By Macenzie Toscano, Staff Writer
The year was 2012 and the football field looked particularly new and inviting as the graduates lived out their final days as students at Vaca High. Baseball player Tony Gonsolin was finally graduating from Vacaville High School. In that moment, no one quite knew where or how they’d end up. Flash forward to Summer 2016 and Tony Gonsolin would be drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gonsolin claims he owes part of his success to Vaca High.
“I think that the experiences I went through at school and on the baseball field were the beginning steps for my learning about success and failure. The correct ways to handle each situation and a little on how to reflect on those situations,” Gonsolin stated.
In 2003, Kyle DeVan graduated from Vacaville High School. Similar to Gonsolin, he excelled in his choice of sport and eventually found himself in the NFL. DeVan played football for the Washington Redskins, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Tennessee Titans. With the Colts, DeVan played in the 2009 Super Bowl as a starting guard.
Many other Vaca High Alumni have had success stories of their own.
Seth Lowrie, also a graduate of 2012, lived out his Vaca High days as a friendly and well-known football player and wrestler. Today, Lowrie resides in Japan with his fellow Marines. He is now commonly referred to as Corporal Lowrie.
Chris Marino, a graduate of 1991, went on to be a P.E teacher at Willis Jepson Middle School, as well as the wrestling coach and athletic director.
A number of alumni have gone on to become police officers, firefighters, and even teachers and coaches (Chris Marino, Clint Birch, Armando Orozco, Tracy Harrison, Adam Wight) here in Vacaville.
One constant that seems to be the same amongst Vaca High Alumni is the Bulldog Pride that fails to subside.
“I think that the experiences I went through at school and on the baseball field were the beginning steps for my learning about success and failure. The correct ways to handle each situation and a little on how to reflect on those situations,” Gonsolin stated.
In 2003, Kyle DeVan graduated from Vacaville High School. Similar to Gonsolin, he excelled in his choice of sport and eventually found himself in the NFL. DeVan played football for the Washington Redskins, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Tennessee Titans. With the Colts, DeVan played in the 2009 Super Bowl as a starting guard.
Many other Vaca High Alumni have had success stories of their own.
Seth Lowrie, also a graduate of 2012, lived out his Vaca High days as a friendly and well-known football player and wrestler. Today, Lowrie resides in Japan with his fellow Marines. He is now commonly referred to as Corporal Lowrie.
Chris Marino, a graduate of 1991, went on to be a P.E teacher at Willis Jepson Middle School, as well as the wrestling coach and athletic director.
A number of alumni have gone on to become police officers, firefighters, and even teachers and coaches (Chris Marino, Clint Birch, Armando Orozco, Tracy Harrison, Adam Wight) here in Vacaville.
One constant that seems to be the same amongst Vaca High Alumni is the Bulldog Pride that fails to subside.
