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Orange coach, AD had no say in team's termination
(by Tony Lange - February 22, 2012)
Orange coach, AD had no say in team's termination
By TONY LANGE
When Orange school officials confirmed that the varsity girls basketball team was shut down for the season earlier this month, injuries and lack of participation were the reasons indicated.
High school Principal Paul Lucas said the team's termination with five games remaining on its schedule "was a collaborative decision," but he did not elaborate, and school Superintendent Nancy Wingenbach was unavailable for comment.
But the Lady Lions' head coach, Despina Moraitou, said last week neither she nor Athletic Director Jeff Kurtz was consulted before the decision was made. She also said injuries and lack of participation were not issues.
Kurtz confirmed that he did not know about the decision until after it took place.
"No, I was not consulted, nor was it ever discussed with me," Kurtz said about the basketball team's termination. "She's the one who told me that it happened," he said of Moraitou. "Understandably, I was surprised. I guess there was a meeting with players and parents that I was not invited to or a part of, and she came back into my office after that meeting occurred and said that there was an announcement made that the season had been canceled and the team had disbanded at that point."
Earlier that day, Jan. 23, Kurtz resigned as Orange's athletic director -- a position he started Aug. 1, 2011, with a three-year contract -- citing personal reasons for his decision.
Both Kurtz and Lucas said the resignation and disbandment of the girls basketball team were unrelated.
Earlier this month, as was reported elsewhere, Lucas said the cancellation of the basketball season was based on a few injuries, which left the Lady Lions with only "six or seven players."
Just last week, Lucas said, "I just think it was going to be tough at the varsity level with seven girls trying to finish out the varsity season."
Moraitou, however, said only one injury occurred, and the Lady Lions actually had eight able players, which is what a typical rotation consists of during varsity games.
When asked about Moraitou's comment, Lucas said, "It might have been eight. I'm not sure off the top of my head -- seven or eight."
Asked whether Kurtz was aware of the decision, Lucas said, "You'd have to ask him."
Asked whether Moraitou was consulted, Lucas said, "I have no comment on that."
"I found out about the termination of my team 10 minutes before practice that day," Moraitou said. "I would not have made the decision, because there was still work to be done. Although we had one of our best players out hurt, there is a lot to be said about perseverance and hard work and not quitting."
When the Lady Lions concluded their season early, they had a 2-13 record, after starting their season with 11 players and no junior varsity team.
During the season, one player quit on her own, another player was expelled by Moraitou, and a third, standout scorer Alissa Snoddy, tore her anterior cruciate ligament, which left Orange with eight players, Moraitou said.
The Orange athletic handbook states, "Winning and losing become a secondary issue when compared to the manner in which athletes conduct themselves on the field, exhibiting dignity and grace in the face of adversity. Winning is secondary, as well, when compared to the extent of the effort put forth by the individual in whatever endeavor he/she undertakes."
Moraitou said it was important to her as a coach that her team finish the season and try to improve from the first day to the last day, but the last day came sooner than expected.
"Sure, Alissa was our highest scorer," Moraitou said about her injured star, who sat on the bench for two games before the team was cut. "But in basketball, you have a team of five. You can't win with a team of one. Everybody has to work together, and the girls in the last two games were actually showing that collaboration and communication."
To suddenly break the learning process by terminating the girls' season works negatively toward the message the school sends to its students, which is that it is OK to quit, Moraitou said.
"You have to work very hard, show discipline, respect for the game and fight until the end," she said. "That's why we always say as coaches, it doesn't matter if you win or lose; it's how you play the game."
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