Local News Comments

Wouldn't this be a step down? Aren't we kicking their butts, despite the schools we are playing?

They were 3-4 in the league last year here are the scores: http://www.mymotherlode.com/sports/high-school-sports.php

Also note fewer kids are enrolled in lower grades or moving here so fewer will be in the high school to choose football players from: Tuolumne County Schools have lost 2,000 students over the past 10 years. Over 1,000 of those in just three years with a rebound of 429 students last year. Calaveras County has gradually lost 1,000 over the past 10 years. http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/1852640/Tuolumne-And-Calaveras-Enrollment.html

Can't beat Oakdale, just change leagues. thats a lame excuse Let see Sonora has a 3-1 advantage over Summerville student wise and Summerville has a hard time coming up with a team because their kids have to play both ways.

Francis has been trying for years to get into the MLL long before the decline in enrollment. The fact of the matter is that Sonora's tired of getting spanked in the valley and now want to play "Foothill Teams" so that they can have more success (wins).Tell ya what Sonora.....if you want to save gas you can start by asking the local board of education to readjust the school district lines so that you don't have to send a bus beyond the junction. That's right, put Soulsbyville and Curtis Creek in the Summerville district and save money on transportation that the state doesn't fund for anyways. Sonora could sell it a lot better if the lines were readjusted but we all know that they'll never ask for that.

It would be terrible to have Sonora in the MLL. Calaveras already dominates because they are so much larger than the rest and we don't need Sonora. They are about twice the size of most of the other schools in the MLL. Sonora has had their time at being competitive and it will happen again. Schools have to go through a rebulding period and they need to just be patient.

i agree with Leperman621 also the other schools might be conserned because of Sonora"s enrollment difference i know that would cross my mind
seems just few years ago Sonora was doing well and not so bad at this time either but i guess if you had almost double the enrollment of other schools you could do even better.

Sounds like the 'Cats are tired of getting their butts kicked by Oakdale.

If we have lost over 1000 students in the last three years, how many superintendents and administration positions have we lost?

Cop, good question. I would like to know the answer to that.

Here is a related news story http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/1553179/Tuolumne-Schools-Issue-21-Preliminary-Pink-Slips.html and an entire Mother Lode Views on the subject http://www.mymotherlode.com/multimedia/audio/1306411/Changes-In-Education.html

I think this would be a great move! It would create an awesome rivalry between local schools.

@ Logical: That's a great idea, even out the student enrollment and I bet you would have unanimous support for Sonora coming into the MLL. Imagine having a true cross county rivalry in all sports, the stands would be packed for every contest from football to tiddlywinks!

We have a HISTORY of football here. What that really means is that kids PLAY it, and not just the school, thus there should be a size offset. I say stay in the we are in. I love it when are small town kicks Oakdale's butt.

They play the "preliminary pink slip" game every year . I don't want to know how many people might not come back. I would just like to know how many, did not, come back.
Also if they consolidated the districts that $104,000 Columbia el employees got, could have helped pay for transportation. Just one more reason to consolidate, but we know the school system does what they want, and could not care less, about what the people paying for their wages, retirement and classrooms think.

Excellent idea!
Sorry no ignorant comment to follow.

It would be sad to see Sonora leave the current league, Sonora rocks and when it comes down to it, the coaching has A LOT to do with how well the team plays. In 2005/2006 Varsity went all the way to the playoffs,so there is no lack of skill in the kids that play. This also had a lot to do with the head coach Cindro(sp?), he rocked. As far as whiners...you don't hear the boys whine, it's the parents who whine.

If you want strong athletes in High School you HAVE to invest in the youth programs and develop from there. The smallest of schools can be the best around if they are worked with from kindergarden all the way up. I have seen very impressive teams come out of Mother lode Christian whos senior class was no more than 20.

We are Marshall

The small against the large.
Never take that from us.

With enrollment declining in Tuolumne in County, maybe now is a good time to consolidate to one school district and save money, or re a line the school districts. The other person is right; Soulsbyville Elementary should feed Summerville High School. Instead of passing the school bonds, maybe we should combine both high schools and build a new one off Tuolumne Road. Just something to think about.

Sports are just that..Sports. The idea of starting with Kindergarteners is ridiculous, it's bad enough kids are playing contact football as young as they do these days. Injuries to growth plates and much more can ruin a child's life and future in sports. What everyone fails to remember is that this is JUST a game, if the PLAYER (not the parent) wants a professional career in the sport then fine. Too many parents push their kids to do something they really don't want to. Yeah, it sucks when our teams get beat, but changing leagues or not should depend on school size and travel to play a game. I remember the day when we were playing Los Banos, a stupid drive just to play a game! Be proud of the kids for who they are, the effort they exude and if you want to help them, it's in the coaching.

The proof is everywhere that a child who participates in structured sports has a far greater chance to succeed in life than the one who plays video games and hangs with his buddies looking for something to do. kids enjoy sports. Kindergaden is a GREAT place to start.

The big problem is that some parents put sports ahead of academics.

"I love it when are small town kicks Oakdale's butt"

Unfortunately, there hasn't been much to love lately LOL