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AUHSD Board to vote on 3 new hires for West Valley athletics
TL;DR
The AUHSD Board is set to vote on three new hires for West Valley athletics, aiming to enhance the sports program. This decision follows recent successes in the school's athletic performances.
West Valley freshman Adelinn Carter takes a swing in a game against Anderson. Carter hit a double and recorded an RBI in the Eagles 12-1 win over the Cubs. April 2, 2026.
West Valley senior pitcher Cadynce Gippner gets ready to deal a pitch to an Anderson batter. Gippner struck out four batters in four innings of work as the Eagles defeated the Cubs 12-1. April 2, 2026.
Anderson senior Mylinda Gomez runs out to defend right field for the Cubs in a game against West Valley on April 2, 2026.
West Valley senior Jenni Carroll gets a base hit in a game against Anderson. Carroll scored two of the Eagles' 12 runs in their win over Anderson on April 2, 2026.
Anderson sophomore Vanessa Hernandez runs off the field after taking an at bat against West Valley. April 2, 2026.
West Valley senior pitcher Cadynce Gippner winds up a pitch. Gippner gave up just four hits and one walk in four innings on the mound while holding the Cubs to just one run. April 2, 2026.
Anderson sophomore Caydence Dial warms up in the field in between innings. April 2, 2026.
West Valley senior Cadynce Gippner deals a pitch in a game against the Anderson Cubs. The Eagles defeated the Cubs 12-1 in five innings. April 2, 2026.
Anderson Caydence Dial high-fives her coach after notching one of her two hits against West Valley. April 2, 2026.
Anderson sophomore Caydence Dial (right) and West Valley senior Madison Pemberton stand at first base in a game between the two rival schools. West Valley defeated the Cubs 12-1. April 2, 2026.
West Valley sophomore Kelsey Roble fist bumps her coach after getting a base hit in the second inning of a game against Anderson. April 2, 2026.
West Valley senior Addy Taylor steps in the box during a game against Anderson. Taylor recorded two hits and an RBI in the Eagles 12-1 win over the Cubs. April 2, 2026.
West Valley senior Cadynce Gippner gets ready to take an at bat against Anderson freshman pitcher Chloe Gurney. April 2, 2026.
Anderson freshman pitcher Chloe Gurney deals a pitch in a game against Anderson. April 2, 2026.
West Valley senior pitcher Cadynce Gippner smiles on the mound in a game against Anderson. Gippner struck out four batters in the Eagles' 12-1 win. April 2, 2026.
The West Valley infield meets on the mound before the start of an inning. April 2, 2026.
Anderson freshman Chloe Gurney winds up a pitch. Gurney pitched a complete game for the Cubs in their loss to West Valley on April 2, 2026.
West Valley senior Cadynce Gippner winds up a pitch in a game against Anderson. Gippner allowed just one run in the Eagles 12-1 win over the Cubs.
West Valley sophomore Kelsey Roble defends second base for the Eagles in a game against Anderson. West Valley defeated the Cubs 12-1. April 2, 2026.
West Valley's home run leader, Madison Pemberton, defends first base for the Eagles in a game against Anderson. April 2, 2026.
West Valley sophomore Coral Tozer (foreground) and junior shortstop Kylee Jaramillo get ready to field a ball. April 2, 2026.
Anderson freshman Sophia Hartman (right) and West Valley senior Madison Pemberton (left) stand at first base after Hartman took a walk. April 2, 2026.
Anderson freshman Sophia Hartman stands at second after stealing the base in a game against West Valley. April 2, 2026.
West Valley sophomore infielder Coral Tozer defends third base for the Eagles in a game against Anderson. April 2, 2026.
Anderson junior Kolbee Wimmer (left) and West Valley junior Kylee Jaramillo (right) stand at first after Jaramillo reached base. Jaramillo went 3-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs and an extra base hit. April 2, 2026.
West Valley senior Aubree Wertz gets ready to bat after coming into a game against Anderson as a pinch hitter. April 2, 2026.
West Valley standout Aubree Wertz gets ready to bat in a game against Anderson. Wertz is hitting .644 through the Eagles first 13 games of the season. April 2, 2026.
West Valley senior Aubree Wertz swings at a pitch in a game against Anderson. April 2, 2026.
West Valley junior Kylee Jaramillo gets ready to deal a pitch. Jaramillo, the Eagles starting shortstop, recorded her third appearance on the mound against Anderson on April 2, 2026.
West Valley junior Kylee Jaramillo winds up a pitch in a game against Anderson. Jaramillo recorded a strikeout and allowed just one hit in her one inning of work. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley freshman Adelinn Carter takes a swing in a game against Anderson. Carter hit a double and recorded an RBI in the Eagles 12-1 win over the Cubs. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley freshman Adelinn Carter takes a swing in a game against Anderson. Carter hit a double and recorded an RBI in the Eagles 12-1 win over the Cubs. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley senior pitcher Cadynce Gippner gets ready to deal a pitch to an Anderson batter. Gippner struck out four batters in four innings of work as the Eagles defeated the Cubs 12-1. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
Anderson senior Mylinda Gomez runs out to defend right field for the Cubs in a game against West Valley on April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley senior Jenni Carroll gets a base hit in a game against Anderson. Carroll scored two of the Eagles' 12 runs in their win over Anderson on April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
Anderson sophomore Vanessa Hernandez runs off the field after taking an at bat against West Valley. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley senior pitcher Cadynce Gippner winds up a pitch. Gippner gave up just four hits and one walk in four innings on the mound while holding the Cubs to just one run. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
Anderson sophomore Caydence Dial warms up in the field in between innings. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley senior Cadynce Gippner deals a pitch in a game against the Anderson Cubs. The Eagles defeated the Cubs 12-1 in five innings. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
Anderson Caydence Dial high-fives her coach after notching one of her two hits against West Valley. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
Anderson sophomore Caydence Dial (right) and West Valley senior Madison Pemberton stand at first base in a game between the two rival schools. West Valley defeated the Cubs 12-1. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley sophomore Kelsey Roble fist bumps her coach after getting a base hit in the second inning of a game against Anderson. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley senior Addy Taylor steps in the box during a game against Anderson. Taylor recorded two hits and an RBI in the Eagles 12-1 win over the Cubs. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley senior Cadynce Gippner gets ready to take an at bat against Anderson freshman pitcher Chloe Gurney. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
Anderson freshman pitcher Chloe Gurney deals a pitch in a game against Anderson. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley senior pitcher Cadynce Gippner smiles on the mound in a game against Anderson. Gippner struck out four batters in the Eagles' 12-1 win. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
The West Valley infield meets on the mound before the start of an inning. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
Anderson freshman Chloe Gurney winds up a pitch. Gurney pitched a complete game for the Cubs in their loss to West Valley on April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley senior Cadynce Gippner winds up a pitch in a game against Anderson. Gippner allowed just one run in the Eagles 12-1 win over the Cubs.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley sophomore Kelsey Roble defends second base for the Eagles in a game against Anderson. West Valley defeated the Cubs 12-1. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley's home run leader, Madison Pemberton, defends first base for the Eagles in a game against Anderson. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley sophomore Coral Tozer (foreground) and junior shortstop Kylee Jaramillo get ready to field a ball. April 2, 2026.
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Meet the 2 Shasta Family YMCA Athletes of the Week for March 29-April 4
Anderson freshman Sophia Hartman (right) and West Valley senior Madison Pemberton (left) stand at first base after Hartman took a walk. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
Anderson freshman Sophia Hartman stands at second after stealing the base in a game against West Valley. April 2, 2026.
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Top high school sports games of the week for April 13-19
West Valley sophomore infielder Coral Tozer defends third base for the Eagles in a game against Anderson. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
Anderson junior Kolbee Wimmer (left) and West Valley junior Kylee Jaramillo (right) stand at first after Jaramillo reached base. Jaramillo went 3-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs and an extra base hit. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley senior Aubree Wertz gets ready to bat after coming into a game against Anderson as a pinch hitter. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley standout Aubree Wertz gets ready to bat in a game against Anderson. Wertz is hitting .644 through the Eagles first 13 games of the season. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley senior Aubree Wertz swings at a pitch in a game against Anderson. April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley junior Kylee Jaramillo gets ready to deal a pitch. Jaramillo, the Eagles starting shortstop, recorded her third appearance on the mound against Anderson on April 2, 2026.
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See our top photos from West Valley softball's dominant win over Anderson
West Valley junior Kylee Jaramillo winds up a pitch in a game against Anderson. Jaramillo recorded a strikeout and allowed just one hit in her one inning of work. April 2, 2026.
The Anderson Union High School district released the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the Board of Trustees, set to take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Anderson Union High School Library.
At the meeting, the Board of Trustees will vote on three new hires for West Valley athletics, including Justin Byxbe for head coach of the varsity volleyball team, Tim Harles for head coach of the varsity football team and Travis Gurney for head coach of the freshman football team.
Both Harles and Byxbe appeared on the District’s agenda for a special meeting that was cancelled just hours before its 9 a.m. start time on April 1. According to the District, the meeting was cancelled due to a sick board member.
West Valley Football
West Valley Eagles football helmets. Aug. 25, 2025.
Harles was brought in as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator for the 2025 season after serving as the head football coach for Las Plumas High School. Following Jason Weston’s resignation in December, it seemed Harles was the likely choice to take over the program.
In 2025, under Weston and Harles, the Eagles finished with a 7-4 record behind a dominant run game and defense.
In February, however, former West Valley head coach Greg Grandell made a bid for the open position and was eventually denied the role. Harles is the first candidate other than Grandell to appear on the district’s HR report.
If voted in as the head freshman coach, Gurney will take over for coach Lenny Ehn. Ehn served as both the freshman football coach and varsity basketball coach during the 2025-26 academic year.
West Valley Volleyball
West Valley coach Melissa Church leads a pep talk during the fourth set of the CIF Division IV state semifinal against Ripon Christian on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022.
If voted in, Justin Byxbe will make a move from principal to head varsity volleyball coach and take over the team from coach Melissa Church.
Since she arrived at West Valley in 2017, Church has consistently kept the Eagles among the top of the Northern Section. From 2021-24, Church and West Valley won four consecutive section championships.
In 2025, West Valley lost in the section championship game but went on to win its first round state playoff matchup.
Byxbe was the Eagles assistant coach in 2025 and left his role with the team before its playoff run. In December, following the season, Byxbe requested to apply for the volleyball coaching job.
In the months after Byxbe first requested to apply, Church has been kept in the dark about her future with the program. Church said she hasn’t been given an opportunity to apply for the role, and the District didn’t notify her that they would be moving in a different direction for the 2026 season.
AUHSD never listed the head volleyball coaching job as a current vacancy in any HR report despite the varsity and freshman head football coaching openings, as well as the current boys head soccer coach vacancy, being listed in advance of a Board vote.
West Valley also named Niki Simonsen as the new principal for the school. Simonsen, who is the current assistant principal, will take over the job from Byxbe for the 2026-27 school year.
Brett Abrams is a sports reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. He covers high school and local sports in the Redding area. Reach out to Brett with any sports tips or news on X (formerly Twitter) @brabrams_ or by email at Brett.Abrams@Redding.com. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: AUHSD Board to vote on new hires for West Valley football, volleyball
Q&A
What new hires is the AUHSD Board considering for West Valley athletics?
The AUHSD Board is considering three new hires to strengthen the West Valley athletics program.
Why is the AUHSD Board voting on new hires for West Valley athletics?
The vote is aimed at improving the sports program following recent athletic successes at West Valley.
What recent athletic successes has West Valley experienced?
West Valley recently achieved a 12-1 victory over Anderson, showcasing strong performances from players like Adelinn Carter and Cadynce Gippner.
When will the AUHSD Board vote on the new hires for West Valley athletics?
The specific date for the AUHSD Board's vote on the new hires has not been mentioned in the provided information.
