This past Wednesday, the Oxnard City Council recognized three Channel Island High School’s programs for their successful seasons. The Channel Islands Cheer Competition team, Academic Decathlon team and Mock Trial were recognized by Mayor McArthur and the city of Oxnard council members for their success this year.
The Academic Decathlon team, led by Ms. Caitlyn Gintjee, was praised for placing third in Ventura County, second in Division 1, and earning a total of 39 medals. “The recognition should go to these students,” said Gintjee.
Additionally, they repeated as Team Spirit award champions for the second consecutive year, and Mayor McArthur noted during meeting that the program has continued to place in the top 3 schools of Ventura County the last four years.
Gintjee said that she wishes more recognition was given to the Academic Decathlon students for their commitment and consistency. She mentioned that in addition to the required zero period class students stay after school until 7 or 8 p.m. during competition season.
“Their hard work and dedication is what really helps us and why we’ve gotten where we are now, a team that’s recognized by other schools as competition,” Gintjee said.
The cheer program was recognized for winning the 2026 USA Spirit Nationals in the large novice NT division, their second consecutive year of doing so. Last month, coach Bobby Morales expressed entering the cheer program into a possible new challenge next year of changing divisions.
“We’ve taken on more boys this year so we’re thinking we’re going into a coed division, which is going to be tougher but the challenge is good for us,” coach Morales said in April.
Mock Trial’s recognition pointed out an interesting fact: for the past ten years, Channel Islands High School is the only school from Oxnard and surrounding areas to be invited to the state competition continuously.
Mock Trial coach Monica Adrian stated that the wins represent much more than Channel Islands High School when the program attends the national competition. “They represent not only Channel Islands but the county of Ventura at the State level,” she said.
Unfortunately, a large number of Mock Trial students are graduating this spring, meaning that the 2026-2027 school year will be one full of team building. For the process, Adrian is confident that both the departing Raiders and structure created have helped lay the foundation to continue the program’s success.
“Some of these kids I’ve had for three or four years,” Adrian said. “They know the ropes, so when I have a huge chunk of students leaving, those are huge shoes to fill.”
Adrian explained that although the team will be rebuilding, she maintains a hopeful outlook. “I have enough juniors that are staying that have experience on the team, so they may be able to carry the torch.”
