OC Varsity » western

Canyon was given another opportunity Thursday to win a game in the final seconds. This time, the Comanches came through with a score in their final possession to beat Western, 17-14. Read the story.

Check out the highlights and postgame interviews in this video by OCVarsity.com's Jonathan Khamis.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Releaguing: Laguna Hills appeal denied; Brea and Western approved

Chris Tobolski, OCVarsity.com — Thu, 07 May 2009 01:56:02 +0000

The CIF-SS releaguing committee appeals panel has ruled on the cases of 13 schools that appealed their new placement starting the 2010-11 school year.

Three of the schools - Western, Brea Olinda and Laguna Hills - are in Orange County.

The committee made recommendations that Western remain in the Orange League, and that Brea Olinda be placed in the Freeway League.

Laguna Hills, on the other hand, had its appeal denied, meaning the Hawks are likely to remain in the newly formed 10-team South Coast Conference.

"It's been an emotional roller-coaster ride," Laguna Hills principal Sean Boulton said. "The South Coast conference is more than likely going to be our place. The challenge is going to be to compete in it.

"You can look at it two ways. We can look at it as we got defeated. Or we can look at it as a tremendous challenge and meet it head on. That's my take on it. We are going to go for it."

Laguna Hills' case isn't closed, however. The Hawks have one more chance for their appeal to be sustained, the term the committee uses.

Laguna Hills' final hope is at the CIF Southern Section Executive Committee Meeting on May 20 at the CIF-SS offices in Los Alamitos. Final approval of all league configurations goes before the full council during its first meeting of the 2009-10 school year, October 22, at The Grand in Long Beach.

"We are definitely up against it," Boulton said. "We are going to reiterate our enrollment numbers. "

Enrollment and competitive balance are at issue. Laguna Hills said it felt an argument against it remaining in the Pacific Coast League was the school is too dominate in athletics. However, according to Boulton, Corona del Mar has won 12 league championships this season. University has won six, while the Hawks have won three.

"We aren't world beaters in the PCL," Boulton said. "We are left feeling that because of the success of our football team this year is the driving factor. But the success with football is cyclical."

Laguna Hills' projected enrollment for the 2010-11 school is approximately 1,700, Boulton said. That would be more than 1,000 students smaller than the other schools in the district. If Laguna Hills was placed into the conference next year, it would be the second-smallest school in terms of enrollment behind San Juan Hills.

"We don't have the luxury of growth like San Juan does," Boulton said.

Western and Brea Olinda had similar competitive equity issues and that's why they appealed. Western didn't like leaving the Orange League after what would have been a run of 24 years. The Pioneers' major concern also stemmed around potentially losing their best students if they were allowed to attend schools like Kennedy and Cypress, and didn't want to feel a hit in academics as well.

The Pioneers felt creating a 7-team Orange League would be in their best interest. The Wildcats were in a similar position.

Brea Olinda felt placement in the Century League with Esperanza and Foothill left the school unable to compete to make the playoffs in all sports but girls basketball.

Brea Olinda and Western will have their placement decided at the final approval meeting, when the committee votes on the original proposal formed by the principals or the proposal created Wednesday based on the committee's recommendations.

“I am extremely pleased with the thorough and professional job of the committee today,” said CIF-SS Commissioner of Athletics Dr. Jim Staunton in a press release. “We heard a lot of appeals today and I think the recommendations of the committee were done with great thought and detail for all areas concerned.”

Albano's polo predictions: Valencia-Western

DAN ALBANO, ocvarsity.com — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:48:07 +0000

Saturday's match

Division VII quarterfinals

Valencia (16-11) vs. Western (19-9), at Kennedy, 11:30 a.m.

Prediction: The Pioneers started its late-in-the-season surge with a 9-8 victory against the Tigers on Oct. 24. Valencia led 4-1 after the first period but the Pioneers won the final three periods, 8-4. The Orange League champs feel comfortable at Kennedy and have a go-to player in Damon Chandler. Western wins a tight match to reach the semifinals and the Empire League settles for two teams in the top-four.

The Calhoun Six to Watch: Five more to keep an eye on

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:08:00 +0000

Five more to keep an eye on:

Santiago (7-2, 3-1) vs. Los Amigos (5-4, 4-0)
Friday, 7 p.m., at Garden Grove High

The scoop: From fourth to first? That’s what at stake for the Lobos. Los Amigos was the preseason pick to finish fourth in the Garden Grove League. The Cavaliers can grab a share of the title with a victory, but could also finish third.

Anaheim (5-4, 2-2) vs. Magnolia (5-4, 3-1)
Thursday, 7 p.m., at Glover Stadium

The scoop: Can the 300-yard man Robert Cruz do it again? A victory for the Sentinels will qualify them for the playoffs for the first time since 1984.

Santa Ana Valley (6-3, 3-1) vs. No. 18 Western (7-2, 4-0)
Thursday, 7 p.m., at Western High

The scoop: A victory gives the Pioneers the outright Orange League title. A loss and the Falcons can get a share.

Loara (5-4, 1-3) vs. No. 23 Valencia (7-2, 3-1)
Friday, 7 p.m. at Glover Stadium

The scoop: The Tigers are in the playoffs, but could get a piece of the Empire League title if Pacifica beats Cypress. The Saxons need a victory and that would bolster their case for an at-large bid

No. 1 Tesoro (9-0, 4-0) vs. No. 13 Dana Hills (5-4, 2-2)
Friday, 7 p.m. at Dana Hills HS

The scoop: The Titans can wrap up the South Coast League title with a victory. Dana Hills needs a victory and an unlikely Aliso Niguel victory over San Clemente.

MORE OF THE CALHOUN SIX, WEEK 10:

Games to watch: Week 1

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:43:10 +0000

WEEK 1 – SEPT. 12

WESTERN VS. CANYON
AT EL MODENA HIGH

If you like offense, go to this game and hope the snack bar lines are short so you don't miss any of the big plays that are guaranteed in this one. Both of these teams are high-scoring outfits. You also will get a chance to see one of the county's top two-way players, Western running back/linebacker Ruben Ortega. He was the Orange League's most valuable player last year as a sophomore. Everyone knows that a league champion will automatically have its league MVP, but Ortega truly was the most outstanding player in 2007 in the Orange League. He is a hitter, and he is fast. Ortega rushed for 1,410 yards and 18 touchdowns in '07, and is among eight all-league returnees for the Pioneers. Canyon lost some key players to graduation, but the Comanches might have more team speed than ever. Coach Brent McKee is moving some guys to new positions; Tubotein Taylor, for example, moves from receiver to running back. Canyon is very deep and versatile at the skill positions, so producing points will not be a problem. And, as stated, Western is not going to get shut down very often, either.

Next: Week 2