The Oak Park Girls’ and Boys’ beach volleyball teams are now recognized as official sports by the California Interscholastic Federation.

“Before beach volleyball became a CIF sport, we would just play against other schools for fun and track which schools made it on top. It was very laid back and easy-going,” senior girls’ varsity player Lexi Lewis-Maestu said. 

The Oak Park Boys’ and Girls’ beach volleyball teams have competed in the Marmonte Beach Volleyball League in previous seasons. However, now that the boys and girls teams can be a part of the CIF playoffs, more competition and play-time can be ensured. 

“CIF will most likely be held after all of the league matches with, depending on how you place, that’s your ranking or division in the CIF playoffs,” junior boys’ varsity player Preston Kling said.

The change has been a long time coming for athletes and coaches, and this new inclusion will also give upperclassmen the chance they were waiting for to show their skills on the court. 

“It’s very exciting. From seeing beach [volleyball] become a sport my freshmen year to it officially being a CIF sport my senior year is cool,” Lewis-Maestu said. 

Despite the absence of Oak Park Beach Volleyball teams being a part of CIF in past years, the teams nonetheless had success.

“I think [competition against other schools] was a good learning curve for the team last year and honestly wish they had one more season under their belt before beach volleyball became a CIF sport,” former Oak Park High Girls Beach Volleyball coach Shelynne Philmore wrote to the Talon. 

Now that beach volleyball is recognized as a CIF sport, more opportunities are opened up to students playing beach volleyball at OPHS, as well as many other players in the community. 

“It is time CIF recognizes it as a sport because many athletes are getting scholarships to go to great schools from our area. I am happy it is now a CIF sport because the Olympics recognize it as a separate sport and I think we will be seeing a lot of great athletes coming from our area in the future,” Philmore said.