By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–San Diego Unified School District this summer invested in its athletic fields, new equipment, and new uniforms ahead of the new school year, as participation in sports last year saw a 13 percent spike in student participation, when compared to 2018-19 pre-pandemic numbers (12,001 to 13,565).
“Participation in our athletics programs continues to grow,” said Superintendent Fabi Bagula, Ph.D., San Diego Unified School District. “We recognize the wonderful value sports delivers to our students and their families, and we’re doing everything we can to invest in its future.”
Recognizing the tremendous value sports deliver to students, San Diego Unified purchased more than 2,000 athletic items for the upcoming school year – from soccer jerseys, to wrestling headgear, to tennis grips, to cross country tops and shorts, to flag football mouthguards, to lacrosse balls, to badminton racquets, to hundreds of baseballs and softballs. Additionally, many high school fields have been renovated over the past few years or are in the process, including Mira Mesa, Morse, Lincoln, University City, Canyon Hills, Clairemont, Patrick Henry, and Point Loma.
“The popularity of our athletics programs are growing every year, and we’re giving the student-athletes a voice in the direction we go with it,” said Lonnie Jones, Middle School Sports Coordinator, San Diego Unified School District. “All of our schools, for the first time this year, have an athletic council that will build upon the work we do during our annual summer athletic summit throughout the entire school year.”
New this year, all schools will have an athletic council where student-athletes will discuss topics related to sports; and this week, nearly three-dozen students from District high schools participated in the annual Student Athlete Leadership Summit at Clairemont High Schoo,l where they discussed items such as fan behavior and student safety. These activities uplift student voices. Caroline Tadder, Indoor Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Point Loma High School (elected member of CIF San Diego City Conference Student Athlete Advisory Council), and Jaxson Giusti, Football, Baseball, Mira Mesa High School (elected member of CIF San Diego City Conference Student Athlete Advisory Council) both spoke at today’s press conference.
“Athletics are an essential component of educating the whole child,” said Sabrina Bazzo, Board of Education Trustee, District A, San Diego Unified School District. “Experiencing the excitement of kicking a ball and scoring a goal can’t be taught in a classroom. That’s why our goal is to provide athletic opportunities to every middle and high schooler who wants to get in the game.”
Fall practices at San Diego Unified are beginning as soon as Thursday for many sports teams. This fall, eight sports will be in action, including the third season of girls flag football, tackle football, girls volleyball, boys water polo, girls field hockey, cross country, girls golf, and girls tennis.
Twenty-three teams took home a San Diego Section CIF Championship during the 2024-25 school year, four teams won a regional championship, and Lincoln High School won the state championship in football.
SD Unified sports see big growth ahead of school year
