High school track and field in California generally ranks among the best in the nation. If he had not crossed paths with Ciarelli, Elbettar said he likely would have stuck with football. “Coach Ciarelli has left a tremendous mark on how I carry myself as a person,” said Cole Smith, a Division 2 shotput champion for the Sailors in 2016. All I did was lay on a table.” Ciarelli missed one football and no track and field practices during that time. Tony Ciarelli coached 52 state meet qualifiers and 33 state medalists over the course of his career in high school track and field.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 19, 2020 00:00 UTC