manker eligible, laguna beach forfeits 9

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SoCalHoops High School News

Manker Ruled Eligible, But Laguna
Beach Forfeits 9 Games-- (Jan. 28, 2000)

The LA Times Orange County Edition is reporting this morning that the CIF Southern Section office yesterday issued a ruling that Laguna Beach's chris Manker (6'-10" Sr. C) is eligible for the remainder of the season, but the Section also ruled that Laguna Beach, the team he plays for, which was the leading challenger for the Pacific Coast League title, must forfeit nine wins, including three league wins as a result of Manker's initial inelibility.

Manker, who began the school year at Valley High in West Des Moines, Iowa, played 11 games with the Artists from December 17 through January 19; he didn't play in last Friday's game as a result of the investigation. His father, Steve Manker, who also played college ball, told Laguna Beach HS officials that he was getting a divorce and had moved into the Laguna Beach attendance area with his son, thus establishing residency and meeting the requirements of the CIF rules regarding a single residence.

However, a section spokesman told the Times that complaints by league coaches sparked an inquiry by the section, which determined that Laguna Beach had not done a thorough job of documenting the case, and as a result of the initially shoddy documentation, the Section ruled that Manker was not initially eligible, similar to the ruling which was issued against Compton Centennial in which they also were required to forfeit 5 games. CIF Southern Section rules prohibit students from participating on athletic teams if, after establishing residency elsewhere, they move for the express purpose of being eligible to play sports. The rules also prohibit athletes from being eligible if they move with a single parent without proof of a legal separation from the other parent. The Section spokesman told the Times that the section is now satisfied that Manker's paperwork is in order and he is eligible to play in Laguna Beach's game tonight at Estancia. Laguna Beach's record drops to 3-17 and 0-4 in league, and they'll need to win a lot more games (there probably aren't enough remaining) in order to qualify for the playoffs, even under the new formula announced yesterday by the Section and reported on today by Eric Sondheimer in the Valley Edition of the Times.