Todd Rogers and Dax Holdren, U.S. Olympians and former partners on the professional volleyball tour, and longtime San Marcos High coach and athletic director Abe Jahadhmy will be honored at the sixth annual Royal Gala on Friday, Sept. 27, at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.
Presented by the San Marcos High Royal Pride Foundation, the Royal Gala recognizes Royals who made an impact at the school and beyond, and serves as a fundraiser for school programs and campus improvements.
Rogers and Holdren played volleyball at San Marcos and went on to form a successful professional beach volleyball partnership– they won eight tournaments together on the AVP Tour.
Both players represented the U.S. in beach volleyball at the Olympic Games — Holdren in 2004 in Athens, Greece, where he finished fifth with Stein Metzger, and Rogers in 2008 in Beijing, China and 2012 in London, England with partner Phil Dalhausser.
Rogers and Dalhausser won the gold medal at the 2008 Games.
Jahadhmy has been part of San Marcos athletics for 32 years. He coached boys soccer and guided the Royals to a CIF title in 1998 before becoming the school’s athletic director in 2004. He still holds the post.
The event will include dinner and dancing under the stars, live and silent auctions and a raffle. The San Marcos Culinary Academy will be making the dessert, said San Marcos alum and foundation executive director Jessica Ballonoff.
“This will be the premier party of the season, where hundreds of Royal parents, staff and alumni will gather together in support of San Marcos High,” said event co-chairs Anna Rice and Barbara McWhirter.
Space is limited, and tickets are available now. For more information and tickets, go to www.royalpridefoundation.org or email jessica@royalpridefoundation.org.