By Jared Tansimore, Courier Staff Writer
Mission Valley Athletic League, or MVALS for short, this word represents opportunity to some and the end of the road to many. It is known as a collective athletic league consisting of 8 high schools; 
Logan, American, Mission San Jose, Kennedy, Irvington, Newark Memorial, Moreau, and Washington high school. All the dual meets have lead up to this event.
Throughout the season, this league held many small dual and tri meets in order to find the best athletes of each school to compete for MVALS. This league had a strict rule ordering each school to only admit the top 8 athletes of each event.
This is the last meet for the frosh/soph division, with the athletes getting mentally prepared for their last showcase of skill.
“Aww man! I’m super ready for this meet” says Vincent, showing his excitement, when asked how he feels about his last meet.
Others have mixed emotions when asked the same question. “I’m just trying to get this season over with so I can focus on getting better for next year,” says Frankie, already training for next years season.
Also most varsity athletes will not see another meet this season as this is the end of the line for them too.
“I’m going to try my best and hopefully make it through to Bayshore” says Nathan talking about MVALS.
“I’m just hitting the auto[matic qualifier] mark for bayshore” says Tegbir, jumper from Kennedy high school.
MVALS is the first gateway meet to the road to California’s State meet. Some athletes are well qualified for the state meet but competing in MVALS is essential to getting there, so these athletes don’t put their full effort in order to “save themselves” for other qualifier meets.
Each athlete has the opportunity to pass the MVAL league and qualify to the next track meet, Bayshore, which consists of 2 other leagues just like MVALS with just over 30 different schools all around East Bay.