COASTERS: OCC and Title IX

Steve Virgen

Title IX is a joke at Orange Coast College. Sure there are plenty

of athletic opportunities for men and women at OCC, so much that it

rivals four-year universities. But, in regards to numbers, the actual

participation in the sports, the Pirates are failing this spring season,

especially in softball and men’s tennis.

Just 10 women are on the softball squad and first-year men’s tennis

Coach Jim Moore was stunned at the low turnout he had.

And in tennis the Pirates were forced to forfeit points in recent

matches because they had only five players.

It’s all because of the coaching transitions at Coast. As soon as the

new coaches, like Moore and softball’s Jim Bollinger, get settled, the

problem should be solved because of recruiting. But, at a community

college, participation shouldn’t have to depend on recruiting. We’re

talking about an opportunity to play a sport in competitive action. This

is not intramural play or exercise.

But, no one wants to step up. It appears the sacrifice, juggling

classes, work, practice, games and a social life, is too much. So the

participation problem continues as new coaches begin their jobs.

And, the minor sports really suffer.

With Coast’s new sport, women’s badminton, Coach Barbara Bond, who

also coaches women’s soccer, had to intensify recruiting duties -- she

asked players in her physical education class to join the team -- just to

fill the roster. To make matters more difficult she is challenged by

finding players with skill. Granted, badminton is in its first year and

with Bond heading the program, it is bound to flourish.

After field hockey went under, she started the women’s soccer program

19 years ago. In the program’s first year, just one player knew how to

play. Now there are 21 athletes who have been raised in the sport since

as young as six years old.

In softball, two of the 10 players are actually in their first year

with the sport. Gabbie Davalos and Karie Green are exceptions to the

claim of bogus participation.

Bollinger will not back down from the challenge of developing the two.

He is also focused on building OCC softball into a powerhouse.

Moore would like to do the same for men’s tennis. But, he has to

endure this season. He started in January and didn’t have enough time to

recruit.

As conference play begins next week, Moore is still in search of a

sixth player so he will not forfeit points. He’s put an ad in the school

paper and the OCC’s athletics website.

Through the late ‘90s OCC has had problems with depth and filling its

roster in regards to tennis, men’s and women’s.

“It has been really tough getting players to come out,” women’s tennis

coach Janice Maran said. “We’ve been fortunate to get players this

season.”

But, Maran has been impressed with Title IX at OCC, where the Pirates

boast 24 sports.

“I think we’re as close as we can be,” Maran said of qualifying for

regulations. “I have absolutely no complaints.”

Though men’s tennis is experiencing a participation problem, the

Pirates do have strong hope for the future. They are 0-4, but his team of

five freshmen, John Vu, Sean Harper, Jack Wine, Leo Romano and Tony

Garcia, are definitely improving, Moore said.

OCC’s No. 1, Vu, suffered a pinched nerve in his shoulder in the first

match of the season. But, since recovering, he’s been moved to the top of

the team.

Moore is hoping all his freshman return next season and he plans to

take advantage of the offseason by analyzing high school talent and

recruiting.

Maran is enjoying an exciting season thus far. OCC’s women’s tennis is

2-1 and will host Irvine Valley today (weather permitting). This season,

the Pirates have eight players, two are sophomores who played for Maran

last season, Sondra McNamara and Merin Yoshida.

“I’m looking forward to this season,” said Maran, who is in her 24th

season. “They have such a nice attitude. They are so eager to play and

they just fight, fight, fight to the end.”

The Pirates have two international student-athletes in Vanessa Mai,

from Germany, and Raphaela Boehm from Austria. They play with that

competitive spirit.

Freshman, Vanessa Sommer, the No. 1, has been a pleasant surprise and

will be one to watch this season.

Stephanie Chang adds experience from her playing days at Villa Park

High.

McNamara has been struggling as she has been riddled with shin

splints. But, she continues to improve just as Kristin Lowsonand Sara

Mazza.