San Diego Prep Review : Pass-Play Rule Has Its Critics : Some Think It’s Unfair to Single Out Athletes

High school coaches are not entirely in favor of the Pass-to-Play bill, which was overwhelmingly approved this week by the state legislators. The Assembly bill, which would require high school students to maintain a C average to be eligible for extracurricular activities, such as athletics, still awaits Senate approval.

Some coaches say the bill, which would affect students in grades 7 through 12, is unfair because it singles out students who are involved in extracurricular activities.

“If a C is so important, why don’t (students) need it to graduate?” asked Vista football Coach Dick Haines, in reference to the policy that allows students to graduate with only a 1.0 grade point average, out of a possible 4.

Said Point Loma girls’ basketball Coach Lee Trepanier: “They (the state legislators) are putting restrictions on athletes that should be put on other people as well.”

Many schools, including Vista and Point Loma, already have imposed such a requirement on athletes, but coaches say it is wrong for the state to get involved. The proposed bill states that if school districts do not comply with the rule, they will face cuts in state funds.

“I don’t think it’s their (the legislators) job to make such a rule,” Trepanier said.

Proponents of the bill say it would motivate student-athletes to do better in the classroom. Haines and Trepanier disagree.

“I think it will motivate some students to take easier classes just so they can keep playing,” Haines said. “These students won’t experiment with some of the tougher classes.”

Opponents of the bill say that extracurricular activities get students more involved with school.

Haines does not think it would help a student to eliminate his athletics. He said, “For a kid that is really struggling and can’t get a C average, I think it would be a crime . . . This is not a clear, black-and-white issue, there’s a big gray area there.”

Shrining Stars: Sweetwater running back Terry Rodgers, who confirmed this week that he would play at the University of Nebraska next fall on a football scholarship, will be among the local football stars representing the Southland in the 35th Shrine All-Star football game at the Rose Bowl Aug. 2.

Rodgers, The Times’ 1985 Back of the Year, is the county’s all-time leading rusher with 3,764 career yards. He rushed for 1,491 yards and 32 touchdowns in 1985.

Other local players joining Rodgers as first-team selections are center Tom Dabasinskas (San Pasqual); linebackers Craig Hartsuyker (Orange Glen) and Brian Lockwood (Vista).

The alternates include running back Martell Black (Sweetwater); kicker Tom Wurth (Monte Vista); defensive linemen Mark Hayes (Crawford) and Okland Salavea (Oceanside).

Smart Stuff: Hilltop cross-country and track athlete Tiffany Lynn Gorman has been named a finalist in the CIF’s Scholar Athlete of the Year competition. One boy and one girl will be chosen from the 20 finalists. The two winners will be announced today by the CIF.

Gorman was chosen as a finalist from a field of 447 candidates throughout the state who were nominated by high school principals. The two winners will be recognized for their achievements at the CIF state track meet June 7, in Cerritos.

Rare Running : Valhalla’s Mark Dani will compete in the 3,000 meters at the Pepsi Invitational track meet May 17 at UCLA’s Drake Stadium along with two prep athletes from Sacramento. This will be one of the rare times high school athletes have received bids to compete in the open event.

Dani, who ran an 8:49.1 in the two-mile at the Michelob Invitational in February, will compete with such athletes as Mobil Grand Prix champion Doug Padilla and Olympic steeplechase champion Julius Korir of Kenya.

Two athletes from Sacramento’s Jesuit High School, twins Eric and Mark Mastalir, will also compete in the event.

No-hit Encore: Mission Bay’s Rusty Filter pitched his second no-hitter of the year in a 2-0 City Western League victory over University Thursday. Filter struck out two batters. University reached base only twice--on a walk and an infield error.

Filter threw a no-hitter earlier this season when Mission Bay shut out Chula Vista.