Clovis West Will Lose 2000 Title

The Clovis West boys’ basketball team is expected to be stripped of its 2000 Southern California Regional Division I championship-game victory over Mater Dei for using an ineligible player from the Dominican Republic.

Center Charlie Rodriguez was 21 years old, according to birth records obtained by Central Section Commissioner Jerry Laird, when he scored 17 points to help the Golden Eagles defeat the Monarchs, 71-64, in March 2000.

CIF rules state that athletes who turn 19 on or before June 14 of an upcoming school year are ineligible for competition. Rodriguez was born Jan. 20, 1979, according to the documents held by Laird, and would have been 20 before the start of his sophomore season.

Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said he thought Rodriguez exhibited preternatural abilities for a sophomore against the Monarchs.

“Physically, he was pushing our kids around,” McKnight said. “I’m going, ‘This kid’s a sophomore? He’s a player.’ ”

The Central Section has ruled that Clovis West must forfeit all games in which Rodriguez participated in his two seasons at the school, and state CIF officials are expected to announce that the Golden Eagles will be stripped of their regional title.

“I can’t believe they wouldn’t be after having a 21-year-old man play [in the regional championship game],” Laird said.

Clovis Unified School District officials have indicated they will appeal the decision, Laird said.

Rodriguez, recently the subject of a television report on the influx of foreign students playing basketball in the United States, enrolled at Clovis West in 1998 after presenting documents stating that he was born Dec. 20, 1982, Laird said.

Rodriguez, now 22, did not play for the Golden Eagles this season. He is back in the Dominican Republic, trying to complete his high school education, Laird said.

Mater Dei probably will not be awarded the forfeited championship. Lakewood Artesia had to forfeit a Southern Section championship last year after it was determined that the team included transfers who held falsified student visas. But section officials decided the section title should be vacated.

McKnight, whose Monarchs defeated Clovis West, 80-62, in the Southern California Regional championship game this year en route to a state title, said he was disappointed the rules violation wasn’t uncovered before Clovis West played in the 2000 Southern California Regional.

“That’s frustrating for a lot of kids, not just Mater Dei,” McKnight said.