A Charge To Keep

Rio Hondo Prep dominated Pasadena Poly on Saturday with a 65-19 victory. The Kares improved to 2-0 and seven different players scored touchdowns in the blowout. Rio has now won 6 straight against their rivals while both programs appear to be going in opposite directions. Head Coach Mark Carson joins us to talk about the big win and the upcoming matchup with Maranatha next week. Additionally, Senio...

Rio Hondo Prep takes on their rivals Pasadena Poly for an early morning showdown in a continued matchup that has withstood the test of time over five decades. The Panthers and Kares will compete once again in one of the best small school rivalries in Southern California. Play by play broadcaster Clark Bolinger joins us to talk about the RHP Program he once played for and how the weekly game produc...

Rio Hondo Prep opened their season with a 55-28 over Francis Parker to kickoff the 2024 Season. The Kares received Presidential treatment with an escort from campus to Kare Park courtesy of the Arcadia Police Department and 1993 Rio alum Sergeant Wally Ashby who was teammates with Coach Carson back in the day. Rio Hondo wasted no time making huge plays on both sides of the ball and looked like the...

The kickoff of a new season has arrived. The Kares open their 2024 campaign with the visiting Francis Parker Lancers from San Diego this Saturday night. It has been a summer full of anticipation and the wait is finally over. Joining us today is long time football official Bob Gordon, who will discuss some points of emphasis this year in regard to the rules. I had the privilege to work many games w...

Rio Hondo Prep held their Meet The Team event on Friday night for families, fans, and alumni to get their first look at the 2024 squad. Kare Park in Irwindale was in midseason form as spectators flooded the concourse to take in one of the best high school football environments around even it was a week early. We tried our first remote podcast right on the field to bring you all the sights and soun...

Rio Hondo Prep wrapped up their first week of Fall Camp with a practice in full pads on Saturday. We have you covered for the sights and sounds of the boys back on the grass at historic Kare Field. Head Coach Mark Carson also gives us a tour of some of the facilities at RHP. Our post practice interviews include comments from Ivan Tkach, Yanick Diaz, Landry Johnson, and Caeden Holcomb. In closing,...

As we enter the month where football officially begins, Coach Mark Carson joins me to recap the summer and look ahead to getting back onto the field. He talks about the skills and contributions of our final three seniors Andy Xu, Winston Yang, and Dominick Yang-Lim. Coach and I go down memory lane a little bit with some memories of my mother Diane Heersema and some fun times in his brand new Toyot...

As we continue our interviews with the families of our Seniors, we are reminded of just how special Rio Hondo Prep is and the many different ways that people around the world happen to stumble across 5150 Farna Avenue. Joining us today are three more amazing families who are cheering on their boys going into their final season. The proud parents of Caeden Holcomb, Marco Chan, and Ivan Tkach share...

Do you remember what it felt like going into your Senior year? Were you sad, nervous, or excited? You work your whole life to get to this moment, but it also arrives before you ever feel truly ready for it. As we continue our tribute to the new Seniors and their families, we are joined by the proud parents of Zack Burl as well as those of Nate and Josh Curtis. Both families seem to have a deep con...

As we soon kickoff another football season, we now have a new batch of Seniors that will begin their final year at Rio Hondo Prep. The instant promotion to Senior is full of serious responsibilities and final possibilities. Over the next few weeks, we will be joined by the proud parents of the young men who will lead the way for Rio going forward. One thing we can all agree on is that it will be o...

Happy 4th of July! Major Bill Lee spent 20 years in the United States Marine Corps and completed multiple combat deployments to Iraq. He is a proud alumnus of Rio Hondo Prep and won a CIF Championship back in 1990 alongside one of his brothers. Bill embodies the giving spirit of the great Lee family in their life long service to others. Back in 2005, Bill was the Strength and Conditioning Coach as...

Rod Heaton was one of the fiercest football players in Rio Hondo Prep history. His intimidating presence and intense athleticism put him amongst the all time greats to ever wear the crest on their helmet. Back when I was in 4th grade, Mr Heaton was in his 20s and served as an assistant coach of mine that had a tremendous impact on me and my Gator teammates. He would pick us up for Church and take...

Wally Ashby is a Patrol Sergeant with the Arcadia Police Department and a proud graduate from Rio Hondo Prep in 1993. Back when he was a Senior at Prep, Wally coached me and my 2nd grade teammates on the Gators in Kare Youth League. The first time I ever went to a Rio football game was to watch Coach Wally on the gridiron. We chat about the impact on KYL kids when they go watch their assistant coa...

Greg Bolinger was one of the original founders of the Glendora Gators in Kare Youth League. He was also a member of two championship teams at Rio Hondo Prep in 1977 and 1979. Mr Bolinger was my first Leader in KYL back when I joined the program in 2nd grade. We reflect on some great memories at Wingate Park and his playing days at RHP. I attended my first Rio football game for a Gator team Outing...

Gary Shintaku was my Leader for most of my time in Kare Youth League. He coached me in 3rd-5th grade on the Gators and taught me more lessons than I can count. His attention to detail and ability to challenge our teams at such a young age absolutely prepared us all for bigger things down the road. Mr Shintaku played in the famous 1977 CIF Championship against Montclair Prep that is nearly unanimou...

In this Spring Sports Special, we acknowledge all three Rio Hondo Prep teams that will be competing in the CIF Playoffs at the same time. It will be an exciting Tuesday with the Softball Team hosting Southlands Christan at 3:15pm followed by a home game at 6:00pm for the Volleyball Team which takes on Samueli Academy. The Baseball pairings will be announced Monday morning, and we could very likely...

In this special edition of the podcast, we are promoting a big fundraising event for Kare Youth League that is just one month away. On April 20th, KYL is hosting a Topgolf Tournament and Awards Luncheon Fundraiser in Ontario, California. Topgolf is located right next to Ontario Airport for easy access to those interested from out of the area and is truly a fun environment for all who participate....

It's postseason time once again for the Rio Hondo Prep Girls Basketball Team. The 17-7 Kares are headed to Whittier this Thursday night to take on the 13-14 La Serna Lances in the 1st Round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3A Playoffs. Our special guests are Emma Carson and Sydney Diaz who are both Seniors and Captains on this RHP team. They were also Homecoming Queen and Senior Princess b...

Rio Hondo Prep's magical season came to a close up in Central California in the Division 4-A State Regionals. The Kares fell 29-14 to Mission Oak of Tulare in a back and forth game that could have gone either direction. The 210 Prep Sports media outlet named Head Coach Mark Carson as its Coach Of The Year; it also named Noah Penunuri and Nate Curtis as Co-Players Of The Year. Coach Carson make...

Rio Hondo Prep is 13-1 and won the CIF Southern Section Division 9 Championship last week and was selected into the Division 4-A State Playoffs this Saturday. The Kares will travel 185 miles to Tulare, CA to take on the 9-5 Mission Oak Hawks who were the CIF Central Section Division 3 Champions. A victory would send RHP to its first ever State Championship Game. Todd Carson is our featured guest a...

Rio Hondo Prep won its 15th CIF-SS Championship in school history with a 29-27 instant classic on Friday night over Santa Monica High School. It came down to the final play and was witnessed by thousands of RHP faithful both in person and watching the online broadcast. We could not be prouder of the young men who have grown before our very eyes and represented countless generations with poise, cla...

Happy Thanksgiving from the Heersema family! On this special occasion I am joined by my brother Sam and father Dave. The Rio Hondo Prep football team had their final practice this morning in preparation for the CIF Finals tomorrow and we could all not be more excited. My dad, brother, and I reminisce about some RHP football memories and why the program will always be special to us. It's time t...

Coach Steven Gholar is a Professional Athletic Performance Trainer that has worked with countless athletes over the years at all levels. The past few years he has enjoyed working with many athletes from Rio Hondo Prep and is impressed with their character, work ethic, and perseverance. The Rio kids he has trained with has made him a huge fan of the program, and he wants to continue the relationshi...

Rio Hondo Prep is headed to their 22nd CIF Final in school history after their 31-14 victory at Vista Del Lago in Moreno Valley. The Kares played with poise and passion in their conquest of a 15th football banner to be raised in the Styver's Center on campus. Noah Penunuri led the team with over 170 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns. The stifling Rio defense bent but did not break all ni...

Fred Robledo has covered high school football for over 20 years and is a Local Sports Editor for the Southern California News Group. He gives his thoughts on the tradition of Rio Hondo Prep and where they stand amongst the best programs in the San Gabriel Valley. Fred shares why he continues to not be surprised by RHP anymore even when their success may not always make sense and why Rio needs to s...