The Capitol (Baton Rouge) and Thibodaux track and field teams must pay the price for a melee that led to sanctions from the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.
Both schools were placed on disciplinary probation for a year and fined $1,000 for violating LHSAA rules about wholesome competition. Capitol and Thibodaux also must share the cost of the LHSAA hearing that took place nearly three weeks after the schools got into an altercation March 19 at the 18-team Foster/Perry Relays at Franklin.
During the meet, a fight broke out at the 50-yard line at Franklin’s football stadium. Several eyewitnesses spoke during the LHSAA hearing that was convened to discuss the brawl, which included the tossing of a shot put and a hurdle. There had been friction between the schools earlier in the day in the stands.
Franklin city police arrived with pepper spray but apparently calm had returned by then and no arrests were made. Both teams returned to their buses without further incident.
"I don’t know who started it, but I do know it was bad and it was nasty," said Franklin principal Tybus Burdett, whose school was placed on administrative probation for one calendar year, and ordered to adjust guidelines for future meets and to provide appropriate authorized security for participating teams.
Both the Capitol and Thibodaux principals apologized to the LSHAA disciplinary committee during the meeting that lasted more than three hours.
"I’m thoroughly disappointed in the actions of our kids," Capitol’s Don Green said. "We’re trying our best — and we’ve had success so far — to change our culture and redefine our image. What happened at that track meet is totally unacceptable."
"This is unfortunate," Thibodaux’s Kevin George said, "and it puts a bad mark on everyone’s face when it comes to high school athletics. I’m anxious to learn all the facts and get to the bottom of this."
Capitol and Thibodaux must submit a report later this month indicating who was involved in the fight and what disciplinary actions were taken against those parities. The LHSAA disciplinary committee will then determine if the schools have taken appropriate measures.
Capitol and Thibodaux had 15 days in which to appeal the ruling after it was handed down.
Track and field: Sylve cleared to run again
Just in time for the upcoming state outdoor track and field meet, South Plaquemines (Port Sulphur) junior sprint champion Bradley Sylve has been medically cleared to compete again. Sylve has been sidelined for more than seven months with a foot injury.
The 6-foot-1,185-pound Sylve is the reigning Class 1A state champion in the 100 and 200 meters and ran the anchor on the victorious 400- and 800-meter relay teams. South Plaquemines won last year’s state title.
Sylve hasn’t participated in sports since detaching a tendon in the top of his left foot in the first quarter of the Hurricanes’ 2009 football season opener against Belle Chasse. Sylve underwent surgery after the non-contact injury.
Sylve is projected to be one of the nation’s leading football prospects as a senior. He can play receiver, quarterback, running back and defensive back but may land at receiver in college.
Sylve already has received official football scholarship offers from LSU, Tulane, Alabama, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Arkansas, Stanford, Louisiana Tech, Southeastern Louisiana and McNeese State, South Plaquemines coach Cyril Crutchfield said.
Football: Huntington hires McClain
After four head football coaches in four years, Huntington (Shreveport) officials are hopeful they’ve brought some stability to their program with the naming of Anthony McClain as their next head coach.
McClain has been at Huntington for more than a decade and has served as interim coach since August. He guided Huntington to a 7-6 record and a spot in the Class 4A quarterfinals last season. Huntington chose McClain from a field of five that included former Northwestern State head coach Sam Goodwin and current Texas high school coaches Ron Lynch and John Fleming and Elmer Nunley. Nunley is a former Huntington assistant.
Volleyball: Walker returns to top spot
After a three-year hiatus, Jody Walker will take over again as Mandeville head volleyball coach.
Before stepping down, Walker guided Mandeville to the 2005 Division I state championship and two runner-up finishes. He remained at the school as a math teacher. Walker, 44, will succeed Christy Sanantonio, who cited a desire to spend more time with her family in stepping down.
As Mandeville’s head coach from 2002-06, Walker compiled a record of 158-42. He previously coached at Carencro (Lafayette) and Notre Dame of Crowley. His overall record is 286-123.
Players pick and choose colleges
Student athletes from across the state have been busy either signing with colleges or committing to them. Foremost is Christian Life (Baton Rouge) boys basketball player Stuart Pirri, who signed with Southeast Missouri State.
The 6-foot-8 Pirri helped CLA to three consecutive Class 1A state titles and averaged 18.2 points and 5.3 rebounds this past season. He also had scholarship offers from Northern Illinois, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Mercer.
Kalvin Balque of Class 4A boys state basketball champion Peabody (Alexandria) will play for Kansas City Community College. Balque averaged 10 points, five rebounds and three steals per game.
Twins Alexar and Elexar Tugler, who led Carroll (Monroe) to the Class 4A girls state basketball championship, committed to remain in their hometown at the University of Monroe. Alexar led Carroll with averages of 22 points and 10 rebounds per game.
National junior college baseball power LSU-Eunice signed
Minden centerfielder/left-handed pitcher Dalton Herrington, who had hit seven home runs through 26 games. Herrington hit .413 as a junior last year and was 4-1 as a pitcher. The 5-11,180-pound Herrington said he will concentrate solely on the outfield in college.
