Many individuals from our community may deserve the right to have the SVHS field named after them. Off the top of my head, I can think of Coach Lyons and Coach Midgley as people who have made an impact on those around me, but I'm sure there are MANY others. Whether we acknowledge it or not, our teachers and coaches growing up have greatly impacted our lives. 

I'm not writing this to convince you, rather I'm here to introduce an individual who has served as a father figure to me and many others for over 30 years: Pedro Merino. 

Mr. Merino, or Señor Merino as some may know him, has been an integral part of our community for over 30 years. At Sonoma Valley High School, he has taught all levels of Spanish including AP Spanish Language and AP Spanish Literature, and has previously held the responsibility of being the head of the Foreign Language Department and leading the Hispanic Honorary Society. Mr. Merino has taught thousands of students including parents of current students! He’s an old-school teacher who through his chalkboard teaches not only his subject but also gives life-changing lessons.  Whether he’s teaching basic conjugation, chanting “Ay de mi Alhama,” or deciphering the world of magical realism, when you’re in his classroom, you’re in for a treat. Mr. Merino embodies commitment, passion, and professionalism.

Outside of the classroom, he has dedicated countless hours, traveled thousands of miles, and spent lots of his own money to craft a successful soccer program. He is proud of having won various SCL titles and made deep runs into the NCS tournament. Through his program, there have been many college standouts and year after year, many former players return to say thank you for the memories and lessons.

But Mr. Merino isn’t just a standout teacher and coach, he was also a highly decorated athlete. If you lounge through the UC Berkeley Men's Soccer history books, you'll find Mr. Merino's name many times. He's the program's 6th top scorer of all time with 24 goals and earned All-Pacific Soccer Conference Honors in 1978. 

This is only a brief summary of some of Mr. Merino’s achievements, but words don’t do him justice. He has been a voice of reason, an inspiration, a calm presence through turbulent times, and a father figure to many of us. We don't always have to honor people after they pass, we can honor those that are currently here with us today. 

Thank you for reading this and thinking about signing this petition for Pedro Merino.

Perhaps this may have inspired you to start a petition for someone who has impacted you, regardless, I hope you have a great day.

-       Eduardo Hernandez, SVHS Alumni and Friend of Pedro Merino

Ps. We will be honoring Mr. Merino on WEDNESDAY, 02.08.23 at 5:40pm before our 6pm game vs Casa Grande.This will be an alumni night event where all former players and students are invited to form a tunnel of honor for Mr. Merino's 30+ years of service to OUR community. 

Read another piece about Pedro Merino, written by a student on the SVHS newspaper, the Dragon's Tale