Title Vacated After Fans Throw Tortillas At Mostly Latino Team

CORONADO, CA — The Coronado High School 2021 Southern California Boys Basketball Division 4-A regional championship has been vacated less than two weeks after tortillas were thrown at an opposing team representing a school that is mostly Latino, the California Interscholastic Federation has said. Coronado will also be on probation for three years as a result of sanctions levied against the mostly white school this week.

“Discriminatory and racially insensitive behaviors toward an opponent contravene the principles of education-based athletics,” the CIF wrote in a statement. “In this instance, there is no doubt the act of throwing tortillas at a predominately Latino team is unacceptable and warrants sanctions.”

In addition to vacating the Coronado championship, all athletic administrators, coaches and student-athletes at the school will also be required to complete a sportsmanship workshop geared toward racial and cultural sensitivity, the CIF said.

Video surfaced of tortillas thrown at Orange Glen High School boys basketball players following a narrow Coronado overtime victory on June 19 that included a number of tense moments during the game, CNN reported. The tortillas were tossed by the mostly white Coronado crowd, witnesses told the news outlet.

Patch has reached out to Coronado High School. The Coronado Unified School District said it is considering an appeal in a Wednesday statement to NBC San Diego.

"We are currently reviewing the decision and will evaluate a possible appeal,” the statement reads. “We have also retained an outside investigator to thoroughly review the incident, which will guide any additional corrective actions.

“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."

The CIF was more firm about addressing the racially insensitive situation.

“We must all be aware that behavior does not normally change with sanctions alone,” the CIF stated.

“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. Adherence to the principles of ‘Pursuing Victory with Honor’ is expected at all levels of high school athletic events and, in particular, championship contests.”