GUSTINE – On Tuesday, the Sac-Joaquin Section’s mandatory dead period came to an end.
That is good news for Gustine and Orestimba football teams, plus other sports preparing for the 2025-26 season.
The section’s dead period ran from July 1 through Tuesday. Starting today – Wednesday – high school football teams, with their coaches, can resume communications and workouts for the upcoming season. This also includes other fall, plus winter and spring sports teams. The dead period ran from July 1-14.
According to Gustine High football head coach Collin Lane, his players were scheduled to return to the weight room early Tuesday morning. The Reds will work out through Thursday and increase their workouts for four days next week. Before the dead period, Gustine was conducting workouts in the weight room and conditioning.
Orestimba is going through a football head coaching change. In June, Aaron Souza stepped down after a successful run to become the school’s assistant principal. A new head coach has not been officially announced at press time.
During the dead period, student athletes were allowed to get together amongst themselves but no coaches, paid and volunteers were not to be present. Student athletes could still train, condition, and compete in club sports if it is of their free will and won’t put them in contact with their high school coaches.
The section passed the dead period bylaw in January 2024.
Prep football squads can officially start practices on Monday, July 28. Other fall sports teams can begin practices entering early August.
Orestimba (7-5 overall during the 2024 football season) and Gustine (5-7 in 2024) will open the season against each other in the football season opener at Warrior Stadium on Friday, Aug. 22.
Orestimba will play Grace Davis of Modesto, LeGrand and Freedom of Oakley in preseason before beginning its second season in the Trans-Valley League on Friday, Sept. 26 hosting Sonora (13-2 in 2024).
After its Westside rivalry opener, Gustine will play Millennium of Tracy, Riverbank and Yosemite in preseason. The Reds will start Southern Athletic League action against Mariposa on Friday, Sept. 19.
Mike Bush is a multimedia journalist who was born and raised in the Stanislaus and Merced County areas. Follow him on X/Twitter @MikeBMultimedia and Instagram @mikebushmedia.
