Ring ceremony coming for national champion Thunderbirds

Yucaipa High School will honor members of its CIF-SS/national championship boys swimming team either Friday night at the football game against visiting San Gorgonio, or Oct. 17 against Redlands.

Thunderbirds swimming coach Frank Solis said the Thunderbirds who are able to attend will receive their CIF-SS championship rings. Earlier this month, Yucaipa was also declared national swimming champs by a major swimming magazine.

"The rings were already ordered when we were named as national champs," Solis said. "We would have loved to have included that on our rings."

Solis said the rings have a blue stone in the middle with a Thunderbird head inlaid. They were designed by the athletes.

Solis said returning members of the team will be at the ceremony, as well as as many Class of 2008 swimmers as can make it (star Karl Krug is now attending Auburn University).

Solis also said both he and Glen Perry will act as co-coaches for the 2009 season. Last season Perry was an assistant.