manker eligibility issues

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SoCalHoops High School News

Eligibility Questions Raised About Manker;
Investigation Continues--(Jan. 22, 2000)

According to an article written by Barry Faulkner, in Friday's LA Times' owned Huntington Beach local paper, questions surrounding the eligibility of Laguna Beach High center Chris Manker (6'-10" Sr. C) prompted the school to hold him out of Friday night's nonleague game at Laguna Hills. A continuing CIF Southern Section inquiry into whether Manker has established "a bona fide change of residence" in Laguna Beach with his father Steve, will determine his future status with the team. Mankier is averaging 20 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.

Steve Manker told Faulkner on Friday he has lived with his son in Laguna Beach since they moved from Des Moines, Iowa, in December, but Pacific Coast League administrators are concerned, however, that the family has also maintained a home in Iowa, where Cindy Manker, Chris' mother, still resides. The CIF rules do not permit maintaining two primary residences.

If section administrators rule Chris Manker ineligible, the Artists, ranked No. 9 in CIF Division IV-AA and currently in first place in the PCL, would forfeit eight victories in which he played.

Laguna Beach Athletic Director Jonathan Todd declined comment, other than to confirm Manker would not play Friday. Laguna Beach Principal Stuart Sims and Coach Bret Fleming did not return phone messages left at school Friday afternoon. Costa Mesa boys athletic director Kirk Bauermeister said Laguna Beach was made aware of questions about Manker's eligibility at a Jan. 4 meeting of league athletic directors. Similar concerns were raised at a league meeting Tuesday, attended by principals and athletic directors from the five league schools.

"(Sims) admitted at Tuesday's meeting that there is dual residency, which is against CIF rules," Bauermeister told Faulkner. Southern Section bylaw 219, titled "Anticipated residence change" states that any athlete transferring to another school is eligible only when, and not until, the parent, guardian or caregiver they live with "completes a bona fide change of residence to that school's attendance area." The bylaw defines a bona fide change of residence as "the location where the student's parent(s), guardian(s) or caregiver(s) -- with whom eligibility has been established -- live with that student and thereby have the use and enjoyment of that location. (Said adult) may only have one bona fide residence at one time." Proof that a bona fide change of residence has occurred may include: Telephone and utility service operated at the student's new residence and terminated at the former residence; vehicle or voter registration listing the new address; court or real estate documents verifying the change (e.g. sale and purchase); and other documentation a section or school district may require that establishes a person is living at the new address."