Plan to Have Principals Realign by Region Is Purposed

County high school principals are considering a radical direction in trying to solve the complex problem of realigning the area’s 10 athletic leagues beginning with the 1999-2000 school year.

A plan to divide county high schools by three geographic regions and allow principals of each to determine league alignment has been proposed by Laguna Hills Principal Wayne Mickaelian and University boys’ Athletic Director Mark Cunningham.

The schools in the Freeway, Empire and Orange leagues would be grouped in the North region; the schools in the Century, Garden Grove, Golden West and Sunset leagues in the Central, and the schools in the Pacific Coast, Sea View and South Coast leagues in the South.

“The idea is to take the schools, put them in a specific [geographic] area, and let them league themselves,” Mickaelian said. “We think this is something the principals can work out.”

But there is no rush. While the 1994-98 releaguing cycle ends in June, the Southern Section council determined the county’s teams will remain in their present leagues for the 1998-99 school year.

On Tuesday, the council overwhelmingly voted to remove Mater Dei, Rosary, Santa Margarita and Servite from the county’s public school leagues beginning in 1999-2000.

John Dahlem, Loara principal, said moving the Catholic schools to their own league will clear the way “for some different and creative” approaches to releaguing.

“Previously releaguing was done in a manner to cover ourselves,” Dahlem said. “There was always the feeling that those [schools] who didn’t have to face Mater Dei or Santa Margarita didn’t care as long as their league was left alone. Now it’s time to look at releaguing to be more equitable throughout the county.”

While Mickaelian said there was “positive reaction” from the principal’s releaguing committee the first time it heard the proposal April 7, he said there were still details that needed to be worked out.

Among the most pressing issues is where to place Esperanza, which has balked at staying in the Sunset League because of travel costs.

School officials have sought to re-enter the Empire League or be considered for the Century League, but neither league wants Esperanza, citing competitive equity, especially in football.

Huntington Beach Principal Jim Staunton, chairman of the county’s releaguing committee, said he likes the proposal.

“Releaguing should be an active process with all school principals,” Staunton said. “By going the way of regionalization, it puts every principal in a position to take an active role.”

He said the releaguing committee will meet next month to discuss the proposal.

Northwood, which is expected to open in 1999, is expected to be placed in the Pacific Coast League but will likely start with an at-large schedule, Mickaelian said.