Triton football youth clinic ‘a beautiful display of support’ for family of local resident killed in fire

By Lou Ponsi

The word “family” was repeated often in Thalassa Stadium at San Clemente High School on a recent Saturday.

The Triton football team hosted a youth clinic for about 100 local youngsters who were learning the basics of passing, receiving, running, and blocking. But football instruction was merely the medium being employed to highlight the real reason the Triton football coaches organized the Feb. 5 event.

The clinic served as a fundraiser to support the family of San Clemente resident Jonathan Flagler, the Los Angeles County firefighter who was killed while battling a fire in Rancho Palos Verdes on Jan. 6.

Flagler is survived by his wife, Jenny, and their sons, Brody, 15, and Jack, 13.

Hayden Blue casts a big shadow while running a pursuit drill during San Clemente High School’s football team’s free clinic for kids. The clinic was a fundraiser for the family of Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler who recently died in a fire. The family lives in San Clemente.
*Photo by Michael Goulding/for CUSD Insider*

While the clinic was free, donations were accepted.

“One thing about San Clemente, we celebrate success as a school,” Triton football coach Jaimie Ortiz said. “We want to make sure during times of need that we are there for families as well. San Clemente is a tight knit community and doing this for the family is one of the most important things we can do all year.”

Ortiz, his assistant coaches, Triton players and former players, family friends, and parents all participated in the clinic. Notice of the clinic spread through social media and by word of mouth.

“The community has got each other,” said Ryder Insley, a junior defensive back on the Tritons football team. “They support us during the season, so it’s cool that we can give back to the community today. This is the best community ever. We rally around the families that are in need. They rally around us at the games.”

*San Clemente High School head football coach Jaime Ortiz high-fives as many kids as he can at the conclusion of San Clemente High School’s football team’s free clinic.*
*Photo by Michael Goulding/for CUSD Insider*

Assistant football coach Jonathan Ord, a father of six, also used the family analogy when referring to the turnout of players, coaches, and parents who participated in the clinic.

“The community is a family and the Flaglers are part of the community. We hate to see anything negative happen to any of our family members in the community,” said Ord, a San Clemente resident who was a walk-on at Brigham Young University. “So, we love coming out and supporting them and letting them know that they are loved and cared for.”

Flagler, 47, was a firefighter for 21 years, serving 19 years with the Vernon Fire Department and then the Los Angeles County Fire Department when the county took over fire services for the City of Vernon in 2020.

Flagler was among the firefighters from Fire Station 83 who were battling a house fire at about 2 a.m. on Jan. 6. He was overcome with smoke and fire while inside the home and issued a Mayday alert, the Orange County Register reported. He died at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Family friend Trina Getz was among those who helped collect donations during the clinic. Getz praised the efforts of the coaches for putting on the clinic.

“To take this time to support this school and Jenny speaks volumes about these coaches and the community,” Getz said. “It’s a beautiful display of support.”