SAN DIEGO COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK : Grainger, Clairemont Girls’ Coach, is Fired

Clairemont girls’ basketball Coach Ken Grainger was fired Friday but specific reasons for his dismissal are not being disclosed.

Grainger said Vice Principal Peter Schroeder called him Friday and told him in a relayed message from Principal Wendall McFadden that they “didn’t want me around any more.”

Schroeder said Grainger was given a reason but would not say what that reason was. Schroeder did say the dismissal wasn’t over a single event.

“His dismissal was from his inability to follow prescribed rules and regulations set by the district,” Schroeder said, but would not give any specifics.

There is speculation the firing stemmed from comments Grainger made at Thursday’s Parent-Teacher-Student Assn. meeting. Grainger said he and assistant Coach David Watson weren’t getting any support from school officials so a parent had suggested the two coaches outline the situation and take it before the PTSA. The discussion became quite heated “and I said some things I shouldn’t have and I later apologized to those concerned,” Grainger said.

Grainger, in his second year at Clairemont, said he has always worked toward bettering the girls’ athletic program. Grainger said he has never been reimbursed $1,500 for new team uniforms, plus other team expenses for which he has submitted receipts.

Grainger, who has discussed the matter with his attorney, said that even before the meeting he and Watson thought their jobs were in jeopardy after a comment made to him by a parent.

“A few days earlier, a parent told me Vice Principal Schroeder said something about canceling the rest of the season,” Grainger said. “I took it as direct thing that I could lose my job. Our record might not be great right now, but the overall spirit and participation is very good.”

Schroeder denied ever saying that to a parent.

In support of Grainger, the girls’ team walked off the court and forfeited the game to Coronado Friday. Clairemont, made up of primarily first-year varsity players, has a 1-13 record.

“The walk-out was a one-time thing the girls did in support of me,” Grainger said. “They will not do it again. This has hurt me and the girls. The girls are upset and want me there.”

Watson has taken over the team since Friday.

“The girls had a team meeting with Coach Watson and we will continue the season,” Schroeder said.

The Valhalla wrestling team has come a long way from last year’s 29th place finish at the Five Counties tournament. Saturday, the Norsemen placed second at the Fountain Valley tournament, although they did not win any championships.

Monte Vista placed eighth and Poway, which has finished in the top five the last five years, placed 10th.

Daniel Ramirez from El Camino defeated Monte Vista’s Tom Chorman in the 98-pound championship finals. At 138 pounds, Rancho Buena Vista’s Marco Ahlgren lost to Jason Mitchell of Caynon, 7-2. Monte Vista’s Ron Cottrell was defeated by Victor Valley’s Blair Green, 10-4.

Poway, 11-0, 2-0 in dual meets, suffered some key upsets which contributed to the low finish. Heavyweight Cory Farkas lost on overtime criteria in an early match. Farkas did wrestle back to take third place.

Poway’s 98-pound Tony Matteucci wrestled in the tournament after being out of practice for two weeks with a viral infection. Matteucci lost to Chorman, 1-0, in the semifinals.

Three items will be voted upon at the San Diego Section Board of Managers meeting today.

Although the State CIF Competition Committee recommends that the state comply with the national rule permitting four time-outs in basketball, section coaches wish to stay with five timeouts and a vote will be taken to disapprove the reduction.

Because of the addition of the 2-A Harbor League, the Girls’ Tennis Advisory Committee recommended that the 12-team section playoff format be expanded to 16 teams. The 16-team format for 2-A boys’ teams has already been approved.

The third item up for consent is the addition of two divisions for section volleyball playoffs. Currently, there are three divisions for section volleyball playoffs in accordance with the state playoff enrollment categories. The girls’ volleyball advisory committee is recommending the expansion to five divisions to make section playoffs more equally competitive for schools involved.