CHICO, Calif. – Action News Now has gained new insights into the investigation involving Chico Unified Head Girls Volleyball coach Chas Konopka.

Back in March, several of the players on the volleyball team brought their complaints against Coach Konopka to the Chico Unified board trustees, labeling him as “mean” and “out of line.”

A formal complaint was filed, and Action News Now has been following the developments closely over the past few months.

On Monday, Chico High Athletic Director Jason Alvistur mentioned to Action News Now that Konopka was cleared of the charges.

However, Alvistur clarified on Tuesday that Konopka was actually cleared to coach, not exonerated of all allegations.

A representative for the Chico Unified School District said the investigation had concluded but is now being appealed.

“We can confirm that through the comprehensive investigation, Chico Unified has identified areas within our school athletic programs to be improved, including training for coaches and clarification of the complaint process,” the representative said.

The district plans to implement additional training and support for the 2025-26 athletic staff, focusing on best practices for interacting with student-athletes.

The full statement from Chico Unified School District can be read in its entirety below:

“In March, Chico Unified was made aware of concerns regarding the Chico High School volleyball program. Chico Unified worked with all involved to conduct a comprehensive investigation. The complaint investigation and resolution process can take a long time and is intended to allow all parties to be heard in order to determine any necessary actions moving forward. The process also provides for an appeal process. As a result, the Chico High School volleyball complaint has yet to be resolved. Any reference to allegations being unfounded or individuals being cleared of allegations are not accurate as the complaint process is still ongoing.

CUSD takes complaints seriously and is responsible for conducting a comprehensive investigation. While the complaint investigation process can be long, it is intended to allow all parties to be heard and to determine any necessary actions moving forward. The process also provides for an appeal process. As a result, the complaint has yet to be resolved.

Chico Unified appreciates those students and families who are willing to share their concerns. Their communication allowed us to identify areas of needed improvement. We believe we can always improve and are confident the concerns addressed through this process will benefit not just the volleyball program but our entire athletic program.

While we cannot discuss specific details, we can confirm that through the comprehensive investigation, Chico Unified has identified areas within our school athletic programs to be improved, including training for coaches and clarification of the complaint process. Chico Unified will be working to make the complaint process clearer for athletes to understand so complaints and concerns can be addressed when they occur. The 2025-26 athletic staff will also have extra training and coaching support materials specifically focused on best practices for interacting with student-athletes.

Chico Unified is committed to ongoing improvement in all our programs, including our high school athletic programs.”

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STOCKTON, Calif. – The University of the Pacific is giving back to the community by soaking in the sun with its annual summer swim school at the Chris Kjeldsen Pool.

Running from June 2 to August 7, the swimming program provides 30-minute lessons that meet four times a week during two-week sessions. The lessons are instructed by professionals and Pacific student-athletes who are familiar with the swimming pool and community.

“The swim school is very beneficial to the community,” said Anna Weber, a 2025 graduate who is helping oversee the program this year. “It’s nice to give the kids and the community a chance to swim in our pool. We have a lot of our student-athletes that help teach the swimming lessons. It’s special because not many universities offer a program like this to collaborate with Division I student-athletes, and we enjoy the experience all summer long.”

The classes range from one-year-old to 15+ years old age groups with the sessions spread out across morning and evening times. Over 900 swimmers have signed up for this year’s sessions thus far as the program continues to invite those to the university’s pool facility from all around the San Joaquin County.

The university and the community coming together sheds a positive light for the campus connecting with future Tigers, just like how Pacific swim head coach Katelyne Herrington learned nearly three decades ago.

“The Pacific swim school is such a great way to connect with the community, teaching one of the most important lifesaving skills,” Herrington said. “Most, if not all, the instructors are swimmers or water polo players at Pacific that come from a high level of swim experience, which is pretty neat and special for the youth. Born and raised in Stockton myself, I took lessons as a kid almost 30 years ago and can still remember the experience and the instructor who was on the college swim team.”

For more information about the Pacific summer swim school, visit the link here.

#PacificProud

 

Rutgers track and field qualified eight of its athletes to compete in the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which will take place Wednesday, June 11 through Saturday, June 14 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. The eight qualifications are a school record, with the Scarlet Knights competing in men’s and women’s competitions across disciplines on both the track and in the field.

Rutgers overcame several challenges during the NCAA East First Round, including weather delays, midnight start times because of the delays, and 95-degree temperatures in Jacksonville. However, as track and field director Bobby Farrell said to scarletknights.com, “None of that affected their focus and drive. Not only did we get eight out of 16 through to the NCAA Finals, but 13 out of 16 placed in the top 20. We came to compete.”

The remarkable performances included several school records on the track. Charlee Crawford broke the Rutgers women’s 400-meter record twice, surpassing a 42-year-old record set by Lori McCauley in 1983 with a first heat time of 52.18. In the quarterfinals, she broke that record with a time of 51.80, breaking the 52-second mark.

Chris Serrao broke another school record in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, with a time of 13.49, surging past Eugene Norman’s previous record set in 1984. Bryce Tucker ran a time of 50 seconds flat to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships. Crawford, Serrao, and Tucker will look to continue their performances and compete for podium finishes in Eugene.

Joining the track athletes are remarkable performers inside the oval. Chloe Timberg will look to defend her national title in the women’s pole vault after clearing a height of 4.24m (13’ 11”). In the men’s pole vault, Nico Morales and Kevin O’Sullivan will make their NCAA championship debuts after clearing heights of 5.33m (17’ 5.75”) in qualifiers.

Paige Floriea will also make her NCAA Championship debut in the long jump, with a qualifying mark of 6.22m (20’ 5”) in Jacksonville. Floriea is in her first season as a Scarlet Knight after transferring from UNC. To round out the field, Steve Coponi qualified on the first day of competition in the javelin toss, with a throw of 69.87m (229’ 2”) to secure his first trip to the national competition. To bring some perspective, that is the equivalent of more than 75 yards on a football field.

With track and field representing Rutgers in the final athletic competition of the 2024-25 school year, be sure to cheer on the Scarlet Knights as they compete on the national stage!

The Milford High School boys volleyball team took the court for the first time Tuesday evening, since one of its team members was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents over the weekend.

A judge recently ruled that Marcelo Gomes da Silva, 18, must be kept in Massachusetts for at least 72 hours, after he was detained by ICE agents while traveling to volleyball practice Saturday morning, according to friends and family.

Despite a loss in the highly anticipated playoff game, Milford students said playing the game for Gomes da Silva meant much more than a win.

“That game represented the spirit of Marcelo; he was still there,” said Milford senior Aloiye Okhipo. “We made you proud. We did our best. We showed up for him, you know, and I think he’d be glad people know what’s happening and people want the best for him.”

The Milford High School gym was packed Tuesday, with spectators wearing ‘Free Marcelo’ shirts for Gomes da Silva, hoping for his release.

Although the game ended in a loss for the Scarlet Hawks, Milford’s opponent, Taunton High School, showed their support during pre-game warmups, wearing T-shirts in support of Gomes da Silva.

“It was electric in there. It was like every single chance we got, people were screaming, people were clapping, it was probably one of the best games I’ve seen at Milford High,” said senior Ben Pezza.

NewsCenter 5 has learned that Gomes da Silva is being held at an ICE facility in Burlington.

A family spokesperson told WCVB that the conditions where Gomes da Silva is being held are not great.

“Now they’re on day four of that, and he isn’t eating. Part of that is his anxiety; he can’t. But he’s in terrible conditions. He’s sleeping on the floor,” said Coleen Greco, a parent of one of Gomes da Silva’s volleyball teammates. “I mean, imagine what that must feel like if you can close your eyes for a second and think about what must be going through that kid’s mind.”

In a Monday news conference, ICE officials said that they were looking for Gomes da Silva’s father in the traffic stop, but still arrested the high school junior for being undocumented.

“We were looking for the father. They made a traffic stop on that vehicle, which was the father’s vehicle. He was driving that vehicle,” acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said. “But like any local law enforcement officer, if you encounter someone who has a warrant or, like I said, is here illegally, we will take action on that.”

On Thursday, Gomes da Silva’s attorney, Robin Nice, will argue for his release on bond during an immigration court hearing in Chelmsford.

A judge will determine whether or not he can be released, even while deportation proceedings move forward.

A statement from Nice regarding the upcoming court hearing read in part:

“Marcelo has no criminal history. His strong community ties, consistent academic achievement, and involvement in positive extracurricular and faith-based activities underscore the fact that he poses no danger to the community and is not a flight risk,” Nice said. “We are hopeful the court will recognize this, and grant his release on bond so Marcelo can return to his family and community. The actions by ICE do not make the community safer, they just sow fear among fear among immigrants and their loved ones.”

In a Tuesday press conference, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed ‘Operation Patriot,’ an operation that saw ICE and federal partners arrest 1,461 people.

“More than half of the nearly 1,500 illegals arrested had significant criminal convictions or charges pending against them,” Leavitt said. “I don’t think anybody in this room wants these types of heinous criminals in your communities.”

ICE has not named or identified any of those arrested but says they include drug traffickers, sex offenders, murderers and foreign fugitives.

Nice said Gomes da Silva does not have any criminal history and came to the United States from Brazil on a student visa when he was 7.

Video: ICE says student detained during traffic stop targeting father

The Milford volleyball team spent Monday evening making T-shirts and signs in support of Marcelo’s release. In a statement, they said they’ve been overwhelmed by the support from the community.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey responded to the detainment, demanding to know more information about why Gomes da Silva was arrested.