By Shiloh Ireland

August 10,2024 (Lakeside) -- The annual Vaqueros Run rumbled down Maine Avenue in Lakeside on August 1st. El Capitan High School football team, a Grossmont Union district school, marched down Maine Avenue with their football team and cheerleaders while Maine Avenue was lined with fans. The small-town spirit was alive and the marching band complimented the atmosphere.

Pre-recorded television special celebrating local educators and their accomplishments amid COVID-19 pandemic will air on Saturday, Nov. 21

Source:  Cox Communications

Photos:  Christine Hill, Ramona High School and Jay Tweet, El Capitan High School

November 12, 2020 (San Diego) - Five teachers from across the region have been named a San Diego County Teacher of the Year and will be honored during the 30^th Anniversary of “Cox Presents: A Salute To Teachers,” brought to you by San Diego County Credit Union. Produced by Cox Communications, in partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education, this year’s show will be a pre-recorded television special airing at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21 on Cox’s YurView Network (Cox Channel 4 and 1004 and Spectrum Channel 4). The five honorees representing schools from Del Mar, Lakeside, Ramona, central San Diego and Valley Center, were chosen from a pool of 40 nominees countywide who are their respective school district’s teacher of the year. 

East County News Service

November 12, 2018 (Lakeside) – The Sheriff’s department announced tonight that a 14-year-old student at El Capitan High School has been arrested and booked into Juvenile Hall for making criminal threats on social media toward the school.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

Cover photo:  Helix sophomore Thomas Caneday posted nine complete innings while giving up just four hits and no runs in the shutout win for the Highlanders.

April 24, 2018 (Lakeside) - El Capitan and Helix baseball have produced some outstanding college and MLB recruits and today, we got to see both programs in action at Hostetler Field on the campus of El Capitan High.  The Vaqueros, however, have had a rocky season, going 6-11, but the positive takeaway is that they are .500 (2-2) in the Grossmont League coming into today’s game.  The Highlanders have a decent overall record (12-7), but are strangely winless in league play, going 0-2.  Sophomore Thomas Caneday got the start today for Helix against senior Blake Peyton for El Cap.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity? Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

October 6, 2017 (Lakeside) - ECM Friday Night Lights is back after a two-week hiatus with our first-ever trip to Lakeside as the Foothillers of Grossmont (3-2 overall) made the trip out to visit the Vaqueros of El Capitan (2-3 overall) in both teams’ first matchup of Grossmont League play.

Kathryn Worley and Daemein Patterson to represent GUHSD in prestigious San Diego County Teacher of the Year Competition

East County News Service

April 8, 2017 (El Cajon) -- At the Governing Board meeting on Thursday, April 6, 2017, the Grossmont Union High School District honored Teacher of the Year nominees from each of its schools. This is a great honor, as each nominee was selected by their peers.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Left and right: bull atop El Capitan High School and former Pinnacle Peak restaurant

May 6, 2016 (Lakeside) – A popular icon in downtown Lakeside—the bull statue atop the former Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse on Maine Avenue—vanished recently, leaving locals to ponder, where’s the beef?

Fortunately the missing steer statue was found this morning not far away, standing on the roof of El Capitan High School—and that’s no bull.

No one has come forward to fess up to steering the statue to the high school, though a senior prank is rumored.

March 5, 2015 (Lakeside) – Sheriff’s deputies arrested a woman Thursday for threatening to “shoot up” a school in the Lakeside area.  Sarah Joy Lomaintewa, 26, will be charged with making terrorist threats and threatening a school.

By Miriam Raftery

November 20, 2014 (El Cajon)--Once again, six-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has proven himself to be a hero for education in his hometown, El Cajon.

The Jimmie Johnson Foundation/Lowe’s Toolbox for Education has awarded $556,623 in grants for 2014—including grants to three schools in the Grossmont Union High School District.  The local grants include

• Chaparral High School - $29,482 to create a computer lab that will augment the program at Chaparral through the use of online learning and digital arts instruction.
• El Capitan High School - $23,000 to purchase new laptops for teachers so they can be better equipped to use digital/paperless resources and to teach students how to use the online resources and apps available to them.
• Grossmont High School - $80,458 to integrate technology and foster collaboration and making connections between the arts and core academic classes.

Other grants went to schools in North Carolina, Okalahoma, and to Loma Portal Elementary School in San Diego.

Coach Steve Vickery inducted into National High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame

By Ryan Schuler

February 28, 2012(Lakeside)--It’s no secret that El Capitan High School is a powerhouse when it comes to baseball in San Diego. Coming off a 2011 season in which the squad was ranked California's No. 18 team by ESPN’s CalHiSports and reached the San Diego Section CIF Division III finals, the Vaqueros are back in the CalHiSports state rankings again, this time in the preseason.

Led by reigning California Coaches Association State Baseball Coach of the Year Steve Vickery and 6-foot-5 senior southpaw Troy Conyers, the Vaqueros enter the season ranked No. 4 in California.

March 17, 2011 (Lakeside) – Roundup the kids and head on out to Lakeside on Sunday, March 20th, where carnival activities, an astro jump, barbecue and auction are all part of a fundraising event to benefit the East San Diego County Junior Fair.