The haunting of Yuba City High
Aliens, the Loch Ness monster, Sasquatch and ghosts — these are myths and legends that people either love to believe or listen to as tall tale stories. Halloween is fast approaching, and in honor of this spooky holiday, I decided to investigate the legend that Yuba City High School is haunted by ghosts — which some students believe to be true.
Some of our students can say with confidence that our school is haunted by the unknown, while other students and even staff remain skeptical and unmoved by the stories that float around our campus.
According to YCHS senior Keenan Lewis, a ghost presides over our football field, and it is frequently seen late at night after football games. "A figure stood not moving off in the end zone, and as we walked closer, so did he until out of nowhere, he vanished," Keenan said.
On the same night, Keenan said he heard "someone running on the bleachers, and when we approached the bleachers to see who was there, the running slowed down and eventually stopped."
Keenan added that he and his friends definitely felt someone watching them while they were by the bleachers.
These "ghost" sightings haven't been the first allegations of paranormal activity being rumored about our high school. There is another long-reported story of people hearing the sounds of a basketball game being played in the outdoor courts located between the two gyms. Heard late at night, witnesses say it sounds like feet running up and down the court and throwing basketballs at the backboards.
Not everyone at YCHS is convinced that our school is haunted, however. Head varsity football coach John Ithurburn not only doesn't believe that the YCHS ghosts are real, he is convinced that the story was "made up by a bunch of immature high school boys."
Other staff members around campus believe these stories are merely superstitions and entertainment for the students. That is, except for head custodian Sal Gonzalez. He said he has had a multitude of experiences, from hearing "people walking around and talking on the stage to hearing lockers and doors open and close while cleaning the hallways, yet clearly no one was home."
But if the stories are true, who are these ghosts? Senior varsity football captain Jimmy Mann said that since our school has been around for nearly 90 years — having been founded in 1923 — it's possible that it is students and staff members from years ago.
Shelby Martinez, another senior, also believes in the supernatural presence on our campus. Her experience was "in the multi-purpose room. I was behind the stage — and I knew there was no one else behind there with me — when all of a sudden, I heard a loud, unceremonious boom." She said she was too frightened to investigate any further.
I have not experienced any ghosts or felt a supernatural presence on my campus, but who can say that Yuba City High School isn't haunted? However, if there is something strange going on in our Honker neighborhood, at least we know to call the Ghostbusters!
Julia Lancaster is a senior at Yuba City High School. Her column appears every six weeks in Education.
