When senior scoring star Jaime Cruz Jr. returned to practice Feb. 5 with the Mesa Vista boys basketball team, a week of controversy came to an end concerning his status with the team.
Cruz Jr. had missed two games for the Trojans following the removal of his father, Jaime Cruz Sr., from his position as junior varsity boys basketball coach and assistant varsity coach. Cruz Sr. was fired from those positions Jan. 30 following a brawl Jan. 24 between the Trojans and Pecos junior varsity teams.
Despite claims that an illness had kept Cruz Jr. out of the two games and practice, rumors circulated that he was going to leave Mesa Vista and return to Coronado High School in Gallina, where he had played varsity as a freshman and sophomore and his father had coached for two seasons. Under New Mexico Activities Association rules, Cruz Jr. would have been ineligible to play for Coronado and would miss the remainder of his senior year.
It turns out that Jaime Jr. was indeed sick, but what had happened to his father also played a part in his decision.
“He said he didn’t want to play anymore because of what had happened to me,” Cruz Sr. said. “I told him no matter what happens to me, you need to do this for yourself and for your team — that’s all that matters — you and them.”
Cruz Jr. played against Questa Feb. 6 and led the Trojans with 21 points, helping Mesa Vista to a 74-55 victory. During the game, he could be seen rubbing his chest and grimacing.
“His chest was hurting and he was having a little bit of trouble breathing,” Cruz Sr. said. “We took him to the doctor for some tests and the doctor prescribed an inhaler. (The doctor) said he may have sports asthma.”
Cruz Jr. confirmed that his chest had hurt during the game, but he was happy to be back on the court with his teammates.
“You could see it in the kid’s eyes,” Mesa Vista coach Thomas Vigil said. “All he wanted to do was play.’
Cruz Sr. attended the game Feb. 6 as a spectator, sitting in the top row of the stands behind the Mesa Vista bench. After the game, he embraced and congratulated the Mesa Vista players and coach Vigil, who returned his thanks.
“All my kids respect him and love him,” Vigil said.
End of an Era
Cruz Sr. had coached his son for the last four seasons. He had been an assistant varsity coach when his son was a freshman at Coronado and was head coach at Coronado during his son’s sophomore season. He was not rehired at Coronado after the 2006-07 season.
Cruz Sr. was hired by Mesa Vista as a Spanish Language Arts teacher for the 2007-2008 school year and as boys junior varsity and assistant varsity coach, as well. Cruz Jr. followed his father to Mesa Vista where he joined the Mesa Vista varsity. Freshman Chris Cruz, Jaime’s younger brother, plays for the Mesa Vista junior varsity team. Their run together ended after the brawl at Pecos. Cruz Sr. said he wasn’t involved in the fight.
“I was lining my kids up to shake hands after the game,” Cruz Sr. said. “Then I saw the brawl and kids on the floor in front of me. I don’t know how it started or who started it.”
Chris Cruz was involved in the brawl and was one of six Mesa Vista junior varsity players suspended for two games. Cruz Sr. stated that he saw someone come down from the stands and hit Chris Cruz with a forearm.
The brawl was not the reason Cruz Sr. was relieved of his coaching duties, Mesa Vista Superintendant Robert Archuleta said.
Cruz Sr. is not sure why he was relieved of his coaching position. Assistant coach Miguel Garcia has taken over Cruz’s duties as junior varsity coach.
“I don’t know what is really going on with my coaching position,” he said.
Cruz Sr., said he was called into a meeting Jan. 30 with Mesa Vista athletic director Ruben Lucero and Mesa Vista High School principal Janette Archuleta and handed a letter that effective immediately he was removed from his position as junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach. It stated that a coach is appointed at will and if it is in the best interest of the school district, a coach can be removed and was signed by Lucero.
Cruz Sr. then requested a meeting with Robert Archuleta. The meeting took place Feb. 3 with Robert Archuleta, as well as Lucero and Janette Archuleta. Cruz Sr. was told by Robert Archuleta that he was not listening to Lucero and was not treating the junior varsity players equally, Cruz Sr. said.
Cruz Sr. had served a one-game suspension against Dulce Jan. 21 issued by Lucero because he had been instructed to have Chris Cruz not play for a quarter of a game because of a school suspension. Cruz Sr. had played Chris Cruz anyway.
“It was a verbal directive,” Cruz Sr. said. “I was driving the bus and keeping the book for the “C” team and I just forgot.
Cruz Sr. said that he does not intend to return to Mesa Vista after the school year. He may move his family back to Wagon Mound, where he graduated from high school and played basketball.
“When somebody doesn’t want you, it’s time to leave,” he said.