A January ribbon cutting ceremony marked the opening of Anaheim High’s new state-of-the-art track and field. Moments after the ceremony, the Girls’ Soccer Team played a winning match on the all-weather turf field that is surrounded by a nine-lane synthetic track.
The project also features goal posts, bleachers shaded by solar panels and a pumping system to keep the new track and field free of pooling water.
A large crowd of students, alumni, coaches, administrators and special guests enjoyed messages from Principal Ruben Calleros and two student athletes, and performances by the band drum line, cheer squad and dance team.
Among special guests was Class of 1996 Colonist Reuben Droughns, a former NFL player who set many school records in football, track and wrestling while at Anaheim High.
He was joined by Ron Pharris, Class of 1967, who set school records in the 100 and 200 meter races.
Also in attendance was former coach Albert Rodriguez, age 89, who coached many track athletes to champion status, including Ylena Carrasco, a Class of ’86 grad and CIF-State High Jump Champion who was the first female Orange County athlete to clear 6 feet.
To mark the occasion, the Anaheim High Alumni Association obtained a donation of an electric utility vehicle, called a “Big Foot,” from Anaheim-based WAEV, the parent company of Taylor-Dunn, a manufacturer that has been producing — with employees who graduated from Anaheim High — trusted industrial vehicles for 70 years.
The Big Foot vehicle, valued at $15,000, was presented by Chief Operations Officer Alfredo Arroyo. The vehicle will used by the Anaheim High custodial crew to maintain the 17-acre Anaheim High campus. Thank you, Waev, for this amazing gift!
