Tony Clark to Transfer to Christian

Tony Clark, section basketball player of the year and a first-team all-section baseball pick as a junior, has announced he will transfer from Valhalla and play his senior year at Christian High School in El Cajon.

Clark led the county in basketball scoring with 29.3 points a game for the Norsemen and also led the county in home runs (11). He said he doesn’t know much about the athletic programs at Christian but that he plans on playing both sports for the Patriots.

His decision was based on the private school’s “attitude and atmosphere, not athletics,” Clark said. “Primarily, the decision was made by my parents. They were concerned about my moral values. They thought I would be surrounded by people with a positive attitude there.”

For Clark to be eligible at Christian, he must have a section “public/private transfer” form signed by Valhalla Principal Bob Avant. Clark said rumors were circulating that Avant was reluctant to sign the form, but “there should be no problem,” he said. “As of now, it’s going as it was drawn up.”

Avant could not be reached for comment.

Christian, of the City Central League, competes in smaller-school Division IV in the playoffs. Valhalla is a Division I school.

“The competition doesn’t really make any difference,” he said. “City league teams are supposed to be better. From that standpoint, the level of competition will rise.”