Santa Margarita Asks to Play in Public League

Santa Margarita High School wants out of the all-parochial Serra League and has has applied for area-placement into an Orange County public school league.

The Southern Section releaguing committee will meet Oct. 16 to accept or deny the application of Santa Margarita, which cites long trips and missed classes as reasons for requesting the switch. If the Catholic school is turned down, it can appeal the decision on Nov. 15 before the section’s executive board. The next league realignment cycle begins in September of 2002.

Santa Margarita’s scheduling woes have been compounded this fall because of a decision by the Capistrano Valley Unified School District to stop scheduling nonleague games with private schools.

The year-old district policy mandates its schools--Aliso Niguel, Capistrano Valley, Dana Hills and San Clemente--not sign any new contracts to play private schools.

“We like to play similar or like schools and we don’t think parochial schools fit into that,” said district spokeswoman Julie Johnson.

Dana Hills football Coach Scott Orloff, whose team finished a two-year contract with Santa Margarita last year, said he supports the policy.

“It’s an admirable policy,” Orloff said. “Private schools should not be in the same league as public schools.”

San Clemente football Coach Eric Patton also backed the district.

“I’m a product of the Catholic school system, but I think private schools do operate under different ground rules,” he said. “We have plenty of opportunity to play private schools in playoff competition.”

Merritt Hemenway, Santa Margarita’s principal, said he is puzzled by the district’s policy.

“I don’t know what inspired it,” he said. “I guess we all define sportsmanship differently. For us, it means we have to travel more. It’s about kids. It’s not about winning and losing. Any time you have to pull kids out of class, it’s a hardship.”

Jim Staunton, the Southern Section commissioner, also strongly disagreed with the district’s action.

“I don’t think it’s good,” he said. “I don’t think it’s fair to the kids.”