With the onset of new budget cuts, I’ve noticed that many Orange Coast College sports teams are now filled with Division-I bounce backs.For non-sports savvy people, a bounce back is an athlete that used to play at the highest collegiate competition but now plays at a lower level.
I’m not trying to say the level of competition or the athletes currently at OCC is poor, because that’s not true at all.
Coast athletes play in the Orange Empire Conference, which is known for its prestigious athletics competition.
What I’m trying to say is that the caliber of athletes has now gone up and they are taking roster spots away from players that used put on the Pirate uniform or jersey.
During her time at OCC, Mitchell set the national 3,000 meter steeplechase record. Not bad for someone that wasn’t a top recruit out of high school.
Head women’s basketball coach said that last year’s all-OEC first team player Simone Ibbotson improved more than any other player to come out of his program.
There are also other athletes that came to Coast because they are recovering from an injury, didn’t get recruited in high school or just want to play their sport for a few more years before they retire as an athlete.
With the increase in the number of bounce backs, I wonder if there will be room for players like Mitchell, Ibbotson or any of the other athletes I described.
On top of that, with the budget cuts, roster sizes might have to be cut down too.
I think this will be the norm soon: Division-I caliber athletes taking over the community colleges and the coaches, assuming they want to win as many state champions as they can, will play them over the other athlete that may have the potential to be, well, Division-I athletes.
I foresee this future and I think it’s a shame. I’m sorry in advance that I won’t have a chance to write about you.
[Photo courtesy of Hank Schellingerhout]
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