Montecito Giving Students, Athletes a Second Chance

A school which offers second chances for its students in the classroom is now in its second year doing the same thing among extracurricular activities.

Montecito High, an alternative school in the Ramona Unified High School District, kicked off its second season of varsity soccer last month against Valley High of Escondido. Although the Toros, the team's nickname, fell 4-1, having a sports program is a positive for many students.

"We just need to get more players out for the team," said junior Edgar Cobian,  one of the team's scoring threats this season. "We actually have a good offense with several strikers, but we need more people who can play defense."

Such a conversation would not have taken place as recently as three years ago. Yet now the school is slowly expanding to offer more than just the basic high school diploma.

"It's nice to have an outlet and be able to play," said Mike Gallion, head coach. Gallion is also an instructor in the district's Future Bound program.

Montecito is among a collection of eight non-traditional schools that compete in the North County League. The others are: Ivy High in Fallbrook, Twin Oaks High in San Marcos, Valley High in Escondido, Chaparral High in El Cajon, Alta Vista and Murray high schools of Vista and Ocean Shores High of Oceanside.

"Having a real league to play in is great," noted Cobian. "But for us to have a better team, we need some incentives and goals, like getting varsity letters or lettermen jackets -- something to encourage us and give us memories when we finally get out of school."

Right now, Montecito fields a band of six regulars who attend practices, while up to six others only arrive on game days, often due to jobs or assisting their families.

"If we can get them to come out even for one practice a week, this team could bloom," added Gallion. Playing for the maroon-clad Toros is an alternative to the school's basic physical education credit.

Like any athlete at Ramona High, Cobian, who played two seasons of soccer and football for the Bulldogs, has aspirations in athletics.

"I'd like to play college ball and get into the NFL," he added. "From here, I hope to play for Palomar or Grossmont (community colleges) as a wide receiver."

All of which makes Montecito an inviting location for second chances.