The Castle Park High School football program has enjoyed a banner past, winning San Diego Section championships in 1968, 1994 and 1996.
Last year’s team experienced a roller-coaster season. The Trojans forfeited two early season games due to a lack of experienced players but regrouped to finish strong as 2018 Metro-Pacific League champions.
Castle Park was rewarded with a berth in the CIF playoffs, dropping a gritty 7-0 opening-round contest to ninth-seeded Maranatha Christian in the Division V field.
Athletic director Bernard Ansolabehere stepped down as head football coach at the conclusion of the season. The position was filled during the spring, with Chris Livesay coming on board as the newest member of the Trojan football family.
Though Livesay may be a first-year head coach, he tackles the position with a lot of experience.
Livesay graduated from Eastlake High School in 2002 after recording some history-making moments for the Titans.
He was a member of the 2000 EHS squad that captured the first league championship in school history and advanced as far as the San Diego Section Division II quarterfinal playoffs.
Livesay went directly into coaching upon graduation, getting his first stint as an assistant coach at Eastlake, in fact.
“I really owe much to coach John McFadden for getting me started,” Livesay said.
After one year with the Titans, Livesay served as an offensive line coach at Otay Ranch from 2003-07, then moved to Sweetwater as an offensive coordinator from 2008-12.
After taking a brief a break from coaching, he returned to the gridiron as an assistant coach at Montgomery High School and then for a second stint at Otay Ranch.
He was associated with Eastlake during its run to the 2017 Division I finals under head coach Dean Tropp. The Titans finished runner-up to El Camino.
After 15 years as an assistant coach, he said it was time to try his hand as a head coach.
“It wasn’t really anything I considered I wanted to do when I got into coaching,” Livesay explained. “But the job came open. I thought it was the perfect opportunity.”
Livesay said he plans to build on what the previous coaching staff left in place.
“The previous staff has left some good things in place; we’re trying to ramp it up to the next level,” he said.
According to Livesay, about 75 student-athletes expressed an interest to compete this season. About 60 are currently in camp. Livesay said he’s still trying to get the other 15 back into the fold.
He admitted that injuries and ineligibilities have proven to be the bane of past CPHS teams.
“Consistency is the biggest thing,” he said. “We’d like to get everyone out to practice.”
As for the overall challenge of being a first-year head coach?
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s exciting,” he said.
Livesay and staff will not have to wait long for results.
The Trojans scrimmage at Clairemont this Friday, Aug. 16, then kick off regular season play with a non-league game at O’Farrell Charter on Aug. 23.
Castle Park plays at Mountain Empire on Aug. 30, then returns home to host Francis Parker in a non-league game on Sept. 6.
The Trojans play at Fallbrook on Sept. 13, then host three consecutive home games: Sept. 20 against Hoover, Sept. 27 against Crawford and Oct. 11 against El Cajon Valley.
Castle Park kicks off defense of its league championship at Southwest on Oct. 18, then hosts San Ysidro on Oct. 25. The Trojans conclude regular season play Nov. 1 at Montgomery in the teams’ annual Warrior Bowl rivalry game.
Seven of Castle Park’s 10 regular season games are against Division V opponents — Mountain Empire, Francis Parker, Hoover, Crawford, El Cajon Valley, San Ysidro and Southwest — which should provide a strong indicator for playoff seeding.
Olympian Eagles take flight under new head coach Ryan Van Nostrand
Ryan Van Nostrand is following in some very familiar footsteps as the new head football coach at Olympian High School: his father Paul’s.
Paul Van Nostrand served as an assistant coach and head coach at Castle Park High School before becoming head coach of the Eagles in 2013 following the retirement of the legendary Gil Warren, who founded the Olympian program in 2007.
Warren compiled a 49-20-0 record in six seasons at what was then the Sweetwater district’s newest school, taking the Eagles to their first San Diego Section championship game in 2011; Paul Van Nostrand, who retired at the end of last season with more than 30 years of experience, compiled a 34-36 record in six seasons following Warren, leading Olympian to a runner-up finish in the CIF finals in 2016.
Ryan Van Nostrand has been there the entire journey, playing football and basketball at Olympian High School. He passed for 1,957 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 10 scores as a junior and senior before graduating in 2010, later becoming an assistant coach under his father’s direction.
Now it’s time for the son to carry the torch.
“I am excited to carry on a great tradition of success here at Olympian,” Ryan Van Nostrand said. “It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of my father, and I am very much looking forward to leaving my own lasting impact on the program as the head coach.”
The younger Van Nostrand, who previously served as the team’s offensive coordinator, is an on-campus coach and is looking to create continuity and a sense of commitment throughout the program, which retains most of the coaching staff from his father’s regime.
“In my first year, I am looking to strengthen the skills of each of our athletes as well as help shape them into strong, positive leaders in the Eagle community,” the new Olympian head coach said. “It is my goal to help lead our athletes to success both on the field and in the classroom each day.”
The Eagles kick off regular season play Aug. 23 with a non-league game at Ramona, followed by a non-league home game against Poway on Aug. 30.
Olympian boasts one of the section’s toughest schedules this season, including Metro-Mesa League play.
The Eagles take flight for three consecutive road games at Torrey Pines (Sept. 6), Grossmont (Sept. 13) and Point Loma (Sept. 20).
Olympian hosts Oceanside in another non-league game on Sept. 27 before jumping into league play with an Oct. 11 game against visiting Mater Dei Catholic.
The Eagles’ remaining three league games are Oct. 18 at Eastlake, Oct. 25 against visiting Bonita Vista and Nov. 1 at Otay Ranch in the teams’ Battle of the O’s rivalry trophy game.
Metro Conference 2019 Football Schedules
Metro-Mesa League
Bonita Vista Barons
(Home games at Southwestern College)
August
23: Bonita Vista vs. St. Augustine at Mesa College
30: Bonita Vista at San Ysidro
September
6: Sweetwater at Bonita Vista
13: Steele Canyon at Bonita Vista
20: Bonita Vista at Patrick Henry, 6:30 p.m.
27: Bonita Vista at Hilltop
October
4: Otay Ranch at Bonita Vista
11: Eastlake at Bonita Vista
18: Bye
25: Bonita Vista at Olympian
November
1: Bonita Vista at Mater Dei Catholic
All games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Eastlake Titans
August
23: Eastlake at Steele Canyon, 7 p.m.
30: St. Augustine at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
September
6: Eastlake at Lincoln, 6:30 p.m.
13: Eastlake at San Jacinto, 7 p.m.
20: Cathedral Catholic at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
27: El Camino at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
October
4: Mater Dei Catholic at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
11: Eastlake vs. Bonita Vista at Southwestern College, 7 p.m.
18: Olympian at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
25: Eastlake at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
November
1: Bye
Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders
August
23: El Capitan at Mater Dei Catholic
30: Mater Dei Catholic at Grossmont
September
7: Mater Dei Catholic at Bishop’s
13: Mater Dei Catholic at University City, 6:30 p.m.
20: Chula Vista at Mater Dei Catholic
27: Lincoln at Mater Dei Catholic
October
4: Mater Dei Catholic at Eastlake
11: Mater Dei Catholic at Olympian
18: Otay Ranch at Mater Dei Catholic
25: Bye
November
1: Bonita Vista at Mater Dei Catholic
All games at 7 p.m. unless noted
Olympian Eagles
August
23: Olympian at Ramona, 7 p.m.
30: Poway at Olympian, 7 p.m.
September
6: Olympian at Torrey Pines, 6:30 p.m.
13: Olympian at Grossmont, 7 p.m.
20: Olympian at Point Loma, 6:30 p.m.
27: Oceanside at Olympian, 7 p.m.
October
4: Bye
11: Mater Dei Catholic at Olympian, 7 p.m.
18: Olympian at Eastlake, 7 p.m.
25: Bonita Vista at Olympian, 7 p.m.
November
1: Olympian at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
Otay Ranch Mustangs
August
23: San Marcos at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
30: Otay Ranch at Valley Center, 7p.m.
September
6: Otay Ranch at Point Loma, 7 p.m.
13: St. Augustine at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
20: Steele Canyon at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
27: Otay Ranch at Cathedral Catholic, 7 p.m.
October
4: Otay Ranch vs. Bonita Vista at Southwestern College, 7 p.m.
11: Bye
18: Otay Ranch at Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.
25: Eastlake at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
November
1: Olympian at Otay Ranch, 7 p.m.
Metro-South Bay League
Chula Vista Spartans
August
23: Chula Vista at La Jolla Country Day, 7 p.m.
30: Mount Miguel at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.
September
6: Escondido at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.
13: Chula Vista at West Hills, 7 p.m.
20: Chula Vista at Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.
27: Morse at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.
October
4: Chula Vista at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
11: Bye
18: Hilltop at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.
25: Chula Vista at Mar Vista, 7 p.m.
November
1: Sweetwater at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.
Hilltop Lancers
August
23: Hilltop at Escondido, 7 p.m.
30: Hilltop at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
September
6: San Ysidro at Hilltop, 7 p.m.
13: Valhalla at Hilltop, 7 p.m.
20: Morse at Hilltop, 7 p.m.
27: Bonita Vista at Hilltop, 7 p.m.
October
4: Mountain Empire at Hilltop, 7 p.m.
11: Bye
18: Hilltop at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.
25: Sweetwater at Hilltop, 7 p.m.
November
1: Hilltop at Mar Vista, 7 p.m.
Mar Vista Mariners
August
23: Classical Academy at Mar Vista, 7 p.m.
30: Mar Vista at Santa Ana Valley, 7 p.m.
September
6: Mar Vista at Santana, 7 p.m.
13: Mar Vista at Coronado, 7 p.m.
20: Mission Bay at Mar Vista, 7 p.m.
27: Mar Vista at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
October
4: Bye
11: Southwest at Mar Vista, 7 p.m.
18: Mar Vista at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
25: Chula Vista at Mar Vista, 7 p.m.
November
1: Hilltop at Mar Vista, 7 p.m.
Sweetwater Red Devils
August
23: San Pasqual at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
30: Fallbrook at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
September
6: Sweetwater vs. Bonita Vista at Southwestern College, 7 p.m.
13: Sweetwater at Santana, 7 p.m.
20: Bye
27: Mt. Miguel at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
October
4: Vincent Memorial at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
11: Montgomery at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
18: Mar Vista at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
25: Sweetwater at Hilltop, 7 p.m.
November
1: Sweetwater at Chula Vista, 7 p.m.
Metro-Pacific League
Castle Park Trojans
August
23: Castle Park at O’Farrell Charter, 4:15 p.m.
30: Castle Park at Mountain Empire, 7 p.m.
September
6: Francis Parker at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
13: Castle Park at Fallbrook, 7 p.m.
20: Hoover at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
27: Crawford at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
October
4: Bye
11: El Cajon Valley at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
18: Castle Park at Southwest, 7 p.m.
25: San Ysidro at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
November
1: Castle Park at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
Montgomery Aztecs
August
23: Montgomery at Hoover, 7 p.m.
30: California Military Institute (Perris) at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
September
6: Montgomery at Crawford, 6:30 p.m.
13: Montgomery at Kearny, 6:30 p.m.
20: Santana at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
27: Mar Vista at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
October
4: Bye
11: Montgomery at Sweetwater, 7p.m.
18: Montgomery at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
25: Southwest at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
November
1: Castle Park at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
San Ysidro Cougars
August
23: Mission Bay at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
30: Bonita Vista at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
September
6: San Ysidro at Hilltop, 7 p.m.
13: San Ysidro at Crawford, 7 p.m.
20: San Ysidro at Clairemont, 7 p.m.
27: Hoover at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
October
4: Sherman Indian (Riverside) at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
11: Bye
18: Montgomery at San Ysidro, 7 p.m.
25: San Ysidro at Castle Park, 7 p.m.
November
1: San Ysidro at Southwest, 7 p.m.
Southwest Raiders
August
23: Bye
30: Southwest at Southwest El Centro, 7 p.m.
September
6: Gabrielino (San Gabriel) at Southwest, 7 p.m.
13: Maranatha Christian at Southwest, 7 p.m.
20: Southwest at O’Farrell Charter, 4:15 p.m.
27: Clairemont at Southwest, 7 p.m.
October
4: Holtville at Southwest, 7 p.m.
11: Southwest at Mar Vista, 7 p.m.
18: Castle Park at Southwest, 7 p.m.
25: Southwest at Montgomery, 7 p.m.
November
1: San Ysidro at Southwest, 7 p.m.
Metro Conference
Football Rivalry Games
Battle for the Boot
Oct. 11: Eastlake vs. Bonita Vista at Southwestern College
Battle for the Bell
Oct. 11: Southwest at Mar Vista
Kiwanis Bowl
Oct. 18: Hilltop at Chula Vista
Legacy of Pride
Nov. 1: Sweetwater at Chula Vista
Battle of the O’s
Nov. 1: Olympian at Otay Ranch
Golden Shovel
Nov. 1: San Ysidro at Southwest
Warrior Bowl
Nov. 1: Castle Park at Montgomery
All games 7 p.m. start
