The 2002 graduate of Half Moon Bay High School is enjoying life as a math teacher and cross country coach at Pajaro Valley High School in Watsonville.
She does both the teaching and coaching with a great deal of passion. However, trying to stay ahead of the game is next to impossible.
 Rachel Restani, a Half Moon Bay graduate and now cross country coach at Pajaro Valley, yells out splits to Elizabeth Medina. |
“I give my kids their first mile time and I grade a couple of papers,” Restani said. “Then I give them their finish time.”
The fall is a busy time.
Practice lasts for more then two hours every day. Weekday meets stretch the days with the travel to and from the competition. The Grizzlies go to meets almost every Saturday.
Pajaro Valley participated in the Oct. 3 Artichoke Invitational. After the meet, Restani took the team to her parents’ house for a barbecue.
“I don’t have very much personal time,” Restani said. “I’m tired right now.”
But she’s not complaining.
“I wanted to be a teacher ever since I was a little kid,” Restani said.
The coaching part didn’t enter her mind until she went out for cross country in her freshman year at Half Moon Bay. She was on the varsity team all four years, qualifying for the state meet from her sophomore to senior years. In her senior year of 2001, the Cougars won the Central Coast Section title.
“I had a really good time with cross country in high school,” Restani said. “It was my life in high school.”
She had such a love for the sport that she figured she would be living the ultimate dream if she were to teach and coach cross country.
What made cross country special for her wasn’t winning competitions or the trips to the state meet. It was the coach, Kevin Ostenberg.
“Cross country was not my passion until I met Kevin Ostenberg,” she said. “He was the best coach. He was organized. He was a good guy. He was encouraging.”
Everything she learned from Ostenberg she passes down to her team.
“She always smiling,” said Daniel Yepez, a junior. “She always encourages us to do better in our next race.”
“I wish I had another year of eligibility,” added his older brother, Eric, a senior.
She has the respect of her assistant coach, Kelly Robertson.
“She’s a star,” Robertson said. “She’s smart, energetic and resourceful. She loves cross country.”
Restani wouldn’t trade what she’s doing now for anything.
“I love the kids,” Restani said. “It’s the best part of my day. They want to be here. They actually want to run.
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