Sports
El Rancho High School football team during the 1960s established themselves as one of the most respected high school football programs in California. The Dons were led by head coach Ernie Johnson, who coached from 1956-1968. In 1966, the Dons were awarded the National Championship and California State Championship when they beat Anaheim High School by a score of 35-14, in the Championship game. Coach Johnson directed El Rancho High to nine League Championships in 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968. Three CIF Championships in 1960, 1966 1968, were CIF Runner-Ups in 1960 and 1963 and a National High School Football Championship in 1966. Coach Johnson ended his coaching tenure in 1968 with a 108-31-5 record. El Rancho last won a league championship in 1997-1998. El Rancho's last CIF Semifinals appearance was in 1991 losing to Nogales High School. El Rancho last made it to the CIF Championship game in 1988 losing to Los Altos high school 12-0.
El Rancho football's crosstown rivals are the Montebello Oilers, Pioneer Titans, Whittier Cardinals, and Santa Fe Chiefs.
Soccer
The varsity soccer team has won league 10 times. They were CIF champions in 2003 and CIF semi-finalists in 2008. Their most recent result in the CIF playoffs was a 3-1 win to Crescenta Valley in the quarterfinals after narrowly beating Hawthorne 1-0. The 2010-2011 Varsity team has recently won the CIF Division IV Southern Section Championship winning 4-2 against Oak Hills. During the Season of 1976-1977, a CIF-4A record (Southern Section), was set by GoalKeeper Duane Joel Daniel, who made a total of 257 saves in that season. Daniel also made 148 saves during Pacific League play the same year. In 2012 the team went undefeated in their season and lost in the CIF playoffs, ending their season at 21-1.
Cross Country
El Rancho's running dynasty has captured 8 Del Rio League titles in the last 10 years, making it the most successful team in the recent years. The team of 2005 was ranked 18th in the nation and finished 5th at the California State Championships.
Track and Field
El Rancho's Track and Field recently became Del Rio League Champions in 2010 and 2011. All four levels were undefeated.
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Famous quotes containing the word sports:
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—Gayle Gardner, U.S. sports reporter. As quoted in Sports Illustrated, p. 87 (June 17, 1991)
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—Christine H. B. Grant, U.S. university athletic director. As quoted in the Chronicle of Higher Education, p. A42 (May 12, 1993)
“There be some sports are painful, and their labor
Delight in them sets off. Some kinds of baseness
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Point to rich ends.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)