By Tad Stearn
There was plenty of pride bubbling up on the Watsonville High School campus on Friday Oct. 17. It was a bright, sunny afternoon and the football stadium, Emmett M. Geiser Field, was shining like new and ready to be shown off.
With an official-ribbon cutting ceremony at the stadium, Watsonville High officials and several local government partners were celebrating a major milestone with the completion of a $5 million-plus renovation of Geiser Field. With collaboration and support from the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Santa Cruz County Office of Education, City of Watsonville, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, and funding from two bond measures, the stadium improvements are a project that’s been decades in the making.
Superintendent Heather Contreras holds the ribbon while PVUSD board member Daniel Dodge Jr. cuts it and Watsonville High Principal Joe Gregorio watches.
School leaders are confident that the project will help revitalize the campus, energize its sports programs and restore pride in a facility that once hosted the prestigious Central Coast Section football championship in 1990. Improving safety by replacing the outdated wooden bleachers and bringing the facility into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act were also priorities.
The renovation work was completed in phases, funded by voter-approved Measure L and Measure M bonds from 2012 and 2025, respectively. Following replacement of the artificial turf and track surfaces, other upgrades included installation of new metal bleachers with a total capacity of 2,100 (1,120 on the home side and 980 on the visitor side), a state-of-the-art press box, ADA compliant ramps to improve accessibility, new fencing and updated bathrooms. The latest phase of work replaced the asphalt and outdoor basketball courts just north of the stadium. A new scoreboard and LED lighting will be coming soon as finishing touches.
The ribbon-cutting celebration marked not just the debut of the new facilities, but also the unveiling of the “Roar Zone”, a designated area in the new bleachers for students to cheer on the ‘Catz and showcase their school spirit.
The project faced its share of challenges. A 2023 flooding event and high groundwater table submerged the track under several inches of water, requiring subsurface design changes and extending the construction timeline. Despite the setbacks, the school and PVUSD pressed forward to get the work completed for the new school year.
Watsonville High’s sports program has long been a cornerstone of community identity. The school fields teams in football, soccer, basketball, track and field, and more, with the football team competing in the Pacific Coast Athletic League. While recent years have seen fluctuating success, the new facilities offer a chance to reset expectations and attract greater student participation.
Principal Joe Gregorio, a former Wildcatz football player, has spent many, many hours at Geiser Field. According to Gregorio, the upgraded stadium now boasts the second-largest seating capacity in Santa Cruz County, behind only Cabrillo College’s Carl Conelly Stadium.
“Every time you get something nice and new, the students feel it. And they feel the energy, the aura that comes with it, and it kind of builds upon itself, and creates this great attitude and vibe on campus,” Gregorio said.
In her ribbon-cutting remarks, Dr. Heather Contreras, PVUSD Superintendent of Schools, also noted that the high school and Geiser Field have witnessed “many generations” of sports, celebrations and graduations.
While there were many supporters and key players along the way, Principal Gregorio has previously credited Dr. Contreras, PVUSD Trustee Daniel Dodge Jr. and PVUSD Director of Facilities and Construction Sergio Ambriz as instrumental to the project’s success.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was just in time for the football team’s 2025 Homecoming game, where the Wildcatz faced off against the North Monterey County Condors later that night and walked away with a decisive 25-13 win.
TOP IMAGE: A view of the improvements to the Geiser Field bleachers.