MidValleySports.Com

By George Hernandez

First I want to say I’ve worked in the district with La Serna for five years now at multiple different schools I’m currently on my third year on campus in the Special Ed department. 

Since 2010, La Serna has participated in seven CIF-SS title games and won two-including a regional and state title in 2023. The Lancers have a 66-4 Del Rio League record, with the last loss coming to Santa Fe in 2017.

The Lancers’ overall record during this span is 147-40. 

And after all that success, the people outside of “Friendly Hills” can’t stand them. 

Read a Del Rio League game comment section, and you’ll see they don’t even have to be involved in the game.

In the past, they were accused of running up the score, and this year, people are upset because they’re not winning enough. To the commentators, it seemed that the Lancers and their head coach, Andy George, knew how to work the system. 

But what is it really? I’m on campus at La Serna, so this is not hearsay. I’ve been in multiple classes with their players; they sit in the front of the class, don’t talk back. I’ve seen players like Jayden Northrup weekly in our lunch club, where our Special Ed students work with them. Current player Noah Pena has also promoted our student for homecoming queen. I walk by players like Jordan Bonilla throughout the day and receive a “hello, sir” more times than not. As a team, they also give back to the community around the holidays. 

Coach George hasn’t sold his soul to a 7-on-7 guy to get a bunch of transfers in because the kids want to run the spread and look good. They still run their wing offense and pound the rock, which is “boring” and not “fan-friendly.” They attract kids to come here because they consistently win. 

Most of the comments and narratives are that the Del Rio League is weak. La Serna didn’t ask to be put in the Del Rio. One of the teams that complained the most isn’t even joining the realignment. 

The Lancers make up for their weak league by lining up their non-league schedule against the likes of Northview, Damien, Crean Lutheran, and Edison – all perennial playoff teams. 

Another comment is about them being the “Privileged Friendly Hills Kids.” I’ve worked at multiple schools; there is nothing different between them and a kid from Whittier, Santa Fe, or El Rancho. They may drive up the hill in a nicer car to school, but they’ve got a bunch of hard-nosed coaches ready to make them work at practice. 

So let the comment section blow up with keyboard heroes chirping about a weak league or poaching – in an open enrollment district. The numbers don’t lie, and the culture is visible to anyone who steps on campus. The coaches continue to teach an old-school offense, the players remain in the front row, and the team continues to line up against the toughest competition they can find. They don’t need outside validation or a new league. They just need to keep hanging banners as a testament to a program that demonstrates its success through winning, hard work, and giving back.

After all that being said the Lancers got placed in Division 5 and will host Lakewood Friday night at Sandra Thorstenson Stadium and are looking for their third straight trip to the finals.