Athletics
A message from the athletic director:
Thank you for visiting the Santa Rosa Academy Athletics page! We are so happy to have the opportunity to provide our students the tremendous opportunity to be well-rounded individuals through athletics. The main goal for these programs is to teach life-lessons to our student-athletes through sports. None of this would be possible without the generous support of all of our student-athlete families, the Booster Club, and their donations. Thanks!
~ Mr. Shives
Mr. Shives: Athletic Director and Soccer Coach
Email: jshives@sra.mn
I am the middle school boys and high school soccer coach at Santa Rosa. I also teach some math! I played club and high school soccer as a young person in West Tennessee, and played my college soccer at Chapman University in Orange County. I’ve been coaching club and high school soccer locally since 2006. As the head of the soccer programs, my main goals are to develop a basic understanding of the fundamentals of the game, to learn how to compete hard, and to discover life lessons that soccer and other sports can teach us, all while representing our school with strong character. See you on the pitch!
Coaching Staff
Mr. Sanchez: MS Baseball
Email: msanchez@sra.mn
Hi I’m Coach Sanchez. Some of you might know me as the middle school Math and Engineering teacher, but I also love to coach sports. I am currently the Middle School Varsity Flag Football and Middle School Baseball coach. I believe that sports are a great way to build character and discipline; I try to model these traits every time I take the field as a coach. My number one objective is that our student-athletes have fun. Winning is great, but its not everything, I’d much rather teach my players to respect and have a love for the game.
Coach Chapman: MS Golf
I am the Middle School golf coach at Sant Rosa Academy. I am also a senior at Cal State San Bernardino finishing my Bachelors degree in Economics. I am an aspiring teacher and love working with kids. I have worked in and have been around both the game and golf industry for the last five years. I have taken my share of lessons as well as sat in on professionals giving lessons, so I am aware of what it takes to build the golf swing. I have been around competitive golf the past few years and caddied for a friend who is an up-and-coming professional golfer. At this level of golf my coaching goals are to build the basic fundamentals of the game, while teaching the proper golf etiquette. With the right mind set, the game of golf has the ability to create outstanding character among the student golfers. Most of all I want to encourage the kids to have fun. The game of golf is amazing and I hope my players develop both the respect and love I hold for it.
Ms. Ramirez: MS Softball
I’m Coach Ramirez; also known as Ms. Ramirez inside the classroom. I currently coach Middle School Softball and teach Middle School English to 7th and 8th graders. I grew up being very active and involved in sports. I have played basketball, track and field, and cheerleading; however my passion remains out on the field playing softball. I started playing softball in the 3rd grade and played throughout high school. I am extremely happy to be back out on the dirt and enjoying the game!
My main focuses in sports is to motivate kids to get outside and be active, have fun interacting with peers outside of school, learn how to work together as a team, and positively encourage others in the process! Remember, at the end of a game nobody should be able to tell if you won or lost, because either way the character you display should look the same.
Mrs. McNeal: MS Soccer
Email: kmcneal@sra.mn
I teach Physical Education here at Santa Rosa, in addition to currently coaching the girls soccer team with Coach Woods. Growing up I was constantly involved in sports. The values and lessons I learned when participating on a sports team have been priceless. When you are dedicated and determined to set and reach goals as a student athlete, your success is limitless. I thoroughly enjoy coaching and exemplifying the value of great character, commitment, and hard work to our athletes here at school. I look forward to coaching a great group of girls to be passionate about what we do everyday in practice and competition.
Ms. Carreno: MS Girls Soccer, HS & MS Cross Country
I am a fifth grade blue track teacher here at Santa Rosa Academy. I am also coaching middle school girls soccer along side Coach McNeal. I played soccer for 9 years from elementary school to high school and even today when I smell the scent of fresh cut grass I always look back on those memories with great fondness. Being a student-athlete was challenging. Balancing school work with practice was difficult, but the lessons I learned on the field helped me to succeed as a student and in all other aspects of my life. I also want my players to learn these lessons of determination, hard work, and sportsmanship. Learning to never give up trying to get the ball away from an opposing player, learning to work through being tired and give your best every practice, and learning to take the high road even when other players are not, are just a few of the important lessons that student-athletes learn. My passion is soccer and I am so excited to share this with SRA soccer players!
Mr. McNeal: MS Volleyball, MS & HS Soccer
Email: mmcneal@santarosaacademy.org
I am one of the high school Physical Education teachers here at Santa Rosa Academy. I am a sports fanatic and have been involved with them since I was five years old. Soccer is my passion and I have played at the high school and college levels.
My coaching experience began while I was still in high school and I have continued to coach ever since. My philosophy about participating in sports is that they can better a person on the inside and out. Athletics can be a positive way to participate in a physical activity while gaining incredibly important social skills. Winning is nice, but more important is the gaining of fundamental skills and understanding of the sport. Building character and respect for others and one self is something that I try to communicate with every meeting we have. I look forward to coaching a great group of players and anticipate a season full of fun and character building.
Mr. Zinter: HS Basketball
- 22+ years of coaching experience
- Kurt Rambis Basketball Camp as Counselor/Coach
- 2 years Magic Johnson Basketball Camp as Coach @ Elementary and High School Level
- 2 years International Youth Travel club in Europe coaching in Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, and Hungary
- Brief stint as player professionally for UB Club Mattersburg in Austria
- Multiple local schools and youth leagues, including National Junior Basketball and Valley Wide in Menifee
Kids are what it’s all about!! If I’ve learned anything over the years it’s that if you show a child they’re valuable and hold kids to a high standard of excellence and character they will meet and even exceed your expectations. It is paramount to instill in a player the knowledge and effort it takes to compete. Even though athletic ability and skill are important I’ve found the most skilled players aren’t necessarily the most effective players on the court. Instead it’s the player that understands how to play as an integral member of a team and give the greatest effort. I try to teach the players the reasoning behind specific skills and the concepts behind certain defenses and offenses. I believe this takes the game beyond simple X’s and O’s and instills a deeper understanding of the game of basketball, which allows the player to adapt and adjust during the athletic event. A child also needs to fully understand they can’t be afraid to make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes, but it’s the person who forgets about it and moves on to concentrate on the task at hand who has the greatest outcome. Winning isn’t everything…but the EFFORT it takes to win is invaluable. If my team gives 100% effort at all times and we lose the game then as a coach I’m satisfied. In contrast, if we win by 30 points and don’t give an all out effort then we’ve got work to do as individual players and as a team. Kids are what it’s all about!!
Mr. LeMasters: MS Basketball and HS Golf
I am currently the Physical Education/Health/Technology teacher at Santa Rosa Academy. I coach Middle School Basketball and High School Golf. I have many years of playing various sports from basketball to water polo. You could say I have dabbled in just about all sports, a jack of all trades (master of none). My main focus with sports is the players learning what it is to be a team player and making sure they have have fun. Always remember, as coaches and players, we need to have character on and off the field (court or pool)!
Mr. Gaylord: HS Basketball
Email: jgaylord@sra.mn
I am an athlete and sports fan who has participated in various sports over the years. I believe that there is no substitute for hard work. Players should be dedicated to working hard both on and off the field. Athletes should also be good teammates and be a part of the team whether it be playing in the game, sitting on the bench, or making sure teammates are on task in the classroom. Athletes that buy into this philosophy of working hard and being good teammates, I believe, will be successful in the many ventures of life that they pursue in the present and future.
Mr. Granados: MS Flag Football, MS Basketball, MS Soccer
Email: jgranados@sra.mn
Hi, I am Coach Granados or Coach G. I am currently the Middle School Physical Education teacher. I love sports, but my favorite sport is basketball, and I play on adult leagues in Orange County. I want to pass on my knowledge and the love for any given sport that I coach to my players. I want my players to know that it is not about winning, but about the effort that is put into the game. Finally, I want my players to take me for an example that it is not how big you are, but how big you play.
Steele Brahmsteadt: MS Varsity Flag Football
Peter Lugo: MS JV-B Flag Football
Coach Byrne: MS JV Volleyball
Jill Church: MS Volleyball
I currently co-coach middle school Junior Varsity Volleyball. I was a volunteer coach for volleyball at the Valley Wide Recreation Center for six years. I love the sport, and believe that team sports teach our children values, character and self esteem. Our number one objective is that our players learn and have fun at the same time; that each player gains respect for the game and the other players. The smile on a kids face when they have mastered a skill is what it is all about!
