Two former Wendover little league football coaches will face trial August 14 for their roles in a fisticuffs following a playoff game last October on Wolverine field.
Both Luis Perez, 53, and Frank Sanchez, 38, in enterred not guilty pleas West Wendover Justice Court this Wednesday. Sanchez in person and Perez via his attorney Robert Salyer.
The two former head coaches of Wendover’s great Basin Youth Football League have already been banned for life from coaching and in a separate punishment banned from the West Wendover High school ball fields.
Both Perez and Sanchez were told the morning after the incident that their careers as little league football coaches were over immediately and forever by league president Bob Loncar.
“It is a real shame that this had to happen, but there is no excuse whatsoever for their actions,” Loncar said in April. “This is not what football is all about and in complete violation of our league’s by-laws. I know and like both Luis and Frank but actions have consequences. It is a shame that they ended up like this, but we cannot tolerate that kind of behavior.”
At the end of the game instead of exchanging handshakes the two coaches exchanged punches. Police reports differ on who struck the first blow and neither man was arrested at the scene.
In addition to the league life time ban, the two men are also banned from West Wendover High School playing fields for an indefinite period.
“We have a responsibility to protect the people who use our facilities,” said Elko School Superintendent Jeff Zander at the time . “That kind of behavior will never be tolerated.”
The game where the fight broke out was a tie breaker to determine the first seed in playoffs till scheduled for next week.
“I kind of hate to see criminal charges being filed over this,” Loncar added . “I was hoping that the DA would let the matter drop. Apart from the fight both Frank and Luis really devoted a lot of time and effort to the program and really helped out.”
Both men had been involved in the program since it was revived by Loncar seven years ago with Sanchez as a head coach and Perez as an assistant coach for most of the time.
During that time Perez often served as coach or assistant coach for various West Wendover High School sports teams and was in the running to take over the high schools football program next year.
A Nevada assault crime committed without a deadly weapon is a misdemeanor. The judge may impose six months of jail and/or a $1,000 fine. OR, the judge may impose community service instead of jail time.
The league has been in operation for about seven years and features intra city play among three teams.
It was founded by Loncar, first to instill in Wendover elementary school children the love of the game of football and also to help improve the performance of the local high school football team the West Wendover Wolverines.
“There is a direct connection between having a good little league program and having a good high school program.” Loncar said. “Look at the State Champions of ten years ago. That was the first time the entire team had little league experience before playing high school ball. If we don’t have a decent little league program I am afraid we will never see another state championship.”
If there is a silver lining to the football brawl it could be the expulsion of the two has opened the door for several of those former champions to return to the grid iron as coaches in the little league program.
“We saw it after the incident that all these young guys stepped up and took over,” Loncar added. “It was real nice to see and they are coming back next year. Hopefully we will have enough kids to field two division again.”
