High School to Add J.V. Girls’ Soccer

Widespread interest in the girls’ varsity soccer team at Santa Paula High School has prompted trustees of the school district to authorize the start of a junior varsity program.

The school board voted Wednesday to spend $3,000 in start-up funds to hire a part-time coach and provide transportation for the team.

“We got something we’ve waited for a long time,” said Toni Willeford, whose daughter Barbara just completed her fourth year of soccer competition at the high school. Last year, the trustees turned down a similar proposal.

Willeford said 53 girls attended tryouts for the soccer team at the beginning of the school year, but the varsity program was only large enough to allow 20 to play.