On December 20th, the City of Delano gathered outside City Hall to fill up the streets all the way down to Robert F. Kennedy High School, to celebrate the Division 3A State Championship title won by the Kennedy Football team. The celebration recognised the efforts made by the players, coaching staff, band, cheerleaders, parents, and community members who have continuously supported the program and these young athletes.
A state championship is the highest title a team can earn during a given season. The teams qualify through regular-season performances and advance through state playoff rounds. Typically divided into classifications based on school enrollment, winning the state championship signifies that the team is the best in its classification across the entire state.
The young men of Robert F. Kennedy High School made history by being the first athletic program and football team in Delano to successfully advance to state finals and bring back a winning title, demonstrating their hard work and dedication. Many family members and community members traveled to Southern California to show their support for the Kennedy Thunderbirds during the state game.
Remedio Verdusco, a longtime resident of Delano and supporter of Kennedy, was among the few individuals who filled the streets on Saturday morning to express his gratitude for the young players.
Verdusco explains that although he does not have any children or grandchildren attending the high school, that didn’t stop him from attending every game Kennedy hosted.
“Regardless of whether you’re a parent or not to any of these kids, you just can’t help but feel happy for them. It’s a big time what they’re doing, and watching them play means a lot,” said Verdusco.
Many of the young athletes were ecstatic to finally have put Delano on the map, allowing outsiders to get a glimpse of the talent, strength, and resilience that come from small towns.
The Kennedy Band also won fifth place at the state level and earned multiple first-place awards in various competitions throughout the season.
In this historical run, senior Jace Demacablin finished his high school career with 102 touchdowns, making him 2nd in Kern County history. He now leads the all-time leading rusher in Kern County.
Randell Rojas, principal of Robert F Kennedy High School, was the first speaker at the historical celebration.
“This is a proud day for RFK and for our community. Let’s continue to live by our motto because when we do simple better, we truly make things simple, too significant. Congratulations RFK. Let’s celebrate this historic moment together,” said Rojas.
Alma Feathers, mother to Isiah Feathers and wife to Coach Feathers, has been supporting her family on the sidelines for a couple of years and expressed her appreciation for the sports program. She explained the confidence her son has gained by participating in the youth program, all the way to playing at the high school level.
“It’s amazing because he’s been able to see a lot of the players that paved the way for him and other athletes that he’s grown up with, but just the culture here at RFK is great, the dynamic with the coaches out here. It’s proven that they really care about their students and their future,” said Feathers.
Jordan Palomo, quarterback on the Robert F. Kennedy football team, mentioned the impact of such a monumental win for Delano’s youth.
“This will impact the kids by pushing them harder, by trusting the coaches, and it will teach them discipline because this team is full of discipline, it’s all we are. This set the bar for the ThunderKids; all the ThunderKids they have always looked up to us, and us winning the state championship just makes it all the better,” shared Palomo.
The Division 3A state championship marks more than a historic win for the Kennedy’s football program; it represents a defining moment for the City of Delano. From the players on the field to the families, coaches, and community members who stood behind them, the Thunderbirds’ journey reflects the pride, discipline, and resilience of Delano’s Robert F. Kennedy High School.
