Local administrators have good feeling after LHSAA championships vote

Friday was a good day for St. Charles Catholic head football coach and athletic director Frank Monica.

It was announced Friday morning that Monica was a member of the 2019 induction class of the Louisiana High School Hall of Fame. Then, right about noon time, LHSAA principals voted in favor of a series of proposals to allow for separate championship events to be held for select schools in football, basketball, baseball and softball.

Monica, who has led the fight on behalf of private schools in particular, was pleased with the outcome.

“When the first vote went down about getting more select people on the executive committee, it lost badly,” Monica said. “Fortunately, when we finally got to the issue of allowing us to host our own championships, things changed. They made the entire group vote. We lost by nine votes on baseball.

“Fortunately, the sponsorship issue concern came up and it passed on the second vote. It was a train rolling downhill with the other sports. I think people started to understand.”

Monica is puzzled as to why any public school principal voted against allowing select schools determine when and where they can stage championships.

“Why would public schools care where we have our championships?” Monica said. “The LHSAA will make more money. Our schools will save money. It does not impact their championships, which they chose to lock us out of, at all. Now, our entire communities can come see championships at prime times and dates.”

Brother Martin athletic director Mark Wisniewski feels progress was made.

“I’m pleased with the idea that select schools are starting to get a little voice,” Wisniewski said. “Ultimately, you’re not playing a championship (or semifinal) game at 11 a.m. or noon on a weekday.

“It allows for our students to be more a part of title games and allows our kids not to be out of school as much as in the past, particularly with basketball and baseball. It helps our fans more. The intent of the vote is what is best for our kids.

“I think only time will tell about the future of the LHSAA and our private schools remaining part of it. If it helps with it and opens up dialog to a future of possibly getting back together, it’s a good thing.”

Country Day athletic director and head boys basketball coach Mike McGuire is bullish on today’s voting.

“I really think it was a great day for our school and for select schools,” McGuire said. “We don’t want the split and it doesn’t seem we will get back together soon so this gives us a chance to control our own events and our own venues.

“We were getting shafted, lost in the shuffle with times, dates and venues. The attendance and money were going down. This will make it so much nicer for our kids and our schools. We got it passed in multiple sports and that was huge. We can go to the New Orleans area, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, now that we have the decisions to make.”

Archbishop Rummel athletic director Jay Roth, an outspoken critic of the split, left Baton Rouge with a smile.

“It is the first time that the vote didn’t go down select and non-select lines,” Roth said. “Some on the non-select side correctly saw that it was a win-win situation. It was the first time we came together in a long time.

“I really think this might be the first step of helping us bring the organization back together as one and eliminate the split. It might help people calm down, rationalize and listen to others speak. I think this was a good day. I thank those public school principals who voted in our favor to allow us to host our own championships.

“This is the first positive step since 2013. We were united on the select side. That is what we need to be.”

John Curtis Christian headmaster and head football coach J.T. Curtis sees a glimmer of light that may be expanding.

“Finally, something positive came out of a meeting,” Curtis said. “It was quite interesting. It is a move in the right direction. First, it is good for the select schools to have all of that dead time, to play our games at venues in an organized fashion.

“Eventually, it could help us come back together as a group financially. Expenses will be down for everyone this way and our revenue should improve. Finances play a part in anything. We will have better playing times and dates in all of these sports that we now can control. I am very pleased for John Curtis Christian and for all of our select schools.”

For the first time in several years, Monica is encouraged about the potential future of the LHSAA.

“It is a big step forward,” Monica said. “Those involved showed some professionalism. It did not further divide us. I think it will help keep us all in the organization, rather than our select schools leaving the LHSAA. Our schools stuck together and that was huge.”

Curtis is not sure if this will change the landscape of the split in the near future.

“Only time will tell,” Curtis said. “I think this could lead to something even better down the road. I certainly hope so. Mike Boyer of Teurlings Catholic (the principal who made the proposals) is to be complimented for his tenacity, determination and efforts. It was expertly done, as well as anything I’ve seen done at an LHSAA meeting.”

Roth summarized the feeling of his select brethren.

“Every school, every coach, every student-athlete deserves the best opportunity to experience championships at the highest level,” Roth said, “and this allows us that opportunity.”