Prep Review : Debate on Equity Continues

In 1983, Mater Dei High School became the first Orange County school in 46 years to win a Southern Section 4-A basketball championship. The Monarchs were on their way to winning two straight titles last year before they ran into Long Beach Poly in the final and were upset, 45-44.

That may have represented Mater Dei’s last chance at a 4-A title. This year, the Monarchs are part of the all-new, super-improved Big Five Division, which puts schools from the Angelus, Camino Real, Del Rey, Moore and Sunset leagues in the same playoff grouping for boys basketball. All of the schools in those leagues, with the exception of those in the Sunset League, are either parochial schools or schools with policies of “open enrollment.” In either case, those schools are not limited by geographic boundaries when it comes to enrolling students.

Is it fair to expect a public school with well-defined areas of enrollment and strict district policies in regard to student transfers to compete on the same level as private schools without such restrictions? Members of the Sunset League certainly didn’t think so when they were informed last spring of the new basketball alignment.

Corona del Mar High School Principal Dennis Evans didn’t think so, and told Southern Section officials of his feelings when he brought the matter before the General Council meeting last January.

The public vs. private schools debate rages on, with parties on both sides struggling to find an equitable solution.

The CIF Southern Section did its bureaucratic best to explore the issue. At the direction of the Southern Section General Council, a committee was formed. The committee conducted a study, then released its findings. Just like Capitol Hill.

The committee’s findings were announced at last week’s General Council meeting in a 25-page report entitled “Equity of Competition Between Public and Non-Public Schools.” In affect, the committee concluded the problem is not significant enough to warrant much action on the part of the Southern Section and that the responsibility of maintaining the concept of fair competition lies with the administrations of member schools.

The following is an excerpt from the committee’s report, outlining its conclusions:

“A. The overwhelming majority of schools are adhering to the concept of equity of competition.

B. Where cases of alleged undue influence do occur, they are virtually equal in terms of ratio between public and non-public schools.

C. Effective supervision rests at the individual school site and the role of the CIF is to serve as a facilitator and service administrative body.

D. Two major areas which lend themselves to a breakdown in the concept of equity in competition are identified as summer programs and feeder school contact by unauthorized school representatives.

E. The (CIF) Constitution and By-Laws, which have been developed by school administrators over several decades, provides for a clearly defined basis for equity of competition and further accountability by an annual review.”

The eight-member committee, which included Southern Section Commissioner Ray Plutko and Newport Harbor High Principal Tom Jacobson, also listed 10 recommendations it said would “enhance both the spirit and intent of the concept of equitable competition.”

Those recommendations dealt mostly with the need for more monitoring and reviewing on the part of the administration of member schools. Phrases such as “address the need” and “give consideration to” were quite popular.

The Southern Section’s role in all of this? Well, the committee didn’t let the CIF office off the hook. It’s first recommendation was the office “provide periodic updates during the course of each year to the Council and member schools of trends, problems, and the handling of cases in order to provide an on-going dialogue as to the status and cooperation of its members.”

In other words, you’re on your own, guys. And keep in touch. We’ll take care of this on-going debate with an “on-going dialogue.” Ah, bureaucracy.

. . . the party’s over--Canyon was ahead of Villa Park, 2-0, little more than one minute into Friday night’s Century League game in the Comanches’ gym when things got a little, well, dark. The lights in the Canyon gym went out and stayed out, eventually forcing officials and coaches to close up shop and postpone the remainder of the game for tonight, beginning at 7 p.m.

“I guess it is kind of a rarity,” Canyon Coach Steve Sabins said. “The whole world just went dark except for the two red scoreboards.”

Sabins said he was never given a clear explanation as to what caused the blackout, but suspects the circuitry was a victim of overuse. A floodlight outside the gym was being used as part of a halftime promotion, and electricity also was being used to operate the concession stands and the video tape machines being used to record the game. “I think there was just too much power being absorbed, and everything just short-circuited,” Sabins said.

Tonight, Canyon and Villa Park will pick up where they left off: Canyon leading, 2-0, with 6:58 left in the first quarter. Sabins doesn’t think it will be necessary for spectators to bring flashlights.

“They had a big wrestling match in there Saturday and everything went fine,” he said. “I guess we’re ready to crank ‘em up again Monday night.”

Prep Notes

Esperanza football Coach Pete Yoder confirmed that the Aztecs will meet Big Five Champion Riverside Poly in a nonleague game next fall. The Aztecs’ nonleague schedule consists of Marina, El Modena (a rematch of the 1894 Southern Conference championship), and the Bears, perennial powers from the Citrus Belt League. . . . Sunny Hills wrestler Ed Regan extended his season record to 30-0 by winning the championship of the 114-pound division in the Canyon Invitational Saturday. Canyon’s Albert Lee (134 pounds) was named the meet’s most valuable wrestler in the lower weights and San Clemente heavyweight Walt Bayless won honors in the upper-weight classes. Edison won the team title. . . . University tight end Brad Arnold is weighing scholarship offers from Cal State Long Beach and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo . . . One of the top girls volleyball players in the county next season figures to be Beverly Oden of Irvine, younger sister of former Vaquero stars Kim and Elaina . . . Former UC Irvine baseball Coach Eddie Allen will serve as University’s baseball coach this season. . . . Fullerton reserve forward Robert Welch has quit the basketball team to concentrate on football. Welch was a standout tight end on the Indians’ Central Conference championship team. . . . Running back Tom Wilson and defensive back-kicker Todd Prukop were named the most valuable players at the Servite football awards banquet.