Closer Look -- Player’s death brings two rival schools together

Deirdre Newman

COSTA MESA -- The tragic death of Costa Mesa High School football

player Matt Colby on Sept. 29 left behind a grieving community that has

since bonded together. In fact, the loss has brought together two bitter

rivalries, Colby’s former high schools -- Costa Mesa and Estancia.

Colby, a defensive linebacker, wore No. 56 at Estancia for three years

before trading in his Eagles jersey for a Costa Mesa Mustangs jersey

sporting No. 9 this season.

While the traditional, friendly rivalry between the two schools became

exacerbated in the spring with the exodus of Colby, Coach Dave Perkins

and six other players, the tragedy has served as a bridge in bringing the

two schools together in the healing process.

“I’m surprised he touched so many lives,” said Mario Macias, a former

teammate of Colby’s at Estancia. “I never thought Costa Mesa and Estancia

would be so close.”

Estancia and Costa Mesa have been rivals on the gridiron since

Estancia opened in 1966, said David Brooks, school board president.

Perkins coached and taught at Estancia for three years before leaving for

Costa Mesa.

Players from both teams rushed to the hospital the night of Sept. 28,

when Colby fell while on the sidelines -- the Costa Mesa players after

their game ended and the Estancia players after they heard the news

during their homecoming dance.

“At the hospital, there were members of both teams there, so which

school you went to didn’t matter,” Brooks said. “They were there for Matt

and his mom showing their support.”

On Saturday, Sept. 29, Costa Mesa players came to Estancia’s game at

the Santa Ana Bowl and cheered on their longtime rivals, Brooks said.

And at a memorial service at Estancia on Wednesday night, more than

100 students from both schools joined together in an emotional outpouring

of support for Colby’s family. Many brushed away tears as they shared

their favorite memories of Colby.

“He always had something to say and a smile on his face,” said Diane

Alderete, Estancia’s senior class president.

Although he had only known Matt for a few months, Jose Valle, a Costa

Mesa teammate, was deeply affected by Colby’s death.

“I just want to say ‘I love him and I’ll always love him,”’ Jose said.

“I think I speak for the whole team that this whole season is for him.”

Megan Devey, a trainer at Costa Mesa, told Colby’s mom, Kelli, that

although she has lost a son, she will now have the students at two high

schools as her children.

“He was always genuine and made you feel like he kept you close to

him,” Megan said of Colby.

Coach Perkins acknowledged that he is going through an extremely

difficult time trying to cope with Colby’s death, but emphasized the

intense bond that has connected the two schools.

“[Matt] touched our lives when he was with us as a single person. Now

he touches all of our lives every day, every moment. He has made us all

special people,” Perkins said.

Costa Mesa will host a memorial for Colby this evening at Orange Coast

College’s football stadium. The Colby family is also expected to release

a statement sometime today.

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .