In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Santa Ynez High School Athletic Director Ashley Coelho is taking a steady and careful approach in returning sports to the campus.

“We are doing this slowly. We are doing this safely,” said Coelho, who is in her second year as athletic director. “We are following guidelines from the state, from the county, from the CIF (state office). If we get two sets of guidelines, we follow the stricter one.”

Athletes in football, girls and boys volleyball, cross country, girls tennis, boys and girls water polo, and girls golf have been participating in the school’s return-to-sports program.

“Varsity and JV teams have been working out,” Coelho said.

The student athletes are working in pods, and balls stay within a specific pod and are wiped down and sanitized before each use. All weight room equipment is used outdoors and also is wiped down and sanitized before each use.

Santa Ynez football coach Josh McClurg said he is excited to see kids out for the sport.

“Attendance has been good, especially since there haven’t been mandatory workouts,” he said. “Attendance has been 95 percent.”

He noted that the numbers in the varsity and JV programs have been typical this year.

“It’s in the high 30s, low 40s for the varsity. That’s average for us,” he said. “The enthusiasm has been good. I think the kids are happy just to be running around and doing something.”

The Pirates are coming off a CIF playoff-qualifying season, and McClurg has a starting quarterback, running back and wide receiver back from that team.

“Bennett Redell has been a two-year starter for us at quarterback,” he said. “Logan Ast started the last 2½ games for us at running back, and Cameron Prendergast, a three-year starter for us at wide receiver, is back.”

All three are seniors. Cameron is the younger brother of school record-breaking wide receiver Gabe Prendergast.

McClurg also has four of five returning starting offensive linemen and two returning starters on the defensive line.

Competition for starting spots won’t take place until the Pirates start contact drills in December. The regular season is slated to begin Jan. 8 at Fillmore.

Santa Ynez is playing in the Pacific View League of the Channel-Pacific View Association for football. Their opponents include Cabrillo, Buena, Ventura, Channel Islands and San Marcos.