Alemany Down on Moving Up

Alemany High came out the big loser Wednesday after the Catholic Athletic Assn. voted to move the school back to Division I in football.

Starting with next season, Alemany will join Loyola, Bishop Amat and St. Paul in the four-team Del Rey League.

Mater Dei, Servite, St. John Bosco and Santa Margarita will form the Angelus League.

Chaminade, Notre Dame, St. Francis and Crespi will make up the San Fernando League.

Harvard-Westlake, Serra, Bishop Montgomery and St. Bernard will be in the Mission League.

The CAA last week voted to create a “super league” in football made up of Bishop Amat, Loyola, Mater Dei, Servite, St. John Bosco and Santa Margarita.

But on Wednesday the major Division I schools objected, claiming there would be fewer playoff spots awarded to Catholic schools under the “super league” proposal.

Loyola appealed the decision and its counter proposal won in a 15-12 vote by principals.

The Division I schools received support from small schools pleased with the four-team league format.

The new Santa Fe League for football will include Bell-Jeff, St. Genevieve, Cantwell-Sacred Heart and Murphy.

The new leagues will stay intact through the 2001 season.

Father Jim Anguiano, Alemany’s principal, said he plans to appeal the decision next week to the Southern Section office.

“It’s not fair to us,” he said.

Alemany football Coach Jim Bonds, in his second season, said he was not happy with the decision, either. Alemany has not reached the Division I playoffs this decade.

The Indians lost to Loyola, 60-20, last Friday. Alemany was moved to the Division III Mission League this season and has a 4-2 record, its best season in years.

Also approved Wednesday were leagues for all sports but football. The Mission League will be comprised of Chaminade, Harvard-Westlake, Notre Dame, Crespi, St. Francis, Alemany and Loyola.

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NEW LEAGUE REVIEW

The Catholic Athletic Assn. finalized its new football leagues starting with next season. The leagues are for three seasons:

DEL REY

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Alemany Bishop Amat Loyola St. Paul ANGELUS Mater Dei Servite St. John Bosco Santa Margarita MISSION Harvard-Westlake Bishop Montgomery Serra St. Bernard SAN FERNANDO Chaminade Crespi Notre Dame St. Francis CAMINO REAL Cathedral La Salle St. Monica Verbum Dei SANTA CRUZ Bosco Tech Mary Star Salesian St. Anthony SANTA FE Bell-Jeff Cantwell-Sacred Heart Murphy St. Genevieve

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