CANYON ACCUSED RIVALS SUSPECT RECRUITING.Byline: Ross Ross , Sir Ronald 1857-1932. British physician. He won a 1902 Nobel Prize for proving that malaria is transmitted to humans by the bite of the mosquito. Siler Staff Writer CASTAIC - For the fifth year in a row Thursday Thursday: see week. , Canyon High's top-ranked boys' and girls' cross country teams swept the team titles at the Foothill League finals. But the Cowboys' continued success has spawned a growing sense of friction among the league's coaches. Canyon coach Dave DeLong confirmed he received a letter Tuesday Tuesday: see week. sent from the coaches at Hart, Saugus Saugus (sô`gəs), town (1990 pop. 25,549), Essex co., NE Mass., a suburb of Boston on the Saugus River near the Atlantic Ocean; settled before 1637, set off from Lynn and inc. 1815. Mainly residential, the town has some light manufacturing. and Valencia Valencia, region, Spain Valencia (välān`thēä), autonomous region (1990 pop. 3,902,429) and former kingdom, E Spain, on the Mediterranean. It now comprises the provinces of Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia. highs - the other three Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, schools in the league - accusing Canyon's parents and coaches of recruiting middle schoolers from outside the district into the Cowboys' program. Hart of Newhall Newhall may refer to:
``This is not something we're just going to blow off,'' Canyon principal Bob Messina said. ``We take the allegations seriously, and are going to look into the matter.'' At Thursday's meet, DeLong denied any wrongdoing wrong·do·er n. One who does wrong, especially morally or ethically. wrong  do .
Canyon's boys' team won the Division I state championship last
year and finished ranked in the top five nationally. Both its boys and
girls boys and girlsmercurialisannua. are expected to contend for the state title Nov. 30 in Fresno. ``If there's anything we're doing wrong, I would change it,'' said DeLong, in his 16th year as Canyon's coach. ``But we're not. ... I coach the kids that come in. Am I going to turn away great kids?'' The allegations center on the influence of Canyon's parents and coaches in the Santa Clarita Warriors
DeLong said he makes a point of not talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to any Warriors parents who live outside the Canyon district, adding, ``I've had parents come up to me and say, `We always thought you were being stuck up because you wouldn't say anything to us.' '' But DeLong also said he cannot control Canyon's parents talking to other parents. He said there have been cases over the years of parents going to the lengths of buying houses in Canyon Country just so their kids can run in the Cowboys' program. ``Whenever there are things like this,'' DeLong said, ``the parents are going to find a way to get the kids into the school.'' The other Santa Clarita-based Foothill League coaches hope to achieve some type of balance of power in the league. Not only did Canyon win both the boys' and girls' team titles Thursday, but a runner from the school placed first in all six races. Canyon's girls took the top 11 places in the freshman/sophomore race. ``We're out putting in 60-mile workouts every week just like every other team in this league,'' Saugus coach Steve Jolliffe said. ``But we know we can't tell them we're going to be competitive because we're not able to be at the talent level of other schools.'' Although Canyon fields a team of nearly 100 runners, Saugus has 44 in its program, a number that has doubled since Jolliffe took over two years ago. Jolliffe said much of the frustration among coaches, however, rests with what has happened at the junior level with the Warriors program. ``I think there's just a lot of pressure being put on kids,'' Jolliffe said. ``I think it's ridiculous to be taking 12- and 13-year-old kids and inculcating them into almost a pro level of sports.'' Hart parent Rick Russell, whose daughter Whitney took sixth in Thursday's race, said he has not seen any wrongdoing on the part of Canyon's coaches. Russell's daughter Brooke is an eighth-grader and one of the top runners in the Warriors program. ``I can categorically say that I'm unaware of any coach (recruiting) at Canyon High School Canyon High School can refer to:
The other coaches hope Canyon will correct any problems on its own without outside investigation. But Rick Russell, who has talked with Canyon coaches and their counterparts, said the damage already has been done. ``I think this whole thing is just so unfortunate,'' Russell said. ``I really hope they'll all sit down and clear the air. I think it's affected the whole league.'' Staff writer Vincent Bonsignore contributed to this report. |
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