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University coach Merissa Guzman with the CIF championship plaque. (PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
After the University High School Trojans received their CIF championship plaque, posed for pictures and exchanged lots of handshakes and high five’s the Trojans’ second year coach Merissa Guzman addressed the team.
An emotional Guzman, who led the program to its first CIF title, said she was proud of each player for accomplishing something that no other Trojan softball team had done following a 4-1 victory over Rio Hondo Prep Friday in the Division 6 final at Deanna Manning Stadium.
It was the first CIF title for the program, which had struggled for decades.
“As you can see, tears were just streaming down my face,” Guzman told reporters after the game. “It was tears of happiness and pure joy. We were the underdog all season long, only winning two games in league to now, look at us, winning CIF Division 6.
“They have given their whole heart and as a coach, I can’t thank them enough, it means so much to me. They’re a young team, they’re respectful and I would not trade any of them.”
Guzman, a special education teacher at University, played softball at Vanguard University and joined the University faculty three years ago. She accepted the softball head coaching job last season and the Trojans made some strides, finishing 7-14. She also played softball at Lemoore High School.
“This is my third year teaching,” she said. “My first year, my principal, as soon as I set foot on campus looked at me and said, ‘I heard you played ball, are you interested in coaching?’ Being from the Central Valley and moving to Southern California, I kind of wanted to get my feet wet on the IUSD way of doing things.
“I decided to just teach my first year, last year I decided to step onto the coaching squad and I could see a hunger in these girls. They’re a great group of girls, it’s the same group from last year. If they weren’t so great, who knows if I would have been back or not. They make it enjoyable, they make it fun and so I knew this year we were going to come out strong.”
Guzman has certainly earned the respect and trust of the Uni players.
“Coach Guzman literally turned this program around,” said leadoff hitter Sophia Weinberg said. “She helped build it back up from ground zero. It’s been really nice having a coach who is on campus as well. She’s come in and she’s here every day. We see her at school, she always holds us accountable and she does holds us to high standards but she’s also very kind. I really respect her as a coach.
“Coach Guzman is so sweet, she’s like one of the girls with us,,” added junior pitcher Carson Cruz, who got her 16th win Friday. “It helps that’s she’s young, but she’s really kept us in check. We started from going 0-11 and now we’re winning CIF finals, so she’s really changed the better.”
The Trojans season continues Tuesday in the CIF So Cal Regionals, a three game event which wraps up next Saturday. Pairings will be announced Sunday.
“We still don’t know where yet, we don’t know who but we’re ready,” Guzman said.
The historic run continues one more week.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com