No wonder Culver City High School athletic director Tom Salter is smiling.

For the first time in school history, the Centaurs have two teams ranked No. 1 in their sports.

The 6-1 football team has been ranked No. 1 in Division 11 all season.

Now the defending CIF champion girls’ volleyball team, 22-1, has climbed to the top of Division 4. T

Both teams play important home games this week.

The  volleyball team will host  Santa Monica at 3:15 Thursday inside the Del Goodyear gym.

The football team, coming off its first loss, will play Hawthorne on Friday at 7 in Jerry Chabola Stadium.

It is celebration week.

Thursday will be Senior Night for the volleyball team.

Friday will be Homecoming at the football game following last week’s 33-14 Ocean League loss to Lawndale.

Coach Jahmal Wright promised that despite the defeat, the Centaurs, 1-1 and tied for second place, “will be ready for Hawthorne.”

As for the volleyball team,
“we have a long road ahead,” said second-year coach Tanner Seigal. “We understand that the process has to play out.

“We have a lot of room to improve. We  want to peak at the right time.”

Siegal said the Centaurs’ program is “second to none.”

He said the junior varsity and freshmen players faithfully follow the varsity and study them.

“The four senior girls on this team provide a tremendous amount of leadership,” Coach Siegal said. “Their legacy will be how the program moves forward after they leave.”

Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com