Author: danraffety

St. Bernard High School in Playa del Rey has suspended its varsity football program for the 2012 season. The news came just 10 days before the 2011 Del Rey League champion was scheduled to open the season against Westchester High School Aug. 24, and following the resignation of head coach Larry Muno after only one season. To make matters worse, an undisclosed amount of student athletes also decided to transfer from the school, leaving the program with few choices late in the summer. “We regret to announce that St. Bernard High School is unable to field a varsity football team this season,” said a joint statement by Co-Principals Michael Alvarez and Dr. Cynthia Hoepner. “All games for the 2012 season have been cancelled. Last week’s resignation of the head football coach and the subsequent transfer to other schools of most of the student-athlete varsity football team members, left us with few options this late in the summer.” Hoepner is optimistic that the loss of the team and students this season will not ruin the football or athletic programs, but rather serve as inspiration for the future of St. Bernard and its athletes. “The change hasn’t affected the student body one bit,” said Hoepner. “We have been in school for over a week now and things are back to normal.” The school did not, however, suspend the junior varsity program....