Ladycats Fan Backs Team

I write in response to an embarrassing misquote attributed to me in an article (March 18) concerning the state high school championships. Your reporter was persistent in interviewing me, the father of a Brea-Olinda Ladycat player, at the immediate conclusion of their loss.

I consented, only because I have great admiration for the whole Ladycat organization. I spoke positively for more than five minutes of the team and coaches and of the great season they had.

Your reporter then asked me: “Will the Ladycats be celebrating making it to the finals tonight?” A dumb question, in my opinion! I replied that if he would look at their faces and the tears in their eyes, how could he ask such a question?

I stated their accomplishments: No. 1 in the whole state and No. 4 in the United States. Those girls and coaches work diligently 11 months a year. Unlike others, who only dream of playing in the finals, they had expectations of winning it. No, the Ladycats would not be celebrating that evening!

Apparently, your reporter assumed that the community would not be celebrating their season. My quote referred to the team, not the fans. He quoted me as saying that, “while the community loves them and we’ll stand behind them,” there will be no celebration of the team’s rise to the finals. “We don’t celebrate second place.”

In my opinion, this was the greatest high school girls’ team (players and coaches) that I have ever seen or will expect to see. We surely will celebrate all that our beloved Ladycats have accomplished over the past season--and next year too.

We are not down on our team. We love them.

Phil Anton

Brea