Some Teens Base Choice On Athletics

As late as this summer, sophomore Kenny Florence was torn between the high school of his choice, University, and that of his residence, Central Valley.

Florence, an outstanding athlete at Horizon Junior High last year, will likely be on varsity in two sports during his high school athletic career.

Horizon serves both schools.

“There was a lot of pressure to go there (by friends),” Florence said of CV. “I felt I just belonged at U-Hi.”

Florence, who did end up at U-Hi, is one of several athletes competing for schools outside their attendance boundaries. About 17 percent who took advantage of open enrollment to move into the two Central Valley School District high schools cited athletics as a reason.

Most, like Florence, chose a school because a sibling attended. Some have gone because it is where their parents coach and teach.

When they are athletes, choice students tend to come under scrutiny.

Athletes are eligible for varsity within the CV district if they declare before high school. If they switch thereafter they must either go through a hardship hearing, where they must show that the move had nothing to do with athletics, or spend a year on junior varsity.

“If it is between our schools, the hearing is within the district,” said Mike Pearson, district director at CV. “If it is between districts, then it becomes a District 8 Athletic Board of Control issue.”

Usually, said Pearson, there are no more than two or three such hearings a year.

The issue can be sticky, as in the case of West Valley senior basketball player Kris Sly. He lives in the East Valley School District and that became an issue three years ago when he played in a varsity game as a freshman without having undergone an eligibility hearing.

Pearson said that in the past there have been instances of recruiting concerns and of parents pitting schools against each other for the services of their athletic child.

Safeguards are now in place.

“Four years ago we came out with a recruitment brochure that says, `though shalt not,”’ he said. “We have not had one accusation after the brochure was published.”

If nothing else, open enrollment for athletes is a nuisance.

“It can be a little bit of a distraction in the springtime when coaches call us and want to know where they are going to go,” said Horizon coach Jim Phinney. “We tell the kids whatever choice they make is good.

“There was unnecessary pressure on Kenny, who handled it great. I don’t think at the ninth grade level they should have to worry about that decision.”