Dispatch
Pickerington Central players could be ineligible
Thursday, October 16, 2008 3:26 AM
By Steve Blackledge
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The Ohio High School Athletic Association is expected to rule in the next few days on charges that the undefeated Pickerington Central football team used two ineligible players in its first seven games.
OHSAA associate commissioner Bob Goldring said his staff hopes to resolve the issue ''as soon as possible, but probably not (today).''
Accusations of residency violations and recruitment were lodged by an outside source Oct. 9, Pickerington Central athletic director Pete Laihr said, and the players were temporarily suspended.
''The district has completed its investigation, including home visits, and we have submitted all of our paperwork to the OHSAA,'' Laihr said.
Laihr stated that the players -- one of whom has played in varsity games -- are enrolled in the district. The players' names were not released.
A source close to the investigation indicated that the players' addresses were falsified without the school's knowledge
A recently amended OHSAA rule says a school district cannot be held responsible in such cases. Bylaw 4-1-2 states: ''If a student participates in an athletic contest and his or her eligibility has been established by falsified information (includes but is not limited to name, address, transcripts, birth certificate, etc.), the student shall be ineligible in Ohio for a maximum of one year from the date the penalty is imposed.''
No information was provided about the recruitment charge.
Pickerington Central (8-0, 5-0) has clinched a Division I, Region 3 playoff spot and plays host to Grove City (5-3, 5-0) on Friday for the Ohio Capital Conference Ohio Division title.
''I don't have much more to say,'' Tigers coach Jay Sharrett said. ''As soon as we know something, everybody will know something.''
sblackledge@dispatch.com