Herk Bouris students get soccer victory against teachers
Story and photos by Tommie Brown, Staff Writer Herk Bouris Elementary School held their annual “George Espinzoa Cup” soccer game on Wednes...
http://www.menifee247.com/2019/06/herk-bouris-students-get-soccer-victory-against-teachers.html
Story and photos by Tommie Brown, Staff Writer
Herk Bouris Elementary School held their annual “George Espinzoa Cup” soccer game on Wednesday, matching teachers vs. 5th graders.
Teachers, staff, and administration took to the field for the game. Dave Brown -- the former Hemet Police Chief, now Menifee’s Director of Public Safety -- acted as the game’s referee, and district superintendent Steve Kennedy was there to cheer on his team.
Originating in 2012 with the founding of the school, the soccer match marked its seventh consecutive game this year. Founded by Craig Gruber, Herk Bouris’ resource specialist teacher and active leader within Menifee Union School District, the annual match is dedicated to the longtime and beloved custodian, George Espinoza.
Espinoza began his career in the Menifee Union School District back in the 90’s at Ridgemoor Elementary School. But when half of the Ridgemoor teachers and staff, including key administrator Midge James, broke off to kick start Herk Bouris, Espinoza followed suit.
If you had been a parent or student at either Ridgemoor Elementary or Herk Bouris Elementary during the years of Espinoza before his retirement, you were sure to have encountered his warm and vital presence on either campus.
Filling hallways with songs he sang, life lessons he gave, and even a few lessons taught within classrooms, such as 4th grade teacher Robert Pearson’s, Espinoza kept both school campuses inviting, secure, and feeling like home.
If you know Espinoza, you know one of his greatest passions is soccer. From coaching to refereeing to teaching students of the game, Espinoza has made the sport a pivotal role in his life. That paired nicely with Gruber’s own childhood memories, which inspired the campus tradition.
“Back in the 70’s when I was in the 6th grade, an annual soccer game against the teachers is something we used to do,” said Gruber. “The teachers wore tie-dye and crazy socks, and we really looked forward to it all year. So I just really wanted to bring that back to life for these students.”
And while the match is full of colorful ensembles and students of all ages cheering on the sidelines for their fellow classmates, this yearly game is nothing short of an authentic competitive occasion.
“When I was growing up, the students always beat the teachers,” says Gruber. “We were constantly outside, figuring things out, riding bikes, entertaining ourselves, getting ourselves from one place to another. Our natural athletic ability was genuine, so we played hard. Which is something I enjoy about this game with the students.
"We don’t let them win; they have to bring it. And it’s about getting kids off of the video games and cell phones and putting them back in that physically demanding environment.”
The stats of the game sing true to this. Within the last seven years, teachers have won every game against the students. However, this year was historical for the kids with their first ever victory over the adults.
“This is the first time the students won,” Gruber chuckled proudly. “We weren’t at our best on the field, and the students really took ownership this year. They practiced and proved themselves, so right now they’re really excited to have beaten us and been the first group to do so.”
If you happened to be on the sidelines Wednesday, then you surely saw the authentic athletic ability of these students, as well as the genuine effort put up by the teachers to secure their six-year reign. With goalies diving, students and teachers colliding, and the immense amount of cheers with each goal scored, both teams were playing to win.
“We all have so much fun doing this, but it also isn’t just a feel-good game,” explains Gruber. “Classrooms have to elect their few best players to form a school-wide team, because we really want everyone to be a part of this and compete. And the kids love it. They work so hard academically all year, and are about to leave to middle school, so this really is a time for them to try to get back at us with a win. So everyone can imagine how excited these first-time winning students are.”
With Espinoza as the honored guest, Wednesday’s game ended with a “Happy Wednesday” song sung by Espinoza himself, as well as his hand-off of the cup to the new reigning 5th grade champs.
Herk Bouris Elementary School held their annual “George Espinzoa Cup” soccer game on Wednesday, matching teachers vs. 5th graders.
Teachers, staff, and administration took to the field for the game. Dave Brown -- the former Hemet Police Chief, now Menifee’s Director of Public Safety -- acted as the game’s referee, and district superintendent Steve Kennedy was there to cheer on his team.
Originating in 2012 with the founding of the school, the soccer match marked its seventh consecutive game this year. Founded by Craig Gruber, Herk Bouris’ resource specialist teacher and active leader within Menifee Union School District, the annual match is dedicated to the longtime and beloved custodian, George Espinoza.
Espinoza began his career in the Menifee Union School District back in the 90’s at Ridgemoor Elementary School. But when half of the Ridgemoor teachers and staff, including key administrator Midge James, broke off to kick start Herk Bouris, Espinoza followed suit. If you had been a parent or student at either Ridgemoor Elementary or Herk Bouris Elementary during the years of Espinoza before his retirement, you were sure to have encountered his warm and vital presence on either campus.
Filling hallways with songs he sang, life lessons he gave, and even a few lessons taught within classrooms, such as 4th grade teacher Robert Pearson’s, Espinoza kept both school campuses inviting, secure, and feeling like home.
If you know Espinoza, you know one of his greatest passions is soccer. From coaching to refereeing to teaching students of the game, Espinoza has made the sport a pivotal role in his life. That paired nicely with Gruber’s own childhood memories, which inspired the campus tradition.
“Back in the 70’s when I was in the 6th grade, an annual soccer game against the teachers is something we used to do,” said Gruber. “The teachers wore tie-dye and crazy socks, and we really looked forward to it all year. So I just really wanted to bring that back to life for these students.”
"We don’t let them win; they have to bring it. And it’s about getting kids off of the video games and cell phones and putting them back in that physically demanding environment.”
The stats of the game sing true to this. Within the last seven years, teachers have won every game against the students. However, this year was historical for the kids with their first ever victory over the adults. “This is the first time the students won,” Gruber chuckled proudly. “We weren’t at our best on the field, and the students really took ownership this year. They practiced and proved themselves, so right now they’re really excited to have beaten us and been the first group to do so.”
If you happened to be on the sidelines Wednesday, then you surely saw the authentic athletic ability of these students, as well as the genuine effort put up by the teachers to secure their six-year reign. With goalies diving, students and teachers colliding, and the immense amount of cheers with each goal scored, both teams were playing to win.
“We all have so much fun doing this, but it also isn’t just a feel-good game,” explains Gruber. “Classrooms have to elect their few best players to form a school-wide team, because we really want everyone to be a part of this and compete. And the kids love it. They work so hard academically all year, and are about to leave to middle school, so this really is a time for them to try to get back at us with a win. So everyone can imagine how excited these first-time winning students are.”
With Espinoza as the honored guest, Wednesday’s game ended with a “Happy Wednesday” song sung by Espinoza himself, as well as his hand-off of the cup to the new reigning 5th grade champs.
