As first reported in the Baltimore Sun by Sandra McKee (10/8/08), the Joppatowne Mariners football team has forfeited their first three games of the season due to an ineligible player participating.
The Mariners have been a contender in Class 1A East, making a habit of going deep in the playoffs for several years now. So for the boys on the rest of the team, it’s hard not to feel for them. “It’s a hardship for the team,” noted Teri Kranefeld, manager of communications for Harford County Public Schools.
Kranefeld said when registering a child into school “we rely heavily on parents to supply accurate information.” If they move, parents are expected to keep the school system posted. Kranefeld said that Joppatowne has been very cooperative.
“When the school received the report they immediately did an investigation and took appropriate action. They are doing everything they possibly can.”
Joppatowne is seeking an appeal through the MPSSAA (Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association). Kranefeld suspected that the ruling on the appeal would come out sometime around the beginning of November.
The student, who Kranefeld could not name for confidentiality reasons, is no longer on the football team and is “where he’s supposed to be,” she added.
Is this a common theme in Harford County Schools? According to Kranefeld, no. Let’s hope not.
The Mariners are forfeiting, at least for now, the games played between North Carroll (26-7, Mariners) Havre de Grace (20-0, Mariners) and North East (34-0, Mariners).
Here is where the Mariners stack up on the MPSSAA website in points (keep in mind the top four seeds make the playoffs.)
The Mariners will have the opportunity to gain some ground in the hunt for the playoffs. With the five games remaining, hosting (3A East) Bel Air (Oct 10 for homecoming), at (3A East) North Harford (Oct. 16), at (3A East) Fallston (Oct. 24), at (2A East) Rising Sun (Oct. 31) and hosting (4A North) C. Milton Wright (Nov 7) they can help themselves if they continue on their road of being perfect.
From a HCPS press release,(Oct. 16)
JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL UPDATE
As a result of the continued investigation of the ineligible player at Joppatowne
High School and in compliance with MPSSAA procedures, the football games of the fall 2007-08 school year have been forfeited and will be included in the appeal. Further comment is being withheld until the result of the appeal.
Wow, Molly – do you think that means all the games Joppatowne HS has already played will now be wins for their opponents, regardless of the actual results?
That sure is what it sounds like. And from what I’ve read this is due to one player.
I spoke to Ken Zorbach at an event this past Saturday and he told me that the appeal decision will be made tomorrow. (Tuesday)
Zorbach is the Supervisor of Athletics.
I feel for the kids at Joppatowne who have been playing and now have their season and last year’s season on the line.
Why couldn’t this parent apply for a boundary exception?
I don’t know the facts exactly here, but a reliable? source?, my son, tells me that he knows several kids who have gotten boundary exceptions because certain coaches want the player for their sport. He noted one boy who I know that to be the case.
Good question by me- why couldn’t she apply for a boundary exception. Man, I’d love a few minutes with her.
I don’t know what the rules are for boundary exceptions, but I’d like to think they aren’t given out that easily Carl. Cindy could speak better to that…she’s the beat reporter for education and our go-to girl for school stuff. An advocate in excellence like no other.
I have been in contact with Teri Kranefeld via emails. She told me the hearing was yesterday at 2 pm and also said that the ruling may not come till the end of the week. But she will keep me (us) in the loop. Thanks Teri.
How do people feel about this? Is this an issue in high school? Heck, from what I’ve witnessed and heard, it is an issue in rec. Not happy with your coach/coaches…go to Emmorton. Go To Fallston. Wherever. Middle River has the best program, I’m there. Don’t get your way, cry like a baby-make yourself look like a jerk and then go somewhere else.
If Joppatowne wasn’t overcrowded and the student is/was a Harford County resident, then he probably should be afforded a Boundary Exception. If he lives out of the county, then that is another story. Baltimore County has been complaining for years about getting Baltimore City residents in their schools.
In this county too there are family situations where there are kids moving in with other family members temporarily or friends. I was told that there is a Guardianship Form that needs to be signed but I don’t know if that happened here. My guess is that there are probably lots of situations where kids are living with non-custodial parents and/or others and no one pays much attention to them. I don’t know this person and I am not intimately familar with any of the details, but I do know that there are official boundary exceptions and there are kids in schools who just show up that have addresses somewhere else.
Sounds like someone wanted this person to get in trouble and maybe there wasn’t enough oversight into his living arrangements.