With Pali’s sports teams starting their fall season, the infrastructure of Pali South, formally the Sears building, has impacted teams’ practice locations, times, productivity and overall quality.
Santa Monica College (SMC) is now hosting cross-country and football teams at their facilities when it is not occupied by their sports teams.
Senior cross country runner Zach Cohen explained how his team experienced difficulties prior to renting fields to practice at SMC.
“We only had one trail that we kept doing over and over,” Cohen said. “[Our] biggest problem was that we didn’t have a track.”
SMC’s assistance and facilities have helped raise support and give players a more enjoyable experience with the cross country team, according to Cohen.
“I love practices at SMC, I think the team has so much more fun, and we get [access to] their track,” Cohen said.
The football team is also using SMC’s football field for practices and home games. However, SMC is not the only practice location for Pali’s football team: other venues include UCLA, Santa Monica Airport Park and other fields in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Pali head football coach Dylen Smith has spearheaded the relocation efforts of the football team’s practices since the Palisades Fire.
“[The football team has] been [practicing] on four or five different fields since January,” Smith said. “So it’s been difficult finding spots to practice.”
Smith says that there are both advantages and disadvantages to having his team practice at a larger, college field.
“It’s a different [environment]…, but it’s nice to have a college stadium, since it is bigger,” Smith said.
Members of the football team including sophomore wide receiver Go Moriya enjoy practicing at SMC, saying that the team’s experiences practicing at different fields have made players better equipped to overcome challenges.
“SMC practices are really fun and practicing on a new campus has made me so much better, since I am able to be ready whenever and prepare for whatever challenges arise,” Moriya said.
The practice field at SMC has allowed more athletes to continue playing their sports following the difficult circumstances that the Palisades fire created.
“I’ve been really dedicated to football my whole life,” Moriya said. “I am so happy I didn’t have to quit.”
The Pali High football team won their first home game at SMC on Sept. 5 against Granada Hills.
“I saw the support at the last home game, and I think that I performed much better because of it,” Moriya said. “I am so excited about the new opportunities this opens up.”
Smith also thinks that the team has gained more support since the fire, especially with help from families and friends in the Los Angeles area.
“People in the community have been trying to find fields for us,” Smith said. “So, we’ve actually gotten more support, which has been really helpful.”
Moriya thinks that the team has gotten better because of their ability to adapt to losing their home field.
“I feel the strength of the team through the challenges we’ve been through,” Moriya said. “I think that we have truly excelled through the hardships we faced.”
Smith has noticed how the changes in practice locations have impacted his players and made them stronger as a team.
“The [team] hasn’t made any excuses,” Smith said. “I think they’re ready for anything at any time.”
