IN THE MIX:

All the planning and support to get the first Costa Mesa High School handball tournament underway couldn’t compete with California’s most recent wildfires.

After postponing the event one week, the competitors came out Nov. 3 fully energized — though in smaller numbers than planned as some couldn’t rearrange their work schedule on short notice.

About 32 boys and four girls participated in the tournament. In addition to players from Costa Mesa High School, there were high school students from Newport Harbor High, Estancia and Back Bay.

The girls are a new addition to the competition and compete in the C category. Elizabeth Hernandez said she started playing about a year ago because she thought it was a unique sport and there weren’t a lot of girls playing.

During the tournament she partnered with 15-year-old Sandy Martinez.

“Some just think we’re just girls, even though we beat them,” Sandy said.

She says that, but during the tournament I heard the boys cheering them on and saying things like, “Oh the girls are getting better” and expressed disappointment that the girls didn’t place first in the C category.

The other two girls competing in the C group, Elizabeth Garcia and Brenda Vargas, placed second to Jack Bunter and Edward Mendoza.

Some of the competitors were dressed in jeans as they sweated their way through round after round. The part I really wished the parents were there to see was the smiles. You should have seen the smiles.

These are teenage boys and girls used to donning a serious look — they need to make sure everyone knows they’re tough.

The whole time security staffers Richard Gomez and Albert Marron made sure the tournament went smoothly.

They arranged the trophies, added up the team points and made sure everyone had enough handballs and water.

I wasn’t sure what to expect at the tournament. There were less parent spectators than I hoped for. But there were a few friends and family members out watching.

Karari Bravo is a Costa Mesa High School alumnus and veteran player with nine tournaments and seven wins under his belt.

This year the 21-year-old was out to support his cousin, Mario Bravo, 16. I asked him why he thought there weren’t a lot of parents out watching. He pointed to his dad who was there, but said that not many parents come out.

“If it’s football or basketball they’ll come, but handball ”

Mario Bravo recently ventured out to a national tournament at Venice Beach. He said he was nervous but wanted the experience.

The tournament was for small ball, using a smaller, harder ball than handball.

“It’s faster and has a different spin. It’s a different game,” he said.

After hours of fighting off the competition Saturday, Kevin Astorino and Ivan Contreras ended up with the top trophy for division A.

Second place went to Bravo and Carlos Alvarez.

First place for the B division was Irvin Dorantes and Jose Favorino. Second place went to Juan Martinez and Kevin Sierra.

I can’t get over how much beyond the call of duty that security staff is willing to go to improve the lives of the school’s students.

Some community members went beyond the call of duty too.

Diana Hensley, the mental health liaison for the Newport Mesa Unified School District, Jean Shanley, a Costa Mesa High School teacher, the Mesa Verde United Methodist Church and the Costa Mesa Police Assn. donated money and Karen Rhyne, a Newport Beach lawyer, donated gift cards from Carls Jr., McDonald’s, and In and Out Burger.

TeWinkle Middle School Principal Kirk Bauermeister brought hot dogs and grilling essentials for after the event.

Gomez and Marron gave out the gift cards with the trophies as an added bonus. They’ll be using some of the donated money to have more tournaments throughout the year.

They plan on having at least four more and both said that as the year goes on more and more students join in.

ALICIA LOPEZ teaches journalism at Orange Coast College and lives in Costa Mesa. She can be reached at lopezinthemix@gmail.com.