Downey soccer coach profiled in LA Times
DOWNEY — The Los Angeles Times newspaper published an article last week highlighting Downey High School boy’s varsity soccer coach Marvin Mires. The article focused on Coach Mires’ academic standards for his players and how that has benefited their athletic futures.
Mires has a 3.0 G.P.A. academic requirement to play soccer for Downey and has had this standard for several years. After many years, Mires is finally being recognized for maintaining such a requirement.
Coach Mires keeps this rule because that is what a student-athlete needs to get admitted to a California State University school.
This year, however, things have been dramatically different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the pandemic, Mires remains unwavering in his academic commitment to his players.
This year Coach Mires has been hosting video conferences via zoom to remind his players “to keep preparing for the most important reason they are in high school- to get ready for a college education.”
Mires maintains that it was not easy implementing this several years ago but that his players do understand his message.
With the stress of winning on the mind of many prep coaches, Mires keeps his focus on college prep. and preparing his student-athletes for the next level.
Interestingly, Mires has accumulated an overall regular season record of 73-40-16 and a San Gabriel Valley League record of 35-8-7 over the past five seasons, including an undefeated S.G.V.L. championship in 2019 (8-0-2). Mires has proven you can run a winning program and maintain academic integrity and respect at the same time.
Water Polo
The Downey and Warren High School boys’ and girls’ water polo teams are scheduled to begin their 2020/21 seasons shortly. At the time of this writing, both teams will compete in the fall season of CIF sanctioned prep sports.
Although prep schedules appear to be moving forward, there is still a strong sense of caution that is certainly present.
The boys’ water polo season has a first contest date of December 21st and a start of league play date scheduled for January 11th. The last league contest has a scheduled date of February 18th with a last allowable contest set for February 20th.
This last allowable date is making reference to make-up games that were previously postponed. The CIF Southern Section Championship Finals has a date scheduled for March 6th and the CIF Southern Section Regional Finals has a date scheduled for March 19-20.
The girls’ water polo season has a first contest date of December 28th and a start of league play date scheduled for January 18th.
The last league contest has a scheduled date of February 25th with a last allowable contest date set for February 27th. The CIF Southern Section Championship Finals has a date scheduled for March 13th and the CIF Southern Section Regional Finals has a date scheduled for March 19th and 20th as well.