Every coach and sports administrator at Culver City high school plays an extremely important role developing young student-athletes. All of the Centaurs coaches do a great job but this academic year (2015-16) two coaches stood a little taller than the rest and that’s why Rayfield Beaton and Rick Prieto were chosen as Coaches of the Year by the Culver City News sports department.
Beaton, who just completed his fourth year as the head girls and assistant boys track and field coach has help make a program that was already good into a program that is headed for greatness. He appears to have an inter calmness that brings out the best in athletes that he coaches. “I just try to put myself in their position and understand the person first and the athlete second,” said Beaton.
It’s not hard for Beaton to understand the athlete because he was one of the greatest USC track and field athletes. He is the third fastest 800-meter runner in USC history with a time of 1:46.5.
In 2015 and 2016 the girls varsity track and field teams won the Ocean league championships and the 2014 and 2015 the girls’ teams won the soph/frosh championships
When you mention Culver City baseball the name Rick Prieto automatically pops up. Prieto has been coaching Culver City baseball for over 25 years and this past season his varsity team captured the Ocean league title with a perfect 10-0 record and his overall season record, which included two playoff wins was 21-8. They were beaten by the CIF Division III champion Redondo in the third round of the playoffs.
The other highlight of the season was the overall team hitting, pitching and fielding of nine seniors and eight juniors but pitcher Nolan Martinez was the brightest star in the galaxy. The 98th player taken by the New York Yankees in the recent Major League Baseball draft, Martinez brought excitement to Centaur baseball that has not been seen in the past 20 years.
“When this group of seniors stepped on campus four years ago I knew they were special,” said Prieto. “They will be missed but we have another group of special players ready to take their place.”
