High school sports has returned here to Riverbank, though in COVID-abbreviated and procedurally constrained ways, for student athletes in many sports.

Both Bruin soccer teams were practicing this past week, with the boys team at the south net and the girls at the north net on the old soccer field. Girls volleyball has been practicing for a week or two, with a first game set for Thursday, March 25.

Both co-ed tennis and co-ed cross country have been going for a few weeks, and football has been practicing for a couple of weeks. Their first game was here at home last Saturday.

Bruin Football

The Mariposa County Grizzlies rolled into town on Saturday, March 20, and rolled over the Bruins. With just a few weeks of practice and several team members not yet cleared to play, the host team fought hard but gave up several scores, including two safeties, ending with a 54-0 loss.

The Grizzlies are a school with a comparable student body population, but many of their players were both taller and bigger than the Bruins, who ended up on the wrong side of the shutout score.

Football is scheduled to be back on the home field Thursday, March 25, as Riverbank hosts the Warriors of Orestimba High School in Newman. After that, just three games will remain on the schedule, and only one of them at home.

Other Sports

Girls volleyball is scheduled for the Lady Bruins on Thursday afternoon. They’ll be hosting Waterford.

On Friday, Bruin co-ed tennis hosts its annual Doubles Tournament.

Softball is set to return on Friday, March 26, when the Lady Bruins host Orestimba’s Lady Warriors.