Farewell Old Coaches, Welcome Incoming Coaches

Changes are coming to both Cross Country and Track and Field, with a new coach for Cross Country next year, and an upcoming Track and Field season with multiple coaches.

Underclassmen who hoped to join Cross Country next year felt discouraged when they heard that History and Writing for College teacher Cal Trembath won’t be coaching anymore. During the recap and highlights of the season, Cal told the team, and they shared an emotional but yet bittersweet moment.

Cal started coaching Cross Country in 2013. The 2021 season became his last season as coach because he wanted to focus on his other classes and he started a longer commute, which tightened up his schedule.

“It was a very hard decision,” he said. “It got to the point where I had too much on my plate and then I decided it was time now.”

One of Cal’s favorite memories was when the Varsity girls team qualified in CCS, Central Coach Section in 2015, the first time ever for Eastside. The 2021 season was one of his best that he will always remember, he said. He loved seeing his athletes’ passion for racing and how much they pushed themselves to beat their personal-best times.

Cal said he is confident the students will do well with the next head coach, History teacher Jasmine Kelly-Pierce.

Jasmine is excited to push XC athletes to reach their goals in running and increase the number of girls in the 2022 season. Cal will continue to help and support the XC team during some practices and meets.

“Cross Country is a beautiful sport and I love it,” Jasmine said.

In Track and Field former coach Simon Cassidy will not return because he has a new position coaching a swim team.

Instead, this season will be “flexible” without a head coach. Humanities teacher Darren Chan and Jasmine will coach middle and long distance, Eastside alum Luis Rosas (class of 2019) will coach throwing, and Eastside alum Marcel More (class of 2013) will coach sprinting.

At the first informational meeting on Jan. 18, during lunch 17 students showed and signed up for the team.

Practice times have not yet been decided because of the difficulty of coordinating multiple coaches who have other jobs.

For runners who just want to run, Darren is hosting optional morning runs from 6:30 a.m to 7:30 a.m. So far, roughly eight students have been joining every day.