SSTV Category: Southern Section Sitdown

Stefanie Wigfall, head coach of Sierra Canyon’s girls volleyball team, discussed her coaching journey and growing up in the Antelope Valley. She transitioned to volleyball in middle school and later got her first coaching job at Marymount High School during her freshman year at UCLA. Wigfall emphasized the support and family-type bond between herself and other coaches at Sierra Canyon. She highlighted the growth of girls volleyball, noting its increased participation and diversity. Wigfall also praised her current team, which is ranked first in the Southern Section, and shared her positive experience coaching with her husband, Darren.

Jim Benkert talks about his long standing coaching career, the rebuild of Simi Valley High School Football and the differences between public and private high schools.

Dr. Alexis Barile sits down to talk NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) at the high school level. Alexis shares her journey from being a high school basketball player and teacher to a principal and now at the district office. She discusses her experiences coaching high school football and girls’ basketball. Alexis highlights the challenges and opportunities of NIL, using Jared McCain as an example, emphasizing the importance of balancing personal branding with school integrity. She also touches on the evolving role of social media in athletics and the need for responsible digital citizenship.

More information on high school NIL:

• From CIF
• From NFHS

Photo’s used in the video are credited to:

– Alexis Barile

– Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District

– Jared McCain

Rich Shearer, CIF Assistant Commissioner, discussed his background in high school athletics and his role in the CIF Southern Section. He highlighted the importance of competitive equity in high school sports, emphasizing the shift to using current-year data for playoff placements. This approach has reduced mismatches by 40% compared to the previous system. Shearer also mentioned the growth of re-leagueing and conference systems to enhance competitive balance.

Rob Shock, Athletic Director at Long Beach Poly, discussed his 17-year tenure and the school’s rich sports history. He highlighted the success of former players like Marcedes Lewis and Desean Jackson. Shock also emphasized the growth of girls’ flag football, noting the sport’s expansion and the excitement for Olympic inclusion in 2028. His team went 10-0 last season, with eight shutouts. Shock expressed optimism about future scholarship opportunities and the sport’s increasing popularity.