High school drug testing is here

Probably everyone in the world of sports saw it coming. And as much as we hate to see it winding its way into our society, it looks like it's going to be here to stay.
We're talking about the drug testing of high school athletes. In the past, it has been a problem so delicate that apparently no one even wanted to talk about it. The panacea appeared to be "sweep it under the rug" or "turn the other cheek." Let's put it this way, if it's cheating in college and professional sports, the same certainly must hold true for prep athletes. And they, too, should be punished.
Last week, New Jersey got the jump on the rest of the nation by announcing it will become the first to institute a drug testing policy for high school athletes. Whether the Garden State had reason to make this move remains to be seen but the state took it upon itself to adopt the measure. We're looking for many more states to follow suit.
Perhaps it is the only way to be assured that all high school athletes are playing on the same level table. And using that word "perhaps" once again, we've already waited too long to do something about it.
Society's bad example
Young athletes of today have grown up in a society where amphetamines and steroids are the talk of the town. Take a look at pro sports like baseball and football. It is an every day occurrence where baseball and football players are charged with using these drugs. And the bad part of this whole thing, kids realize how these drugs have enhanced the performances of these players and they believe it will do he same thing for them. It didn't work for the late football pro Lyle Alzado. And pro baseballers have been hitting the ball out of the park with more frequency than ever.
Not that everyone who belts a homer is using drugs, however, the thought does cross one's mind when you see the ball flying over the fence. It never used to be that way. In this Korner, it's cheating and always will be. It has no place in the world of sports and anywhere else. It would be far more impressive for a young athlete to use his God-given talents and training routines to give him that edge that he needs, rather than to cheat and rely on a pill that can only bring embarrassment, sorrow, heartbreak and maybe ill health down the road.
The New Jersey tests will be created to screen random athletes for about 80 banned substances. Those substances will range from amphetamines to steroids. Public and private school students competing in championship games, either individually or as part of teams, will be subject to the tests.
Apparently the state's athletic association gave preliminary approval to the plan earlier and a final decision will take place June 7. The New Jersey plan signifies that students who do not agree to the testing will not be allowed to compete.
Swogger induction
John Swogger, the Mercer High basketball coach who directed his high-scoring Mustangs to back-to-back state championships, was inducted into the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame recently.
Swogger left Mercer and took over at Altoona. In 12 years at Altoona, Swogger posted a 238-77 record, including nine District 6 titles. He is credited with bringing an intense, exciting style to Altoona and for developing Johnny Moore, one of Altoona's four NBA players. He also coached Art Taneyhill, who went on to coach the Altoona girls program to four PIAA tiles.
Swogger, who loves training his hunting dogs, spent seven years at Mercer. His overall career record was 392-108. He played at Geneva College.