Student athletes help rebuild community following the Los Angeles fires
Words: Enkhsaruul S, Los Angeles
In the wake of the devastating fires that swept through Los Angeles, the city faced the immense task of rebuilding homes, businesses, and most importantly — the very spirit that ties Angelinos together.
Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood on the westside of Los Angeles, was hit the hardest with schools and community centers burning down. At the center of one of Los Angeles’ worst fires in history, over 23,000 acres burned through the mountains. Amidst the destruction though, local sports teams are stepping up to restore a sense of normalcy and community.
Athletes and coaches of Palisades Charter High School (Pali High) are showcasing to the rest of their community that they are healing in unity while still maintaining their athletic rigor. Sports are proving that they are more than just a pastime, they are a lifeline in rebuilding our communities through every practice, every game, and every audience member. The hundreds of athletes at Pali High became a symbol of community and a source of pride for their larger community, for their commitment to their sports and sense of teamwork.
“Sports are more than just a pastime, they are a lifeline in rebuilding our communities”
Volleyball team member and sophomore at Pali High, Zachary Patawaran emphasized the importance of Pali’s sports team staying tight-knit and continuing their activities as students enter remote schooling for the time being. His family, fortunately safe, was one of the many households forced to evacuate from their home.
He stated that after witnessing his school go up in flames on live TV, his sports group chats were hectic, questioning what would happen to their upcoming season. Devastated, his first thought was, “Am I transferring? What is happening to my team?” Patawaran reports that their school administration remained strongly communicative and reminded him that Palisades would stay strong regardless of the fires and the looming fear that they would not be able to return to their school this year, if ever.
Sadly, the volleyball team lost a number of their players due to evacuations or the destruction of their homes. Although it was tough at first, the remaining team members found strength in one another. After two weeks, the volleyball team returned to practice and Patawaran found that going back and seeing all the support for the teams brought back a sense of normalcy for everyone. Patawaran explained, “Schools are remote so now we hang out more, especially due to practices. It feels like we are actively supporting each other and just being with the team itself lifts everyone’s spirits. I 100% feel like I’ve gotten closer to the people around me.” According to Patawaran, a number of his fellow teammates volunteered at local community centers like the Collins & Katz YMCA that were offering aid to victims of the fire.
Patawaran also expressed strong appreciation for his coaches and athletic directors for finding sports facilities that were willing to let their teams practice for their season. A rival school within the same sports league, University High School Charter, also remained committed to rebuilding a strong westside community and allowed Pali Volleyball players to practice at their gyms after school. Although the team practices at numerous locations now, Patawaran remains confident claiming, “We are coping with the tragedy through volleyball and are looking forward to the season to give it our all. In a way, this motivated the team to push harder.” Having made the Semi-finals in the Open Division of the Los Angeles City Section, Pali High is considered to be one of the best high school volleyball teams across the city.
As the volleyball team begins their season, it is without doubt that the team will continue to inspire and bring unity to the entire Palisades neighborhood. Patawaran remains hopeful, urging the community to stay strong, saying, “I know things are hard for all of us but we must stay connected and stay together. #PALISTRONG.” For the athletes impacted, his message was simple: “Stay motivated and continue with your sports! They’ll help us heal.”
Enkhsaruul S is a Los Angeles based participant in Youth Media Forward: meet the Los Angeles participants here