Football: The Marmonte League exodus is about to begin

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It was only a matter of time before several schools in the Marmonte League would decide enough is enough with the addition of Westlake Village Oaks Christian and Ventura St. Bonaventure this season.

Now the threatened exodus has begun. Simi Valley Royal announced at a league meeting that it intends to leave at the first available opportunity, according to a story in the Ventura County Star.

That would be interesting, considering that neighborhood rival Simi Valley is in the league.

I’m sure Agoura, Calabasas and others would like to follow but this fight was fought long and hard. The public schools in the league lost. Of course, there’s always options. Maybe the Channel League will agree to take one or two teams.

Or maybe the schools will try to improve their programs. It’s not as if Royal is doing well against Westlake and Thousand Oaks.

Yes, Oaks Christian and St. Bonaventure belong in a league with private schools. But there aren’t enough good ones in their area. And there has been some great football played this season in the Marmonte, with big crowds and fun games.

But each school has to do what’s best for them, and if schools want to leave, good luck. The next official formation of new leagues isn’t until 2014. There would have to be some unanimous decisions for schools to leave early.

-- Eric Sondheimer