By Ethan Wang
Staff Writer
Rio Hondo League Expansion
The Pacific and Rio Hondo Leagues will merge starting the 2026-2027 school year in an effort to increase competitive equity amongst teams. Due to these changes, TCHS will be competing with schools such as Arcadia and Gabrielino.
The new league will be split into three groups based on CIF rankings from the previous season, consisting of the top five, the middle five and the bottom six teams in any given sport.
“It’s good that we get to play teams at our level,” Athletic Director Eric Chin said. “I know in certain sports, our league is really tough and it’s hard for us to win. In other sports, like water polo, we’re really good, so now we get to play teams that are just as good as us.”
Travel distances between games could be increased due to the greater number of schools in the league.
“It’s going to be hard for bussing and practice,” Chin said. “Since we only have one gym, I don’t know how they’re going to split up boys and girls basketball and soccer. We’ll need to find different times [to practice]. That’s the hardest thing.”
The merge will bring customs of the Pacific League to TCHS, notably including a football rivalry week.
“Our rivalry will be with Gabrielino,” Chin said. “I think we’re pretty close to each other. For football, that would be pretty cool because we don’t have a rival right now.”
A congregation of the athletic directors, principals and assistant principals from each school in the new league approved the expansion.
Sports Clubs
Chartered this year, Wiffle Ball Club held a wiffle ball tournament where randomly drafted teams of club members competed against each other in a bracket style competition.
The tournament started at the end of November, where six teams of approximately six members played two games on the softball field each meeting.
The club meets Fridays in Room 308 to learn and play wiffle ball.
“I hope to impact the students here,” Wiffle Ball Club President Peyton Navarat said. “Some people don’t have all the money to play baseball or softball, so they can try wiffle ball for free, because it’s close to baseball or softball.”
Esports club is a way for students to have fun and foster a network of people who enjoy playing video games, a departure from their focus the previous year on the hyper-competitive nature of esports.
The club meets Thursdays in Room 214, where members congregate and play video games.
“We hope this club can grow further, as we feel like we have not tapped into most of the school’s audience of competitive players,” Esports Club Vice President Ethan Deng said. “The lack of publicity due to not being in club rush definitely harmed us and we are looking to form a different image from last year.”
Esports club will compete at the CIF NASEF competition, along with participating in scrimmages with nearby schools.