Four Cypress Players Take Blame for Vandalism

Four Cypress High varsity football players confessed to Anaheim police Wednesday that they were responsible for the Sept. 14 vandalism at Western High, police said.

The players, all minors, could be charged with misdemeanor malicious mischief and referred to Orange County Juvenile Court officials, according to Lt. Ted Labahn of the Anaheim Police Department. They were not identified because of their age, and school officials did not return phone calls Wednesday.

Punishment could involve paying restitution and undergoing probation or detention in juvenile hall, although that is unlikely.

The letters CC were burned into the field and profanities were painted around Western’s campus before Western’s 27-6 victory over Cypress on Sept. 15. Labahn said the cost for repair is estimated at $1,500.

The players apparently came forward after Anaheim Union High School District Supt. Cynthia Grennan suspended football practice for the Centurions (0-3) beginning Friday.

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Tickets for the Nike Extravaganza basketball tournament, hosted by Mater Dei, will go on sale Nov. 1, Coach Gary McKnight said.

The tournament, Dec. 8-9 at the Bren Center, will feature top prep teams from the East and West Coasts, including Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill--the lone school to defeat Mater Dei last season--Los Angeles Crenshaw, Bellflower St. John Bosco, Santa Margarita, Long Beach Millikan, Frederick (Md.) St. Johns at Prospect Hall, Tustin, Woodbridge and Compton Dominguez.

Tickets are priced at $50 for courtside seats, $15 for lower level, $8 for upper level and $6 for general admission. They will be sold by TicketMaster, the various schools and at the Bren Center.

Each school will receive $1 for every ticket sold, McKnight said. He added, that even with the quality of teams appearing, the tournament was an “ambitious” undertaking partly because the Southern Section championship football games are scheduled that weekend.

“If this was happening in March we could probably fill The Pond,” McKnight said. “But before Christmas, some people don’t always think of it as basketball season.” We want this to be a success or we could stand a chance of not having it next year.”

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Ryan Steele has played football the past 10 years, but last Thursday’s game at Irvine was unusual because it was the first home game that his mother, Sue, had missed.

Sue Steele died of breast cancer in June, leaving Ryan, a senior offensive guard, his sister, Kelsey, 11, and her husband, Skip. She was active within the booster club, putting together the Vaqueros’ game programs.

“I used her to get me pumped up, thinking that she was there as I got ready to run out,” Ryan said. “It got me more focused and made me want to win the game for her.”

Sue Steele is remembered in the program in a message to No. 55--Ryan Steele’s jersey number.

Pride, Commitment, Friendship, Honor, Dedication, Leadership. Words that you have proven to yourself and others around you. Late in the game, when you’re tired, when it’s fourth down and it’s important, look deep inside and SHE will be there for you. Use HER strength.

--Dad & Kelsey

“My dad put that in,” Ryan said. “It meant a lot to me.”

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Two buses carrying Esperanza pep squad and marching band members back from last Friday’s football game at Capistrano Valley were struck by brick-sized pieces of concrete. Several students were sprayed by slivers of glass, but none were cut or severely injured.

One student was taken to a hospital for follow-up treatment and was released.

A third bus carrying students was not struck, nor was the bus carrying the school’s football team.

In a letter to parents Monday, Esperanza Principal Bert Raiche detailed the incident, which took place on the Costa Mesa Freeway just south of the Riverside Freeway.

“It is unfortunate that this type of problem does occur,” Raiche wrote. “The safety of all students and school personnel is of utmost concern, and we will continue to take necessary precautions to assure their well being.”

Several cars and a truck were struck at the same time, Activities Director John Deavers said Wednesday, adding there was no way to know if the concrete was dropped or thrown.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.

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So much for ball control. . . . Mission Viejo ran eight more plays than El Toro in the first half of their football game Friday night, but the Chargers outscored the Diablos, 37-0.

El Toro went on to a 57-12 victory--the largest margin of victory in the history of the matchup, which dates to 1974.

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Russ McHale will replace Dave Meggison as varsity baseball coach at Buena Park, Athletic Director Dan Hirsch said.

Meggison, who was 77-66-1 in six seasons, resigned to spend more time with his family.

The Coyotes finished 12-10-1 last year. Their best finish under Meggison was in 1993, when they were 18-7 and reached the second round of the playoffs.

McHale was the JV baseball coach last season and is an assistant football coach. He was the varsity football coach in 1992.

Geoff Bilau and staff writers Martin Henderson, Bob Rohwer and Mike Terry contributed to this story.