Home away from home
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South Torrance is practically a second home for Josh Waybright and his family.
The Spartans’ football coach is the oldest of six siblings, five of whom have attended South.
The school is located a couple of blocks from the home of Waybright’s father, Doug Waybright, a former principal at Carson who is now director of secondary education for the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Over the years, and depending on the kid and the season, the family has gathered on campus for practices and games, matches or meets involving football, soccer, volleyball and track and field.
‘There’s pretty much always a Waybright running around somewhere on campus,’ said Robert Kutsch, the South volleyball coach and former athletic director and a former player at Long Beach State.
The latest member of the family on the Spartans’ sports scene is 17-year-old senior Hattie Waybright, Josh’s half-sister and the youngest of three girls among the siblings.
She plays outside hitter on the volleyball team and enjoyed her best performance of the season with 22 kills in a recent four-game victory over West Torrance. She also helped the Spartans (12-5) to the Division II semifinals at the Dave Mohs Championships last month at Edison High.
Last season, Hattie led the Spartans to the championship of the Arcadia tournament and was named the event’s most valuable player.
‘She’s a really hard worker and a pretty good athlete,’ Kutsch said. ‘There are times when she’s on and nobody can stop her. We’re looking for a few more matches like that from her.’
Despite the fact they are each on campus every week day, the Waybrights don’t often meet up before each other’s events.
‘I don’t really see him much during the day at school,’ Hattie said. ‘But I go to most of his football games, and he usually comes to my home matches.’
Both will be busy with their respective sports on Friday, and both teams should benefit.
Josh Waybright, in his fifth season as coach, will guide the Spartans (3-1) in a nonleague game at Gardena Serra (3-1), while while Hattie and her teammates play in the 32-team Las Vegas Durango Fall Classic that runs Friday and Saturday.
‘I’ve enjoyed each of the sports and watching each of the kids,’ said Jo Ann Waybright, an adaptive P.E. teacher for the LAUSD who is Hattie’s mother and Josh’s stepmother. ‘It’s been a good experience.’
- Lauren Peterson