CIF Rules Loyola Must Remain in Angelus League

Loyola High School’s request to stay out of the Angelus League was rejected by a state California Interscholastic Federation committee Friday.

Loyola, located in central Los Angeles, was seeking to overturn a CIF decision that had placed the school’s athletic teams in the Angelus League for a two-year cycle starting next season.

Jon Dawson, Loyola’s athletic director, said transportation costs would increase 88% and student-athletes would miss classes if the school competes in the Angelus League with opponents such as Santa Margarita, Mater Dei and Servite.

Loyola is located 65 miles north of Santa Margarita, 49 miles north of Mater Dei and 39 miles north of Servite. Dawson submitted an alternate plan in which Loyola was placed in the Mission League with schools closer in proximity.

“I’ve never seen a releaguing dispute where somebody didn’t go home unhappy,” said George Bergna, a member of the three-man appeals committee. “It’s the nature of the game. But the Southern Section followed its rules and criteria for placing Loyola in the Angelus League.”

The appeal was the final step for Loyola under Southern Section rules. The school had lost appeals to the Catholic Athletic Assn. and the Southern Section’s general council.