Van Nuys in Hot Water Again There...

Van Nuys in Hot Water Again There is more trouble for the Van Nuys High athletic program, and this time it has company.

Van Nuys and Cleveland have reported an illegal scrimmage by their girls’ soccer teams to City Section Commissioner Barbara Fiege.

Van Nuys scrimmaged Cleveland on Nov. 27, officials at both schools said Thursday.

City Section soccer teams are allowed three practice matches and an alumni scrimmage before the start of the season. Practice matches must be sanctioned by the competing schools.

Van Nuys Principal Russ Thompson and Cleveland Assistant Principal Al Weiner said the scrimmage was not authorized.

Van Nuys, a first-year program coached by mathematics teacher Olumuiyiwa Idowu, scrimmaged at Cleveland for about an hour, a Cleveland player said.

The teams wore uniforms and score was kept but neither referees nor Cleveland Coach Hanise Quillez were present.

On Wednesday, the City Section Rules Committee placed the Van Nuys athletic program on probation for one year because of infractions in girls’ volleyball and boys’ soccer. The school already was on probation in football.

Fiege said the scrimmage violation “says to me . . . the rules committee’s decision was valid.”

The committee will decide if the girls’ soccer program will be sanctioned at its next meeting, Jan. 23.