Rivalries in Small Sports Are Also Affected When Schools Switch Leagues

At first glance, moving Orange and Tustin high schools out of the Century League appears to be an ideal move, considering that it should allow those schools’ football teams to be more competitive.

It’s no secret that the Orange and Tustin football programs have struggled in the shadows of Foothill and El Modena, which not only dominate the Century League but also are Southern Conference powers.

With Orange going to an unnamed new league made up largely of schools that are not strong athletically and Tustin moving to a streamlined, six-team Sea View League, the change does seem to be for the best.

What has been largely forgotten in all of the shuffling is part of what makes high school athletics as competitive as it is--good, old-fashioned rivalries. Crosstown High kind of rivalries. The kind where the students grow up in the same areas and know each other personally when they take the field.

The football teams at Tustin and Orange may have a tradition of being a punching bag for Century League opponents, but many of the other sports at the schools have been able to hold their own against league rivals.

“For the aquatics programs, the move is unfortunate for a couple of reasons,” said Boyd Philpot, the Tustin swimming and water polo coach. “First, going to the Sea View League makes the league top-heavy in good water polo teams. I could have one of my better teams and not even make the playoffs because powers like Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar are already there.

“Second is that we will miss battling a school like Foothill for the Century League championship. There have been times when we packed the place with 600-700 people for a water polo match with them. It’s for bragging rights to the area. That’s what makes it so special.”

Tustin Athletic Director Al Rosmino is mindful of the rivalries that the Tillers have developed through the years, but thinks the change still will be a positive switch.

“We’re pretty excited about it,” Rosmino said. “Traditionally, we’ve held our own in the minor sports, but football has not been kind to Tustin. We’re looking for the move to improve our overall program. Being in a six-team league means that we should have a better shot at making the playoffs in most sports.”

Tom Coffey, Tustin’s cross-country coach, views the change as something of a mixed blessing.

“In cross-country, we run against virtually everybody at invitationals, so it shouldn’t be too difficult maintaining rivalries from the Century League,” he said. “Originally, we coaches were all positive about the move until we saw who we were lined up against (Newport Harbor, etc.).

“The Sea View League is not going to be a whole lot easier, but I think many people recognized the Century League as being one of the toughest in the state for distance running. There were times when Century teams burned themselves out just trying to make the playoffs in league play.”

Tustin baseball Coach Dan Sheehy also has mixed feelings about leaving.

“I’m going to miss the balance the Century League has,” Sheehy said. “In the last six years, all eight teams have won or shared the baseball title in that time. Obviously, it’s more difficult to make the playoffs in an eight-team league than a six-team one. I think it means more.

“And I hate to say goodby to the good friends I’ve made in the Century League. I’ll miss the ties with the respected and venerable coaches there--I’ve been at Tustin for 10 years now and I still feel like one of the new kids on the block.”

Over at Orange, the change of leagues will likely be a temporary move, if Athletic Director Dave Zirkle has his way.

“Our idea in looking for a new league is to develop a winning attitude in all of our sports and then move back to the Century League in maybe two or three years,” he said. “We talked it over with the parents and coaches beforehand and most of them seem to be in favor of it.

“I don’t think the move will harm our rivalries all that much, to tell you the truth. Our rivalries aren’t exactly like Foothill and El Modena in football or Canyon and Villa Park in wrestling.”

Orange baseball Coach Jack Galeener echoed some of the concerns that Sheehy had on leaving the Century League.

“At this point, I think it’ll take a little of the nostalgia out of the competition,” he said. “It’ll be difficult making new rivals at first in the new league because of all of the travel involved. We’ll go out of our way to schedule nonleague games with some of the Century League teams, though.

As for the rest of the Century League losing two long-standing members, Ted Mullen, athletic director and football coach at Foothill said, “I would rather it would’ve stayed intact because it has been a good league, but if people want out, we’re not going to stand in their way.”