Northern Area Votes to Include Agoura in 8-Team Marmonte

Seven Marmonte League representatives sat at a table set for eight, impatiently waiting to hear the results of a vote to releague schools in the area.

They weren’t surprised to hear that Agoura High would be joining them to increase their league’s membership to a much-desired eight schools.

“Well, guys, we’re here,” said Agoura Athletic Director Fred Williams, who jokingly moved to the empty seat at the Marmonte League table after the results of the vote were announced.

Agoura’s departure from the Frontier League was approved Friday by representatives of the Northern Area of the Southern Section at Bishop Diego High in Santa Barbara. The Chargers will join Marmonte League members Camarillo, Channel Islands, Newbury Park, Royal, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Westlake in all sports for the 1990-91 and 1991-92 school years. Agoura had left the Marmonte League after the 1979-80 school year.

The Northern Area also voted to move Santa Ynez from the Frontier to the Los Padres League, which will become a six-team league. The Frontier League vacancy will be filled by Fillmore of the Tri-Valley League, making both five-team leagues. The newly aligned Frontier League will consist of Calabasas, Fillmore, Nordhoff, Santa Clara and Santa Paula.

The releaguing plan must be approved at the Southern Section’s Executive Committee meeting June 17. Schools have until the first week of May to file an appeal.

Williams, who said that Agoura will not appeal, expects no schools to protest. Originally, Williams had objected to the move, fearing that Agoura, which has an enrollment of 1,850, would be unable to compete against some of the larger Marmonte schools. Marmonte League members Channel Islands (2,500) and Simi Valley (2,250) are considerably larger.

Agoura, however, has outgrown the Frontier League, whose member schools average half the enrollment of Agoura. In addition, the Chargers won 11 of 16 league championships last school year, including two Southern Section titles.

Agoura was 1-1-1 against Marmonte League teams in nonleague football games last fall, a record that improved to 2-0-1 when Royal forfeited its 17-13 victory for using an ineligible player.

“I don’t think Fred was too upset about joining the Marmonte League,” Royal Athletic Director Terry Dobbins said. “The travel is much better. They don’t have to drive to Nordhoff or Santa Ynez anymore.

“The reality was that the Frontier League didn’t want them. It’s a pleasure to have them in the league.”

Williams’ proposal to form a new league consisting of Agoura, Camarillo, Newbury Park, Rio Mesa and Westlake received little support.