INDIANAPOLIS − Here’s what you need to know about The Waverly School in Pasadena, California: they take pride in their sports programs. And while we share that pride here, this story sends unsettling waves from Southern California to Indiana, resonating with harsh realities and emotional turmoil.

We’ll soon discuss Crispus Attucks versus Washington, and South Bend Washington against Gary Lighthouse.

But let’s first cover Waverly’s achievements: their middle school soccer team went undefeated in 2019, a fantastic accomplishment for those kids! This highlight is featured on the school’s page about their sports programs. Additionally, the middle school boys flag football team made it to the playoffs in 2018.

This isn’t your average educational institution. Waverly, a small private school, held their Class of 2024 graduation ceremony in a backyard. Students can meet their physical education requirements by engaging in team sports. They also have other graduation criteria, notably:

“High school students are required to complete a total of 60 hours of community service before graduating.”

This is directly from Waverly’s website. The initial statement in their mission statement reads:

“Relationships are paramount at Waverly, defined by trust, understanding, and mutual respect.”

So why are we discussing The Waverly School? Because of the recent ramifications of competitive matchups. Earlier this month, the Attucks girls basketball team defeated Washington with a score of 115-5 — and no, this isn’t a typo — alongside the South Bend Washington girls basketball team’s 100-0 victory over Gary Lighthouse in November.

And because of an event last Thursday in Southern California, where Mesrobian High played against Waverly, resulting in Nick Khatchikian setting a CIF record with 102 points while his twin brother, Dylan, achieved a CIF record with 35 assists. Interestingly, Dylan recorded a triple-double without scoring a single point: 35 assists, 15 rebounds, and 13 steals.

Mesrobian was leading 79-0 by halftime, with Nick scoring all those points.

The brothers appeared in photos afterward, with Nick holding a paper that read “102,” reminiscent of Wilt Chamberlain’s iconic moment after scoring 100 points against the Knicks in 1962. Dylan displayed a paper stating “35 ast.”

Chamberlain accomplished that against professional players who had recorded 27 wins that same season.

The Khatchikian brothers achieved their records against students from The Waverly School, which has lost all nine games this season, with scores such as 71-9, 79-13, and 65-14. Their roster consists of four sophomores and two freshmen, all meeting their P.E. requirements, competing in a program emphasizing inclusive participation. The success is defined in terms of personal development and overall team progress.

However, success appears to have a different interpretation for others.

LeBron James and ESPN think it’s fantastic

This issue isn’t exclusive to Indiana; it may exist everywhere and at every level. Have you heard of Grinnell College? This NCAA Division III school in Grinnell, Iowa, managed by coach David Arseneault, typically schedules one game annually against an even smaller institution — not just an NAIA or junior college team; think even smaller — leveraging that competition to create record-breaking performances:

∎ 138 points by Jack Taylor in 2012 against Faith Baptist College, a team from the National Christian College Athletic Association.

∎ 37 assists by Patrick Maher against College of Faith, an online ministry school, in 2014.

Each time this occurred, media outlets and social networks erupted in excitement: “Hey, isn’t this amazing? Look at what the kid from Grinnell accomplished. Incredible!”

It would be comforting to say: But times have changed…

However, they haven’t.

On ESPN, the late-night SportsCenter segment from Los Angeles dedicated a substantial portion of its last minute to “a memorable evening for the Khatchikian family,” featuring photos of the brothers holding their achievement papers. On Twitter, platforms like BallIsLife proclaimed “THIS IS INSANE” to their 1.6 million followers, while the ESPN SportsCenter Instagram page featured the brothers’ picture with the comment:

“I want to see the game film!”

This remark came from LeBron James.

The world seems out of balance, and it’s not only them but us as well.

On January 11, it was Attucks playing against Washington, a team fresh from a 64-9 defeat to Purdue Poly Englewood earlier that week. They utilized a trap defense and fast-paced offense, resulting in scores of 38-2 after the first quarter and 73-3 at halftime, maintaining that same approach right into the fourth quarter of this 115-5 rout. Kamrah Banks, a high-Division I prospect and the coach’s daughter, scored a remarkable 63 points, attempting nearly every shot in the first half.

Similarly, South Bend Washington, a Class 4A powerhouse, scheduled a matchup with Class 2A Gary Lighthouse on November 16. Last season, Lighthouse endured nine losses, scoring a mere 80 points throughout the campaign. South Bend Washington easily surpassed that (86) after three quarters. Coach Steven Reynolds remarked to the South Bend Tribune, “When I say we could’ve scored 300 points — we really could have,” also adding, “We did show some mercy.”

Crispus Attucks and South Bend Washington have no justification

Those less empathetic among us — like Steven Reynolds — often respond with the question:

What do you want us (Mesrobian, Attucks, South Bend Washington) to do?

It’s inevitable, they argue. Mesrobian, South Bend Washington, and Attucks are strong teams, while Waverly, Gary Lighthouse, and Indianapolis Washington struggle. What options do the stronger teams have?

Not that.

Not imitating the Grinnell model by scheduling an opponent that clearly can’t keep up. SBW was an IHSAA Class 3A state champion in 2022 and a 4A regional champion in ’23. Why schedule a team like Class 2A Lighthouse that lost its last 28 games?

“We reached out to everybody,” Reynolds explained to the South Bend Tribune, “(to) any 4A school in the area that we could possibly play, and nobody wanted to compete with us. I needed to fill the schedule.”

But that’s not necessary. Just play one fewer game. Would that really hurt your players more than a 100-0 defeat will impact the girls at Lighthouse?

As for Mesrobian, they eased up with about one minute left in the third quarter. By that time, the Khatchikian brothers had set their records by distorting the spirit of the game. The statistics show that Nick, who dominated the scoring with 102 points, didn’t register a single assist. Dylan, on the other hand, tallied 35 assists without attempting a shot. Coach Mike Gabriel from Mesrobian told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that the team discussed the CIF individual scoring record at half-time — remember, Nick had 79 points while Mesrobian led 79-0 — and they collectively decided to support him in achieving it.

“Everyone was on board,” he emphasized.

In the opposing locker room, the Waverly players prepared to start the second half. That’s a school that highlights a significant achievement in 2017 when “the middle school began a coed tennis team.”

This accomplishment is mentioned just a few lines below another declaration:

“We believe that participation in sports can significantly enhance our students’ physical, social, and emotional well-being.”

The interpretation of that can vary greatly.

Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Threads, on BlueSky, and Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar, or at www.facebook.com/greggdoyelstar.