- Source: Citrus Belt League
Citrus Belt League (CBL) is a high school sports league in the Inland Empire region within the Greater Los Angeles area of California's CIF Southern Section.
The Citrus Belt League is one of the five founding leagues of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) when established in 1913. It was the only Division I league in the San Bernardino-Riverside County area since its inception, until 2006, when CIF Southern Section reorganized it to Division II.
The league also organizes an Academic Decathlon competition.
History
The league dates back to 1901, when it was known as the "Interscholastic League of Southern California." Prior to CIF, founding members included Chaffey High School of Ontario, Redlands High School, Riverside High School (now known as Riverside Poly), Pomana High School and San Bernardino High School. School staff were not involved in most of the contests and anyone could play or coach. In 1913, when the CIF Southern Section athletics was established, CBL was a founding member along with the Los Angeles League, Los Angeles County League, Channel League and Orange League.
The Interscholastic League of Southern California, as the Citrus Belt League was called in 1901 and 1902, included Redlands, Pomona, Riverside and San Bernardino. Ontario joined in 1902. During this tenure, Redlands High School and Chaffey High School played in 68 football matches between 1903 and 1986, making it one of the state's longest running and oldest rivalries in the sport. Fontana High School and Pacific High School (San Bernardino) joined in 1954, Rialto's Eisenhower High School in 1967, and Colton High School in 1980.
By the 1990s, multiple schools were added and replaced, including a four-year stint in which High Desert schools Apple Valley High School, Hesperia High School, and Victor Valley High School joined sporadically. High Desert high schools were eventually replaced with Fontana's A.B. Miller High School in 1991, and Redlands East Valley High School who joined in 1997. In the 2000s, Yucaipa High School joined in 2004, making it an eight school league until Rialto High School left in 2010, ending its 97 year membership.
Then, in the 2012-13 season, Fontana High School left for the Sunkist League ending its sixty year membership, along with Colton High School. They are replaced by San Bernardino's Cajon High School and Redlands Citrus Valley High School's.
In the 2014–15 season, the league expanded to an eight-team realignment again, adding Rialto's Carter High School.
When the Citrus Belt area leagues realigned for the 2017-2020 period, all Rialto, CA. high schools, including Eisenhower High School, left for the San Andreas League, ending that schools 45-year membership in the CBL, replaced by Beaumont High School. A.B. Miller also left for the Mountain League in 2017. Re-adjusting to a six league team once again.
Other past members include Corona High School, Pomona High School, Palm Springs High School, Moreno Valley High School, Riverside's Rubidoux High School, Ramona High School, San Bernardino's San Gorgonio High School, and San Bernardino's Pacific High School.
Teams by school year, number, name and sport
1901-1902 (4) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside, San Bernardino (as Interscholastic League of Southern California). San Bernardino was ousted in January 1902 because of conduct and replaced with Ontario Sports: Football.
1902-1903 (5) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside, Ontario, San Bernardino (as Interscholastic League of Southern California). Fullerton was also a member, but had no football team. Sports: Football.
1903-1904: (3) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside (as Citrus Belt League) Sports: Football
1904-1905 (6) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside, Ontario, Colton, San Bernardino. Sports: Football, Track, Basketball, Baseball
1905-1906 (4) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside, Ontario Sports: Football, Tennis, Boys and Girls Basketball, Track, Baseball
1906-1907 (6) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside, Ontario, Colton, San Bernardino Sports: Football(Rugby), Boys and Girls Basketball. The teams voted to play rugby instead of American football because the University of California and Stanford switched.
1907-1908 (6) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside, Ontario, Colton, San Bernardino. Sports: Football, Boys and Girls Basketball.
1908-1909 (6) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside, Ontario, Colton, San Bernardino Sports: Football Colton and Ontario don't have enough students for a team. Track
1909-1910 (6) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside, Ontario, Colton, San Bernardino. Sports: Football, Baseball.
1910-1911 (6) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside, Ontario, Colton, San Bernardino. Sports: Football, Basketball
1911-1912 (5) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside Boys Polytechnic High School, Chaffey (Ontario). Chino. San Bernardino expelled again. Sports: Football
1913-1914
1921-1922 (5) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside, Chaffey (Ontario), San Bernardino. Sports: Football
1949-1950 (5) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside, Chaffey, San Bernardino. Sports: Football, Basketball, Baseball
1954-1955 (8) Redlands, Pomona, Riverside, Chaffey, Colton, San Bernardino, Pacific, Fontana. Sports, Football, Basketball, Baseball
1969-1970 (8) Redlands, Chaffey, San Bernardino, Pacific, Eisenhower, San Gorgonio, Colton, Ramona Sports: Football, Track, Basketball, Baseball
1970-1971 (8) Redlands, Chaffey, Pacific, Eisenhower, San Gorgonio, Fontana, Ramona, Riverside Poly Sports: Football, Baseball
1971-1972 (8) Redlands, Chaffey Pacific, Eisenhower, San Gorgonio, Fontana, Ramona, Riverside Poly. Sports: Football, Water Polo, Cross-Country, Basketball
1978-1979 (8) Redlands, Chaffey, Pacific, Eisenhower, San Gorgonio, Fontana, Corona, Palm Springs. Sports: Fall: Football, Cross-Country, Water Polo, Girls Volleyball, Girls Tennis
1984-1985 (8) Redlands, Eisenhower, San Gorgonio, Fontana, Riverside Poly, Colton, Rubidoux, Palm Springs. Sports: Football.
1989-1990 (8) Redlands, Eisenhower, San Gorgonio, Fontana, Riverside Poly, Colton, Rubidoux, Moreno Valley. Sports: Football, Girls Tennis, Girls Volleyball.
1990-1991 (6) Redlands, Eisenhower, San Gorgonio, Fontana, Riverside Poly, Rubidoux. Sports: Football.
1993-1994 (6) Redlands, Eisenhower, Fontana, Victor Valley, Apple Valley, Hesperia Sports: Football, Girls Volleyball, Girls Tennis, Cross-Country Winter: Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Spring: Baseball, Softball, Swimming, Boys Tennis, Track and Field
2013-2014 (6) Redlands, Eisenhower, A.B. Miller, Redlands East Valley, Yucaipa, Cajon.
2018-2019 (5) Redlands, Eisenhower, Redlands East Valley, Yucaipa, Cajon.
2020-2021 (6) Redlands, Redlands East Valley, Citrus Valley, Yucaipa, Cajon, Beaumont Sports: Fall: Football, Boys Water Polo, Girls Golf, Girls Tennis, Cross-Country, Girls Volleyball (cancelled COVID-19) Winter: Wrestling (boys and girls), Girls Water Polo, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer Spring: Baseball, Boys Golf, Softball, Swimming, Boys Tennis, Track and Field.
2024-2025 (6) Redlands, Redlands East Valley, Citrus Valley, Yucaipa, Cajon, Beaumont. Sports: Fall: Football, Girls Flag Football, Boys Water Polo, Girls Golf, Girls Tennis, Cross-Country, Girls Volleyball, Winter: Wrestling (boys and girls), Girls Water Polo, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer. Spring: Baseball, Boys Golf, Softball, Swimming, Boys Tennis, Track and Field.
School champions by sport
= Football
=1901: Pomona 1902: Unknown 1903: Riverside 1907: Pomona 1925: Pomona 1950: Redlands 1951: Pomona 1954: Riverside 1959: Redlands 1960: Colton 1970: Redlands 1973 Redlands 1977: Chaffey and Redlands 1987 Fontana 1988: Fontana 1992: Fontana 1993: Eisenhower 1994: Fontana 1999 Eisenhower 2000: Eisenhower 2010: Redlands East Valley 2023: Citrus Valley
= Baseball
=1906: Pomona 1925: San Bernardino 1984: Eisenhower 1985: Riverside Poly 1987: Fontana 1991: Riverside Poly 1994: Redlands 2010: Redlands East Valley
= Basketball (Boys)
=1921: San Bernardino 1925: San Bernardino 1932: Chaffey 1936: Redlands 1960: Pacific 1973: Pacific 1988: Moreno Valley 1991: Redlands 1994: Fontana 1995: Eisenhower 2013 (co-champions): Redlands East Valley
= Basketball (Girls)
=1988: Redlands 1989 Fontana 2012: Eisenhower
= Softball
=1989: Moreno Valley
= Soccer (Boys)
=1986: Riverside Poly 1991: Fontana 1996: Apple Valley 1998: Redlands 2014: Redlands East Valley
= Soccer (Girls)
=1990: Riverside Poly 1995: Redlands 2015: Redlands
= Tennis (Boys)
=1936: Redlands
= Tennis (Girls)
=1992: Redlands
= Track
=1909: Pomona
= Volleyball (Boys)
=2024: Yucaipa
= Volleyball (Girls)
=1986: Colton 1987: Colton 1990: Redlands 1992 Redlands 2001: Redlands East Valley 2010: Redlands East Valley 2023: Redlands
= Water Polo (Boys)
=1974: Chaffey 2002: Redlands
= Water Polo (Girls)
=2023: Redlands
= Wrestling
=1970: Fontana
Members
Cajon High School Cowboys (San Bernardino)
Member since: 2013
Beaumont High School Cougars (Beaumont)
Member since: 2020
Redlands Citrus Valley High School Blackhawks (Redlands)
Member since: 2013
Redlands East Valley High School Wildcats (Mentone)
Member since: 1997
Redlands High School Terriers (Redlands)
Member since: 1901
Yucaipa High School Thunderbirds (Yucaipa)
Member since: 2004
Sports
= Fall (September–November)
=Football
Girls Flag Football
Girls Volleyball
Girls Golf
Cross Country Running
Girls Tennis
Boys Water Polo
= Winter (December–February)
=Girls Water Polo
Boys Basketball
Girls Basketball
Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Wrestling
= Spring (March–May)
=Boys Golf
Baseball
Softball
Badminton
Boys Track and Field
Girls Track and Field
Boys Swimming
Girls Swimming
Boys Tennis
Boys Volleyball