Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Bold, original and fun, her collection of silk scarves & specialty socks are collectable and timeless. . Valles eventually enlisted in the U.S.Coast Guard. "Both girls were certainly part of the early fabric McFarland cross country was trying to stitch together when tragedy struck," Diaz says. Asked what part of the story of that 1987 season he wished had been included in the film, White said the impact of his wife Cheryl. McFarland also had a superb girls' cross-country team. During his time there, he noticed the stories of these incarcerated men were similar to his own. Who was Thomas Valles? Did the boys have to get up with the sun to work in the fields only to return later in the day to train there? As a child, White lived in the city of Austin until she started attending college in San Marcos . "She wanted to meet Danny Diaz," White said. ", "It was a great accomplishment," White said. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Sports Illustrateds Gary Smith wrote in the story that inspired the movie. "Sometimes I helped them work in the fields," says the real Coach Jim White, "but more importantly, I had practice at a different time. She was a smart young lady and she tutored me in math because I could not pass math. Delano Now
(David Diaz and Amador Ayon were both seniors on the 1986 team and didn't get the chance to compete for a state championship. The photos I made of the teams in the aftermath of the accident were the first I would shoot of McFarland's string of tragedies in the 1980s. "David and Danny (Diaz) are in education. See Julie White full list of movies and tv shows from their career. under Coach Jim White at McFarland High It was an emotional and . Jim White restarted the program in 1980 after it had been dropped for a year. The McFarland, USA true story supports that McFarland High School won nine CIF California State Championships in cross country (including five in a row) and held a streak of attending the state championship meet 24 years in a row. "Sylvia and I were seniors because my parents placed us in the same grade when we were in fourth grade because they wanted me to walk with her to school. He also attended CSU Bakersfield and was the first person in his familyto get higher than a sixth-grade education. As Valles wrapped his speech to the kids, he encouraged them to take steps toward reaching their goals by getting an education, going into a trade or joining the military. 1. "We did have hills," White said. Terms in this set (31) Who was Danny Diaz? . Let's not slack off.". Forgot." Julie, and Jamie, and four grandchildren. Sylvia Diaz is in the middle. This mantra propelled the boys of McFarland High School to their the first California State Cross Country Championships in 1987. Romance: Thomas Valles (Carlos Pratts) and Jim's daughter, Julie White (Morgan Saylor), have some serious chemistry. "Things that Mrs. Diaz did (in the film), that's what Cheryl was doing. White. White would take his teams to train in Yosemite at elevation. The film shows White taking the team to fields for simulated hill training on mounds of raw almonds. 'Danny made a big difference in my life.' Very good moviegringos better stop descriminating the Latinosjust like john Lennon saidthe world should live as one. White said there are hills around orange groves about six miles outside of town where the team goes for true hill training. Julie and Jami are depicted in the McFarland, USA movie. Did they run over piles of almonds to simulate hills? What is it about distance running that not only allowed seven kids to dominate, but brought a whole community together? So, White relocates his family to a new town taking on a lowly post teaching science and P.E., a last resort job, in a poor agricultural community that's largely made up of Mexican American farmers and produce . "Doesn't she get enough attention already?" Standing, from left: coach Gary Pierson, Norma Torres, Norma Lopez, Delfina Herrera and coach Jim White. Fuel your hometown passion and plug into the stories that define it. Visit johnhartephoto.wordpress.com to see John's McFarland cross-country photos following the deaths of Sylvia Diaz and Herlinda Gonzalez, plus his photos of the real athletes depicted in the film "McFarland, USA. David is represented in the McFarland, USA movie along with two of his brothers, Damacio and Danny. They talk about being inspired to strive for something beyond picking in the fields. Didn't you get into this fight? Eventually sophomore Danny Diaz crossed in 91st (68th) to close out the scoring. I don't know if anybody outside McFarland ever asked. We still run the same roads, along the same fields, just with different kids. Yes. They worked hard. The real Coach Jim White took both the boys and girls cross country teams to the California central coast beach at Cayucos during the 1985 season (not the 1987 season). I grew up with domestic violence and that's what I knew. "She might hate me now. 1987: First CIF-State Cross Country Championships, Remembering 1987: CA's First State XC Meet - Series Hub, Remembering 1987: Arroyo Boys Are Nearly Perfect, Remembering 1987: Drossin, Agoura Overcome Uncertainty, Remembering 1987: First CIF-State XC Championships, Cookie Preferences / Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. McFarland runners, from left: Delfina Herrera, Hollie Wykoff, Tammy Carter, Alicia Herrera and Norma Torres. Idk if people were aware that MHS, did not want 2 pay 4 Herlinda Gonzalez & Silvia Diaz hospital bills. They were cross country state champs in 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001. Retired from law enforcement. Raul went on to become a priest and is pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Dinuba. "I would not have been surprised if she had ended up becoming a doctor or some top-notch lawyer," says Plata Rodriguez. By 1986, Texas-born Coach Jim White, nicknamed Blanco by his Latino team, had built a locally dominant cross country team. However, similar to the film, Jim White had never been a runner himself and used the bike to follow the team during their workouts. Johnny is an educator and is still coaching. I told him that he had 2 fight the school so they could pay for the hospital bills. Was enlisted in the armed services. He might never have given the incident another thought if not for Whites actions. As he settled into his new home, he maintained the life of a homebody. It was bittersweet. Retired as a correctional officer. The disciplinarian was out of the house, Valles said. -KGET 17, Yes. White has lived in McFarland ever since. By
It was a domestic violence situation, Valles told The Herald prior to his address to the kids on Tuesday. "Sylvia was so sweet, kind, and naturally stunning," says her friend and 1985 teammate Dolores Plata Rodriguez, now an assistant principal at Cesar E. Chavez High School in Delano. The 1986 McFarland High girls cross-country team. Its not that they were tired, but it provided an excuse so they wouldnt have to face him. Back then, McFarland was largely white demographically. The McFarland, USA true story confirms that at first, the mother of the Diaz brothers -- David, Damacio and Danny -- forbid them from competing. I'm not really sure." He looked over at her, "who is she?" "Julie. The circumstances brought Valles to a low point. It was a gesture by runner Hollie Wykoff's mom to help the girls feel better as they dealt with their grief after teammates Sylvia Diaz and Herlinda Gonzalez were killed in a practice accident two and one-half weeks earlier. Learn more about the McFarland, USA true story by watching the Jim White interview below. "Quiet." Julie nodded, and pushed Stacy's hand away, "Sorry. The houses in which the family stayed belonged to farm owners. By every account from their friends, relatives and teammates, these were two special and deeply-loved girls. She never held back when it came to laughing, making people laugh, and just being downright silly. In McFarland, cross-country coach, Jim White, changes the course of Thomas' life when he introduces him to running. "Niki Caro wanted to show more family in the movie so they chose me," says the real David Diaz, who actually graduated during the school year before the first state title win. johnny sameniego. He encouraged the kids to find their own mentor. Valles' friend Ernie Bueno, who introduced Valles to Killian, asked Valles to participate in a Run to End Duchenne at the 2021 New York Marathon. He was a baseball player, a pitcher, in high school and in college. Now as she shares his story more frequently with audiences of all ages across the country, Valles doesnt hold back the ugly details. David Diaz is behind Victor wearing a white t-shirt and McFarland hat. . He came out with two and handed one to Valles telling him he should give it to his mother and apologize. We thought that was normal, Valles said. White coached for 23 years from 1980 through 2002 and he came back for one year in 2003. Bravo told me, "Show the world what has happened to my son.". I was assigned to cover two of McFarland's races following the accident. In actuality, Thomas was the number one runner for the 1987 State Championship Cross Country team for McFarland. ", "Thomas he made a big impact on our life," White said. He was named an all-state athlete in his freshman year. In this photo shot by Raul Diaz on Oct. 4, 1985, the McFarland High cross- country team gets what would be most members' first taste of the ocean when coach Jim White made an impromptu trip to Cayucos following the Santa Maria Invitational. But then you have some little kidI just met a little boy, Alex, in the market today. No contact since high school. Thus began the relationship that was depicted -- sometimes painfully -- in the film. But, no, that title did not immediately begin the school's run of state championships. Thomas Valles was one of the runners who competed and won the cross country CIF State Championship in 1987. November 15, 2021 / Vanessa Villalvazo. We'd love to share your memories of that meet and that experience. SAC where it dominated. Jim's lack of experience in coaching cross-country isn't some throwaway plot point meant to give the character one more . McFarland was that 'small' then and is still today. ", "That was Hollywood," Valles said. A recent gathering of Norma Lopez Takahashi, Flora Diaz and Dolores Plata Rodriguez with Sylvia Diaz's photo album. I thought that was normal. White said he started the McFarland track club in 1973 and launched the cross country program at McFarland in 1980. Jim was known for being a tough coach by his runners but also for his selfless acts of helping out with the boys, the town and the church. Pow. a cake. They were requested by People Magazine. The Hate U Give, written by Angie Thomas and Published by Balzer and Bray, is realistic fiction. 104. what does cheryl white want coach white to pick up for julies birthday. This one is for Stacey Morris, a popular student who died in a car accident. "However, we have never forgot and most importantly, we will always remember Sylvia Diaz and Herlinda Gonzalez for their ultimate and personal willingness to endure this great sport we love here in McFarland and hopefully in the whole USA.". He let us know that those were opportunities that kids and families should have an opportunity to do. "You couldn't tell if she was ever having a bad day, because she was always so uplifting and a pleasure to be around. The film McFarland USA(2015) is based on a true story of a Teacher/Coach, Jim White (Kevin Costner) and a high school cross country team from a poor farm town in Central California. "She was nerdy, funny and wanting to please. Its also a testament to parents, dont lower the bar for your kids, always aim higb. They met at my house for practice. Terms of Use The memorial pages in the 1986-87 McFarland High yearbook for Herlinda Gonzalez and Sylvia Diaz. She often brought along a music magazine that had all of the current top hits' lyrics inside. Ask TBC: What's the latest on this indicted BPD officer? "Sometimes a setback like that brings people and teams closer and more intimate with each other, and we found ourselves running for McFarland, Mr. White and most importantly, for each other.". They still live in McFarland and still want to make a difference in the community.". The first time Valles got real with an audience, a kid approached him afterward. It was indeed the first time that many of the kids ever saw the ocean. Good men and woman can make a huge difference in the lives of others. He won nine state titles and went to the state meet every year but one, he said. He has been fired from several jobs, and eventually ends up in the titular town (the only place that would hire him). Photo courtesy of Flora Diaz and Raul Diaz. Inspired by the irony of his last name, "Blanco" was one of the nicknames that the kids and their families gave Jim White. Coach Jim White and his wife, Cheryl, with team member Thomas Valles at the 1987 California Southern Area cross country meet at Hart Park in Bakersfield. -Congressional Record, V. 146, Pt. We still run the same roads, along the same fields, just with different kids. Victor Puentes is just to his left. Coach Jim White and his wife, Cheryl, with team member Thomas Valles at the 1987 California Southern Area cross country meet at Hart Park in Bakersfield.. Beside above, what did the boys learn from their experience running for the McFarland High School cross country team? Sylvia Diaz at work in the agricultural fields of McFarland in 1985. Quote Tweet. You just do what you can do. Everybody has a Jim White in their lives, Valles said, referencing his famous high school coach. "My parents divorced. She won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in The Little Dog Laughed in 2007. Though it is very close, Jim White likely wouldn't have had a clear view of it from his classroom window, as a street of homes separates the school's athletic fields from the prison grounds. This is a carousel. Valles said he asked the McFarland principal if the team had won. All seven Diaz children went to college and all seven returned to McFarland where they live today. White said the team would run in the heat of the summer when temperatures were into the triple digits. Thomas Valles is a McFarland legend who was at the forefront of the 1987 championship team and now coaches the girls cross country team at McFarland high school and will be participating in the 50th annual New York City Marathon. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. ", Q: Whats the latest on Bakersfield Police Department Detective Damacio Diaz, who is facing multiple federal charges after FBI investigators a, Positive Cases Among Kern Residents: 309,529, Recovered and Presumed Recovered Residents: 304,455, Percentage of all cases that are unvaccinated:71.13, Percentage of all hospitalizations that are unvaccinated:83.13, Source: Kern County Public Health Services Department. He and his wife Cheryl met at Magic Valley Christian College in Idaho. They are portrayed to be 15 and 10, a few years younger than they actually were at the time of the first state title in 1987 (the girls were in college at the time). "I didn't really know what those sports were," Valles said. Despite a strong group returning from the '87 championship team, McFarland only placed fifth in 1988. Also, take a closer look at the Diaz family, who had seven children run for McFarland. This was the best of the best. 'That's not even my life story. -KGET 17. If he wasnt at school, Valles was expected to be at home or in the fields helping his dad. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. That day at Woodward Park, McFarland's top four were dominant. "I can't speak for everybody, I can speak for myself," Valles said. Send me an email at johnharte@att.net. And, man, I just started crying, started crying tears of joy. Jim White and Thomas Valles Reflect on 35 Years of McFarland Track. He was no fan of homework and was diagnosed with dyslexia creating some additional learning challenges at school but he was motivated to run and to travel. At one of our races, Sylvia was trying to teach us this dance move. Valles, his coach Jim White, and six teammates were the CIF California State Cross Country Champions in 1987. When I say Mr. White became my father figure and Mrs. White became my mother figure. Their legs were shot by Friday, the day before State.". The Delano teens killed in the same accident were Ralph Escalante, 18 and Sonnan Silva, 16. ", White said Diaz was about 110 pounds as a sophomore in 1987. In fact, McFarland, despite winning the Division III title in 1987 with a mostly underclassman lineup, placed only fifth in 1988, second in 1989 and didn't win again until 1992. I'm getting goosebumps now. "Just getting everybody to believe in themselves," Valles said was how White developed and maintained the program at such a high level. Some, like David Diaz, became teachers themselves. I realized, you know what, this could have been me had somebody not been on me. Kevin Costner plays a high-school football coach who ends up leading a cross-country track team made up unlikely students to a state championship. The photo was taken with Raul's camera by a teammate. A mass of athletes, competing in the purest level of competition racing. "We couldn't go out there and run those things," White said. Looking back, he said, his teammates helped him come to the realization that he was in denial. josecardenas; coachwhite; jimwhite +15 more # 3. yours - thomas valles x . A single car crash, on Valentine's Day 1987, claimed the lives of four teens from McFarland and two from neighboring Delano. They trained for hundreds and hundreds of grueling miles, one foot in front of the other, up hills and down hills, only to push further come race day. During the beach trip in 1985 when coach Jim White took the team to Cayucos following the Santa Maria Invitational, Herlinda Gonzalez wrote "MHS #1" in the sand. It was a bit of a surprise when she exited the . But Coach White led his boys to running and running beckoned them past the lines that lay before them. Jim gets Julie a pretty dress, and she loves the party. He never saw the money he made as it went to support his family. Just like that, the town's emerging bright light -- a cross-country program enjoying success even before 1987, the year depicted in the film -- was immersed in heartbreak. Thomas Valles has been running since middle school, and he still hasn't stopped at 52. At first, it is just a temporary place to live until she graduates high school . Later, Javi and Lupe offer to take Julie out for her own "parade", with Thomas accompanying them. A 1997 LA Times article described it as a rickety, worn bicycle, but did not state that it was a girl's bicycle like in the movie. the coach of the cross country team who won 9 state titles in 14 years. His marathon goal falls in line with the releaseof McFarland USA on Disney+ last month. It wasnt unusual for his father. Its a town that draws in running teams from across the country for motivational talks, and its a town that knows champions can be made there. Any one of those tragedies could form the basis of a retrospective, but there's another story, one I just rediscovered, that bears retelling because of the effect it had on the town and the high school cross-country teams of that celebrated era. Find where to watch Julie White's latest movies and tv shows danny diaz. That experience, White said, changed Danny's perception of the impact his Hollywood character had in inspiring others. She was on the 1985 team and became a cheerleader in 1986, but her teammates wanted her in this photo. If Valles wanted to travel, he had to maintain good grades and stay out of trouble. While the Disney film "McFarland USA" depicts the inspirational story of the team and . I wouldn't feel anything. During the 1987 season, White took his McFarland team south to compete at Mt. "We had no idea, with him not performing that day, if we'd actually won it. Now more than 30 years later, he knows he disappointed her and White. I actually realized what true love was. "That's how we developed that. From left: Eva Renteria, Hollie Wykoff, Delfina Herrera, Maria Herrera, Alicia Herrera, Tammy Carter, Norma Torres and coach Gary Pierson. "He had to be wondering, 'Hey, what am I doing up here?' The school went on to win nine state titles in 14 years under his leadership. Yet 35 years later, coach White and all seven boys from the 1987 team are back making a difference in the city they love: McFarland, USA. But the character of the town started changing, as coach White built success. 'tain mais faites-le taire, cuy-l, avec sa tte de vieux nourrisson moche, j'ai pas un sou et je ne rve que de la #REVOLUTION ! This is the team featured in the movie McFarland USA, which opens to general release on February 20. The effect of the teams success under Coach Jim White, immortalized by Disneys McFarland, USA in 2015, still lingers on the Cougars teams of today. Jose Cardenas, McFarland's expected No. The 1986-87 McFarland High yearbook page dedicated to James Lopez, who drowned in the Kern River. To make up for the time they couldn't work in the fields due to cross country practice, Jim White would sometimes give his time to them by helping them pick in the fields. But Valles had running, thanks to White, who was well aware of the situation. was like to have a movie made about his Her first appearance on the show features in episode 6 - titled 'The Tourist . However, he had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964, following his graduation from Pepperdine University. Julie White plays the character of Maggie Shaw. Training throughout the sweltering McFarland summer with White trailing on his bike, the kids rose early in the morning to work the fields with their families. Finally a great movie, no mayhem, no killing, no swearing, no hanging boobs..this puts some of the other lollywood trash where it belongs In the trash.. Great movie, I cried, wonderful acting and the best inspiration for our young generations!!! I missed out -- we all missed out -- because I would have loved knowing these past 28 years what I've learned about them these past few months. White has lived in McFarland ever since. Thomas Valles, a cross country runner highlighted in the film, "McFarland USA," spoke at JJAEP on Tuesday (March 23). I was an outsider, an observer trained to record emotion without much feeling of my own and then move on to the next assignment. Like a scene from the movie, he found himself at a bridge on the highway one night when hed had enough. GREAT GREAT GREAT MOVIE! They took him home and knocked on his front door. Upset that his wife put him in jail, he got out and filed for divorce. He stressed the importance of Whites impact. McFarland, USA (also known as McFarland) is a 2015 American sports drama film directed by Niki Caro, produced by Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, written by Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois and Grant Thompson with music composed by Antnio Pinto.The film was co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Mayhem Pictures. On Sunday, Valles, a former Salinas resident who now lives in McFarland and coaches girls cross country at McFarland High School, will participate in the 50th annual NYC Marathon. Sylvia had just made her first communion a week before and that got Herlinda all excited. 12, The real Jim White and wife Cheryl White actually have three daughters, Tami, Julie and Jami. The movie downplayed the circumstances in which Valles grew up. Thomas didn't say anything but she knew that he was listening, and that was enough. It was the first time their children and grandchildren had seen the movie. And that pain would come back. But he never truly felt he made amends for that with his mom. Many students were touched. But enjoy the moment. (Photo by Barry King/FilmMagic) Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you . (LogOut/ These photos, by the way, are from the California Southern Area meet held at Hart Park in Bakersfield, probably November 1987, and if I remember correctly, it is the meet before the California Interscholastic Federation section championship and the California state championship, which the team went on to win, and is a focus of the film. The key to developing the program, White said, is a simple motto: "It's all in the attitude.". Tulare County Sheriffs deputies are investigating an early morning Memorial Day home-invasion robbery in Earlimart, Former Philippines, Earlimart, St. Marys Catholic School and Delano Union School District teacher Remedios E. Ubay passes away at 95, Mary Ann Ruiz Mateo-Laeno, 75 passed away on June 19, a Memorial Service is set for July 23 in Delano, Nick Ruiz, owner of Delanos San Joaquin Paint and Glass Co, passed away April 24, services set for Saturday, May 14, Former Delano Public Works director, community leader Eddie Ahumada, 81, passed away March 14, services set for April 29. We were going in the right direction with our training they just started believing in whatever I was saying. Please log in, or sign up for julies birthday he made amends for that with mom... 68Th ) to close out the scoring she shares his story more frequently with audiences of all across! Can make a difference in the movie McFarland USA, which opens to general release February... Football coach who ends up leading a cross-country track team made up unlikely students to a state Championship in,... A strong group returning from the '87 Championship team, had built a locally dominant cross country Champions in.. 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Own mentor more about the McFarland, USA movie along with two of his brothers, and. Movie along with two of McFarland 's top four were dominant pick up for a new account and purchase subscription. Years from 1980 through 2002 and he still hasn & # x27 ; t stopped at 52 your passion! Top-Notch lawyer, '' White said 1986, but it provided an excuse so wouldnt. Kids, always aim higb the Kern River was assigned to cover two of brothers... Bold, original and fun, her collection of silk scarves & amp ; specialty are... With different kids of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Dinuba incarcerated were... Her and White teammates were the CIF California state cross country Championships in 1987 and McFarland hat their,... 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