverance!

Winter sports are now in full swing, and we encourage our community to come out and support our teams as they compete in basketball, soccer, wrestling, and water polo. Your energy and encouragement make a difference for our Spartans!

This week, our basketball teams will have multiple games and tournaments. On Friday, the boys’ Frosh/Soph team will play at home against Buena while our Varsity team travels to Channel Islands for the City of Oxnard Shootout. Meanwhile, both our boys’ and girls’ wrestling teams are competing in tournaments at Ventura. Saturday brings more basketball tournaments, including the boys’ Varsity Battle by the Beach Showcase, while the JV boys compete at Buena and in a six-way JV wrestling tournament at a neutral site.

Looking ahead to next week, our boys’ soccer teams will host Foothill Technology on Monday, and the Frosh/Soph team will play Kennedy/La Palma on Tuesday, alongside multiple basketball matchups including Frosh/Soph, JV, and Varsity teams. The action continues with basketball tournaments for our JV boys later in the week at Buena.

Come support our Spartans and cheer them on to victory!

Greetings Spartans,

As we head into the final weeks of October, our student-athletes continue to represent Rio Mesa with pride, dedication, and heart both on the field and in their commitment to mental health awareness.

Upcoming Athletic Events

Here’s a look at the exciting competitions coming up this week and weekend:

Saturday, 10/25:

• • Girls Cross Country (Varsity & JV) – Non-League @ Walnut, Mt. SAC – Time TBA

  • Boys Cross Country (Varsity & JV) – Non-League @ Walnut, Mt. SAC – 8:00 AM

Monday, 10/27:

• • Girls Golf – Playoffs (CIF Individuals) – Time TBA

Thursday, 10/30:

• • Football Frosh/Soph – League Game @ Newbury Park – 5:00 PM

Friday, 10/31 (Halloween!):

• • Football Varsity – League Game @ Newbury Park – 7:00 PM

  • Cross Country – Girls & Boys Varsity & JV – Non-League, Lake Casitas Short Course Championship – Times TBA
    
    

Our cross country teams have been particularly impressive this season, and we are excited to see them compete at Mt. SAC this weekend and at Lake Casitas on Halloween. Football is also gearing up for a strong finish to the league season with critical games against Newbury Park.

Mental Health Matters

As your Athletic Director and lead for our Mental Health Awareness initiatives, I want to highlight the importance of supporting both the physical and mental well-being of our athletes. Wearing our “Mental Health Matters” shirts every Monday is one simple way to promote awareness and remind our students that self-care, teamwork, and empathy are just as important as training and competition.

I encourage all Spartans athletes, coaches, and community members  to continue supporting these initiatives. Remember, being a Spartan means striving for excellence both on the field and in life.

Thank you for cheering on our athletes, supporting their mental health, and showing the Spartan spirit in every way possible!

The Spartans have a busy week ahead, with multiple teams competing in league and non-league contests. Here’s what’s on the schedule:

Saturday, October 18

• Boys Water Polo (JV) – Tournament at Thousand Oaks, time TBA.

• Cross Country (Boys & Girls, Varsity & JV) – Non-league at Ventura County Championships, 8:00 AM.

Monday, October 20

• Girls Tennis (Varsity) – League singles and doubles tournament, away, time TBA.

• Girls Golf (Varsity) – League tournament, away, time TBA.

Tuesday, October 21

• Girls Tennis (Varsity) – League tournament, away, time TBA.

• Boys Water Polo (Varsity) – League tournament, location and time TBA.

Wednesday, October 22

• Boys Water Polo (Varsity) – League tournament, location and time TBA.

Thursday, October 23

• Football (Frosh/Soph) – League game vs. Calabasas, home at 4:00 PM.

Friday, October 24

• Football (Varsity) – League game vs. Calabasas, home at 7:00 PM.

Saturday, October 25

• Cross Country (Boys & Girls, Varsity & JV) – Non-league meet at Walnut, times TBA.

The Spartans are excited for another week of competition, and we encourage all families and community members to support our student-athletes at home games and follow along with our teams on the road.

This week at Rio Mesa, we continue to celebrate both the athletic and emotional strength of our Spartan community. We recently held our second Mental Health “Lean on Me” session, where students came together to learn how to support one another and build positive coping skills for the pressures of school and sports. These sessions remind us that true strength comes not just from competition, but from compassion and connection.

On the field and in the pool, our Spartans have been shining. Girls Golf and Girls Flag Football are both coming off two straight wins, showing incredible focus and teamwork. Congratulations to these athletes and their coaches for representing Rio Mesa with pride and determination!

Looking ahead, we have a busy and exciting week of Spartan competition. On Tuesday, October 14, our Boys Water Polo teams will host San Marcos at home, with Varsity hitting the pool at 3:15 PM and JV following at 4:15 PM. Meanwhile, Girls Volleyball will travel to Ventura High, with matches starting at 4:00 PM for Frosh/Soph, 5:00 PM for JV, and Varsity closing out the night at 6:30 PM. Back on campus, our Girls Flag Football teams will face Ventura under the lights, with Varsity at 6:30 PM and JV at 7:45 PM. Earlier in the day, our Girls Tennis team will be on the road at Pacifica.

On Thursday, October 16, Girls Golf will host Buena at 2:00 PM, while Boys Water Polo travels to Dos Pueblos for their league matchup. Our Football Frosh/Soph team will also take the field at home that afternoon against Thousand Oaks, setting the stage for Varsity Football’s home game on Friday night at 7:00 PM—a perfect opportunity for our community to pack the stands and show that Spartan pride.

The week wraps up with plenty of weekend action as our Boys JV Water Polo squad competes in a tournament at Thousand Oaks, and our Cross Country teams head to the Ventura County Championships early Saturday morning.

Finally, a reminder that Girls Soccer tryouts are just around the corner! Interested athletes should stay tuned to Minga and school announcements for more details.

Let’s keep the energy high and the support strong, Spartans. Whether it’s in the classroom, the pool, the course, or the field — our teams continue to represent Rio Mesa with pride, perseverance, and heart. Go Spartans! ❤️🖤

A huge thank you to all the parents, student-athletes, and volunteers who helped make our Fall BBQ Fundraiser a success! Your time, support, and generosity truly made a difference. The funds raised will go toward supporting our athletic programs and providing resources for our student-athletes. We are so grateful for our amazing school community! Below you will find the breakdown of are profits for the 2025 Fall Chicken Fundraiser .  

Teams Raised on Ticket Sales: 6,423.64

Merch Sales: 784.4

Expenses: (-611.68)

Total Profit: 6,596.36

The Spartans are charging into another exciting week of competition, and our teams are ready to make Rio Mesa proud—on the road and at home!

🏈 Friday Night Lights start early this week with Girls Flag Football hitting the road for a doubleheader at San Marcos (6:30 PM & 7:45 PM). These fierce competitors have been lighting up the field all season—let’s cheer them on as they take on the Royals!

💦 Tuesday brings big action at home, with Boys Water Polo hosting Santa Barbara. Varsity kicks off at 3:15 PM, followed by JV at 4:15 PM. Come out and pack the pool deck—our Spartans thrive on that home crowd energy!

🏐 Meanwhile, Girls Volleyball heads to Pacifica on Tuesday for a full lineup of Frosh/Soph (4:00 PM), JV (5:00 PM), and Varsity (6:30 PM) matches. The team has been playing with heart and hustle—let’s send them off with encouragement!

🎾 Girls Tennis will face Santa Barbara on the road Tuesday at 3:00 PM, while Girls Flag Football returns home that evening for an exciting non-league matchup against Pacifica (Varsity 6:30 PM, JV 7:45 PM). It’s the perfect night to bring your Spartan spirit to the stadium!

⛳ Thursday keeps the competition rolling with Girls Golf at Buena and Boys Water Polo traveling to Oxnard. Back on campus, Girls Volleyball will defend home court against Buena (Frosh/Soph 4:00 PM, JV 5:00 PM, Varsity 6:30 PM), while Girls Flag Football and Frosh/Soph Football hit the road for tough league battles.

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ The weekend wraps up with endurance and grit as Cross Country travels to Dos Pueblos for league competition, and select Boys Cross Country runners take on the elite Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park—one of California’s premier meets!

It’s a packed week of Spartan pride—whether it’s the pool, the court, the course, or the field, our athletes are putting in the work.
Let’s show up, be loud, and support our Spartans!

🔴 #SpartanPride | #RMHSAthletics | #WeAreRioMesa ⚫

Spartans, it’s another exciting week for our athletes, and we need your support! Tonight, our football team takes the field against Ventura—come out and cheer them on as they battle it out on the gridiron. On Tuesday, our volleyball and flag football teams hit the road to face San Marcos. Let’s show them that Spartan spirit travels with our athletes!

Next Thursday, it’s a home game you won’t want to miss: our volleyball team goes up against Pacifica. And don’t forget, our football team has an important away game against Pacifica next week—make sure to buy your tickets early and arrive on time to rally behind our Spartans. Your cheers make a difference, so come out and support our athletes in action!

Our Spartans are off to a strong start in league play! Girls’ Volleyball battled hard in their opening league match against Dos Pueblos and really gave them a run for their money, keeping the match competitive from start to finish. Similarly, Girls’ Tennis showed great effort and determination in their match against Moorpark, challenging their opponents throughout and displaying strong Spartan spirit.

Looking ahead, we’ve got some exciting events this week. Tonight, our football team faces off in a rivalry game against Camarillo, always a great matchup to come out and watch! Our Cross Country team will also be competing in an invitational hosted at UCSB this weekend.

In addition, many of our winter sports are beginning tryouts, including wrestling and softball. Please encourage your child to try out and get involved—we want as many Spartans as possible to be part of our athletic family.

As always, we invite you to come support our student-athletes whenever possible, and don’t forget to check our athletics calendar for upcoming games and events. Go Spartans!

Spartans, we’ve had an exciting week in athletics! Our girls volleyball team came away with a win against Santa Paula—congratulations to the team! Flag Football has been on a roll with some big wins recently—great job, team!

Tonight is our first home varsity football game, so come out and show your Spartan pride

This weekend, we have plenty of action on campus: boys water polo, a Flag Football tournament, and a cross country meet on our track. Come out and support our students as they compete and showcase their hard work!

Go Spartans!

What an exciting week for Spartan Athletics! Our Girls Volleyball team had a strong showing, sweeping Hueneme High School 3-0 in a dominant performance. They also battled hard against Villanova High School, ultimately falling 0-3, but showed great teamwork and determination.

Flag Football lit up the scoreboard with an incredible 59-0 victory. An absolute showcase of Spartan pride, skill, and hustle! Way to go, Spartans!

We also kick off our first Boys Water Polo event this week! Let’s support our athletes as they dive into an exciting season of competition. 🤽‍♂️

And don’t forget: next Friday is our first home football game of the season as we take on Moorpark High School. Let’s pack the stands, show our Spartan spirit, and cheer our team on to victory! 🏐🏈🎉

Please come support the Rio Mesa Sports Program, we need your help!

How: Attend the Athletic Booster Club Meeting

When: Monday 08/18/25 at 7pm in the Rio Mesa Library

Hope to see you there!!

Welcome to a brand new school year! I am excited to kick off another incredible season of Spartan Athletics here at Rio Mesa High School. Whether you are a returning student-athlete or joining us for the first time, we are so glad to have you as part of our athletic family.

We’re especially excited to welcome two new additions to our coaching staff this year. Please join me in giving a warm Spartan welcome to Jamie Saelee, our new Head Tennis Coach, and Gordy Abellera, who will be leading our Girl’s Golf Team as the new Head Coach. We’re confident they will bring great energy, experience, and leadership to our programs.

We look forward to a year filled with dedication, growth, and Spartan pride. Thank you for your continued support of our student-athletes and teams. Let’s make this an outstanding year—Go Spartans!