40 Years Later: Wildcatz and Mariners, Where Are You?

The date is set. The location selected. They even have a theme, of sorts.

But Watsonville and Aptos High grads from the Class of 1971 are still looking for their classmates. That makes it tough when it comes to planning a class reunion.

Forty years after they donned caps and gowns, bid high school farewell and set off to take on the world, the former Wildcatz and Mariners have lost touch with a lot of old friends.

"We're starting from scratch finding classmates of 1971," said Dan Young, a grad.

The graduates all attended Watsonville High together for their freshmen and sophomore years, before h opened in the fall of 1969. Many stayed friends, so they decided to hold a joint reunion this fall at the Corralitos Community Center, better known as Padres Hall.

But after four decades, the folks originally charged with putting on the reunion have moved on to other things and the company hired to track these teenage friends through the rest of their lives went down the tubes, along with all those addresses and phone numbers.

"So we're out beating the bushes finding our long-lost classmates," Young said.

The free, BBQ and potluck-style reunion will be Sept. 24. Fundraising will cover the basics: meat, salad, beans, garlic bread, soda and water. The bring-your-own dish is just for fun, and not required.

So, '71ers—or those who know how to find these folks—should email aptoshighclassof1971@gmail.com because it'll likely be a great party.