Football, cross country and volleyball teams showed how athletics can bring people together, help heal.
The town of Paradise, Calif., was decimated by the Camp Fire, the deadliest in state history.
Small – but immensely meaningful – acts of kindness surrounding around the town's high school sports teams have provided a ray of hope as the tragedy continues to unfold.
Last week as Paradise High School's iNorthern Section Division III playoff football game loomed, Red Bluff, their opponent for the quarterfinal match, offered to concede the game and let Paradise have a bye through to the semis. Bobcats' head coach Rick Prinz and staff ultimately declined, citing logistics and a psychological barrier to having to switch from recovery to football mode.
On Monday, the Paradise football team, coaches and cheerleaders were feted by the San Francisco 49ers during their Monday Night Football game against the New York Giants, standing alongside the home squad during the National Anthem.
But the gestures by Red Bluff and the 49ers were not the only bright spots in a grim five days.
The Paradise Adventist Academy volleyball team had no uniforms or gear to play its Northern California Division VI semifinal against Forest Lake Christian. Instead of charging admission for the match, Forest Lake sough donations at the gate for the Cougars and their families.
When Paradise Adventist arrived at Forest Lake, players were handed brand new uniforms with the name Paradise printed on the uniform, knee pads and socks for every player. They also collected a room full of goods and materials for the families. The two teams even had a meal for players and families and when it was over the coach and players were handed $300 gift cards.
"This is truly awe inspiring how in a time of our greatest needs, fellow students, schools and communities continue to step up and be a shining light for all of us," CIF director Roger Blake said.
And on the cross country course, Paradise runner Gabe Price was unable to compete Thursday in the section finals due to the chaos of the blaze consuming his hometown.
He was allowed a shot to run the course at West Valley High School in Cottonwood, but faced a daunting task of posting a state-worthy time on the notoriously difficult course.
Instead of letting Price run solo, the Chico High School country team ran along Price, where he finished the 3-mile course in 17 minutes, 12 second and earned a berth to the Division IV state meeting.
