Royal High Keeps Its Soccer Title : 3 Administrators Face Loss of Duties in Wake of Rast Trip

Royal High will not be stripped of its soccer championship for using a player who participated with a Junior Olympic team during the season, but Southern Section officials recommended Tuesday that three school administrators be relieved of interscholastic athletic duties.

Officials learned last week that senior Cam Rast had traveled to the Soviet Union in late December with the Olympic team. Royal was found in violation of Southern Section bylaws for neglecting to notify Southern Section officials of Rast’s trip.

Under the section’s recommendation, boys’ Athletic Director Glenn Lipman, activities director Jim Cox and Assistant Principal Marge Blackburn would be permanently relieved from their interscholastic athletic responsibilities. In addition, Royal’s entire athletic program would be placed on two year’s probation.

The recommendations do not affect Royal’s 4-A Division championship, which the Highlanders won by defeating Newbury Park, 1-0, on March 4.

Stan Thomas, Southern Section commissioner, said that Royal was not stripped of its title because the issue was a “procedural error” on the part of Royal’s administration.

“I don’t think Cam Rast did anything unethical,” he said. “He made every effort to do what was right. He went to the principal. The principal basically read the CIF blue book and said, ‘Sure, go ahead and do it.’ Who can the kid go to if not the principal?

“Rather than strip 22-24 kids, who are innocent, of their title, we decided to be fair.”

Blackburn, who served as principal on an interim basis in December and January while Rast was overseas, Lipman and Cox all declined comment.

Dave Jackson, who took over as principal Feb. 1, said Royal and school district officials will review the recommendations and release a statement today.

Scott Cathcart, Southern Section spokesman, said that officials will reconvene to determine appropriate sanctions should Royal refuse to accept the recommendations.

“It’s basically a severe warning,” Cathcart said. “The program will be scrutinized and should they commit any infractions, they will be dealt with with sanctions.”