Family, Friends Picket in Support of Sidelined Glendora High Athlete

Dozens of people carried signs and chanted in support of Glendora High baseball athlete Nicholas Wagner outside CIF Southern Section offices in Los Alamitos Tuesday.

About 30 family, friends and supporters protested against CIF’s ruling that the 18-year-old senior is ineligible to play baseball during his senior season because he has played eight consecutive semesters. CIF denied Wagner’s request for a hardship waiver, claiming his transfer from Damien High School and his repeat of his freshman year at Glendora High School was due to “athletic motivation.” 

But Wagner’s parents say their son’s emotional and social disorder, not athletic motivation, prompted them to hold Wagner back one year.

“We just want [CIF] to look at the facts, what they should have done when we were here before for the appeals hearing,” Wagner’s father, Gary Wagner, said. “We feel if they do just that, they’ll understand what we’ve been trying to tell them all along..”

CIF officials did not address the crowd during the demonstration regarding the case, although Commissioner James Staunton came outside and briefly asked the crowd to keep their demonstration cordial shortly after the picket session began.

 Wagner and his parents are suing CIF Southern Section, claiming discrimination. A ruling in favor of Wagner at a March 1 Superior Court hearing is Wagner's only chance to play before his season ends. Wagner’s attorney, Chris C. Prussak, say Wagner’s family and supporters plan more pickets leading up to their March 1 hearing.

“We’re going to make as much noise as possible. We’re not going away quietly,” said Prussak.