CA High School Stripped Of Basketball Championship Title Following Viral Tortilla Throwing Incident

The San Diego high school under fire for a tortilla throwing incident has gotten their championship title stripped over the viral disgrace.

According to WGN 9 News, the California Interscholastic Federation vacated Coronado High school’s regional boy’s basketball championship on Wednesday. The school has also been placed on probation for the 2023-2024 school year.

During the championship game, video footage shows tortillas thrown at the opposing team, Orange Glen High School’s basketball players, which had several Latino players.

The CIF released a statement saying that there was no doubt the behaviors from the June 19 game were “unacceptable.” Coronado’s team was predominantly white.

“While consequences are warranted for such an egregious action as throwing tortillas at a predominantly Latino team, and the sanctions below are being levied on the athletic program at Coronado High School, we must all be aware that behavior does not normally change with sanctions alone,” CIF said in a statement. “The path towards real change comes with the development of empathy for those who are on the receiving end of this type of degrading and demeaning behavior, no matter the proffered intent of that behavior.”

The boy’s basketball program is no longer allowed to host postseason competitions until after the 2022-23 school year. The decision also affects other athletic programs at the school, barring them until school stakeholders participate in a sportsmanship workshop and game management training.

The video has since gone viral and drew widespread outrage from those condemning the racist and disrespectful actions. Included among those upset are state and local lawmakers, several other school districts in the area, and members of the Orange Glen program.

The school board apologized to the Orange Glen school community and owned up to the “egregious, demeaning, and disrespectful act.

Escondido Union High School District Superintendent Anne Staffieri said that the CIF report “provides us with a foundation for finding closure and a path forward. “

“We support the administration at Orange Glen High School engaging with the administration at Coronado High School to work toward a positive relationship between the two school communities,” Staffieri said. “We continue to focus on the needs of our students as they heal from this experience. As always, as a district, we remain committed to our support for equity, safety, and the well-being of all students.”

Coronado Unified School District Superintendent Karl Mueller says the district plans to review CIF’s ruling and may do an appeal.

“We have seen no evidence of antagonization by the players’ actions or behaviors that justify forfeiting the game,” Mueller said.

“We have also retained an outside investigator to thoroughly review the incident, which will guide any additional corrective actions,” Mueller said. “Whatever actions we take to address this matter, this incident and the CIF decision have served as clear reminders of the importance of sportsmanship and respectful conduct toward one another.”