This year, two of CV’s rookie coaches took their teams into post season play after earning 2nd place standings in the Desert Valley League, girls’ basketball coach Suzie Hernandez and boys’ soccer coach Adrian Barragan.

Coach Suzie Hernandez, a first year math teacher at CVHS, took her girls varsity basketball team into the first round of the playoffs where the Lady Arabs were defeated 58-55 by El Rancho.

The loss to El Rancho was unexpected. The Lady Arabs had an impressive 8-2 record in DVL, losing only to arch rivals Indio who went undefeated all season. “I expected to go further than we did this year,” says Hernandez, but she already has her thoughts turned to next year.

“Next year we’re going to have 8 to 9 returners, so we should be good,” says Hernandez. “We should be taking DVL, and we will be very competitive in CIF.”

Mr. Rudy Wilson, CV’s athletic director, had a lot of confidence in his young recruit. He had been her coach for all three of the years she played varsity basketball at CV before graduating in 2002. Of coach Hernandez he says, “She was not the best athlete I ever coached, but she was the best basketball player I coached. She was always willing to do everything possible to make sure her team was successful.”

Boys’ soccer coach Adrian Barragan, a former CV soccer player and class of 1996 graduate, took his team into the playoffs and on to victory in the CIF championship game.

When asked about the team’s success, coach Barragan said, “All the team needed was a little encouragement and motivation, and fortunately it happened our way. The morale of the team never got down. They knew they needed to pick it up; they executed better and made the most of their opportunities.”

About the championship game, itself, Barragan says, “It was such a challenge, but everyone was up for it. Everyone played a part in the win, from defense to the midfielders, to the forwards and the goalie. They all rose to the occasion.”

As for next year, as many as 13 of the team’s 21 players may be returning. That experience and a lot of hard work will make the team competitive once again.

“There is a set of steps which need to be followed,” says Barragan, “and with the team’s effort, hopefully we’ll do the same next year.”

Like Susie Hernandez, Adrian Barragan is a product of CV’s athletic program and his former coach, Jorge Chavez, Desert Mirage High School’s atheltic director and coach of CV’s 2004 C.I.F. championship team has this to say about his young protégé.

“Adrian Barragan was one of the best captains I had in my entire coaching career,” says Chavez. “His teammates respected him and always looked up to him.”

Chavez also credits Barragan with an important part of CV soccer tradition. “At the end of every game, the team gets together and says “COACHELLA, COACHELLA, COACHELLA”. Adrian started this cheer and now he will continue to say it for many years to come.”



These two newcomers to CV athletics have demonstrated they have what it takes to win.