Holland, Glass to Renew Rivalry

With the exception of the state championships in Sacramento, no track meet produces more drama or excitement than Saturday night’s portion of the Arcadia Invitational at Arcadia High.

The 100-meter boys’ race should be enough to draw fans by the hundreds to see a rematch of last year’s state final in which Jamere Holland of Woodland Hills Taft edged Rodney Glass of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

Holland has lost only one sprint race since his sophomore year, but Glass could be ready to topple him. Holland is admittedly not in his best shape even though he ran a 10.43 clocking two weeks ago at the Culver City Invitational.

“I gained 15 pounds from last year,” Holland said. “I got a little belly and chunky.”

Notre Dame Coach Joe McNab, however, notes, “That’s pretty fast for being chunky.”

The All-City wide receiver headed to USC on a football scholarship remains probably the fastest teenager in America, but Glass, a running back headed to Arizona State, isn’t far behind.

Glass ran 10.43 at a meet in Huntington Beach two weeks ago, the fastest he has run this early in the track season. He has the motivation to knock off Holland.

“I want to win this year,” Glass said. “A lot of it is mental. I tell myself I can beat him. I want to beat him.”

The start of the race will be critical. Holland has been close to unbeatable because he shoots out of the block with startling speed and power.

“It’s the key,” Glass said. “If you don’t get out good, it’s hard to make up.”

The race should take place around 6:20 p.m. Saturday.

McNab said any time Holland and Glass are in a race together, it’s worthy of complete attention.

“I think it will be a great competition,” he said.

Both are friends and respectful of each other.

Soon, they’ll be Pacific 10 Conference football rivals, but for now, they’ll be trying to see who’s the fastest teenager in California, if not the nation.

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It’s time to speak up if you don’t want to see a return to high school athletes transferring en masse simply for athletic reasons.

The Senate Education Committee in Sacramento has scheduled a hearing on May 3 to discuss SB 1411, a bill that would allow high school students a one-time transfer without any restrictions.

Both the Southern and City sections, fed up with parents, coaches and athletes trying to manipulate the system, discontinued a similar rule in 2004. Their current rule requires athletes to sit out one year of varsity competition when transferring without moving.

State Senator Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento), at the urging of a parent who also happens to be a lobbyist, wants to impose a statewide transfer rule that she claims is intended to protect a parent’s right to choose which school they want their children to attend and allow their child the full benefit of the new school.

Whether you are for it or against it, letters can be sent to the Senate Education Committee, State Capitol, Room 2083, Sacramento, Calif., 95814 or e-mailed to Ortiz at Senator.Ortiz@sen.ca.gov

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It’s not going to take long for college baseball coaches to start sending recruiting letters in bunches to sophomore left-hander Mike Montgomery of Newhall Hart.

Montgomery improved his pitching record to 4-1 with a victory over Valencia last week. He’s 6 feet 3 and 165 pounds, plays basketball and throws an 85-mph fastball.

“He’s a work in progress,” Coach Jim Ozella said. “He’s exciting to watch. I think he’s a big-time college guy. I like the way he battles.”

Another pitcher on the rise is junior Dan Klein of Anaheim Servite. Known more for his skills at quarterback, Klein is 3-0 with an 0.56 earned-run average and only two walks in 25 innings. He committed to UCLA earlier this week for baseball.

Sophomore third baseman Trevor Gee of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame is living up to expectations with a .536 batting average, including eight doubles.