El Dorado High School honors two special groups during Friday night football game

El Dorado High School’s Friday night home football game on October 4 was special for several reasons, all of which were unrelated to the outcome.

The bands from both Tuffree and Yorba Middle middle schools were in attendance to help support the Golden Hawks. They were treated to an echoing applause from families and the Hawks Nest as they performed. In addition, El Dorado’s youth cheer clinic students were also present at the game. They shared the performance mat with the high school’s teams during the first half and held the spotlight in front of the Hawks Nest!

The school’s football program also took the time to recognize the commitment and contributions of local veterans by hosting Armed Service Appreciation Night. This is a new tradition that has been started to recognize and pay respects to the men and women who have and continue to protect this great country. The night was kicked off by a beautiful performance of Taps by senior Romario Granados on the trumpet.

During halftime, the football program honored the football team from the class of 1989. This group entered El Dorado in the fall of 1985 as freshmen and proceeded to capture the Empire League Championship. Not missing a beat, they came back as sophomores and won another league championship that year. Entering their junior year, their first year on the varsity team, confidence ran high as they joined a very good senior group that had enjoyed similar success at the lower levels. Unfortunately a tie with Katella High School led to the team finishing ½ game out of a CIF playoff berth. Spurred on by the disappointment of their junior campaign, this group of seniors dedicated themselves to a very productive off-season both in the weight room and in passing league competitions. Camaraderie was finely tuned with the upcoming junior class as the Hawks prepared for their final season. The stage was set for a late season showdown with Katella with a CIF playoff berth at stake. In a highly emotional contest at Bradford Stadium, the Golden Hawks topped the Knights by a score of 27-14, securing at least a tie for second place and a trip to the CIF playoffs. The season ended in the CIF Quarter Finals with a home game against undefeated and top-ranked Mission Viejo High School. The Golden Hawks enjoyed a very successful 1988 season. Several players went on and continued their playing careers at the college level and all have gone on to become very successful in their chosen vocations.

“We were pleased to salute the successes of the Golden Hawks Class of 1989!” Principal Joey Davis mentioned.

Coach LaMonda and the El Dorado High football team also took time to recognize Carl Sweet, a former El teacher and football coach at the school. In 2016, CIF-Southern Section honored him with the Distinguished Service Award for his 37 years he dedicated to education. He was the head football coach and athletics director for many years at El Dorado, and has been recognized many times at the local and state level for being Athletic Director of the Year. During his time as athletic director, EDHS captured numerous CIF titles in baseball, football, soccer, swimming, water polo and wrestling.

Sweet also masterminded the Joe Raya Gymnasium dedication and helped to organize the El Dorado Athletics Wall of Fame program. Starting this year, Coach LaMonda is proud to announce the start of an award that will be given out each year in the football program in Mr. Sweet’s name – The Carl Sweet Hawk Award!