Leading off today: Top-seeded Middletown has been banished from the Section 9 Class AA football final after reportedly using an ineligible player in last weekend's 48-15 semifinal victory over Valley Central,
Mid Hudson News reported Monday.
Middletown finished the regular season undefeated for the first time since 1965 and climbed to No. 12 in last week's New York State Sportswriters Association rankings. The forfeit drops the Middies' final record to 9-1.
The forfeit advances Valley Central (5-4) to Saturday's championship game against Newburgh Free Academy. NFA (8-2) defeated Valley Central 27-0 on Oct. 30.
Middletown's appeal to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association was denied. The website reported the school district has filed an appeal with the New York State Department of Education.
Middletown Superintendent Amy Creeden, AD Justin Sturge, and football coach Tim Strenfel did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
The eligibility issue stemmed from the NYSPHSAA representation rule, under which an individual can compete in the football postseason if he/she has been an eligible
participant on a team in that sport for a minimum of three regular-season games.
Rochester CSD superintendent hopeful East/World of Inquiry can continue season
The superintendent of the Rochester City School District released a statement Monday saying he has been in discussions with Section 5 and the NYSPHSAA in a bid to allow the East/World of Inquiry School football team to play in the Class B championship game against Honeoye Falls-Lima.
In a statement to the media, Eric Rosser said his athletics staff reviewed video footage and photographs from Saturday's game-ending brawl with defending NYSPHSAA champion Monroe to determine individual involvement.
Rosser framed it as a bid to advocate for individuals not involved in the incident that took place after the 14-6 victory.
Here is the test of his statement:
"Since Saturday's football game between East High School and Monroe High School, I, along with District leadership, have been personally engaged in ongoing discussions with leaders from Section V and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association to address the disqualification of our student-athletes and advocate for those who were not involved in the incident.
Recognizing that not all student-athletes participated in the incident, our athletics staff conducted a thorough review of video footage and photographs to determine individual involvement. I firmly believe that no student athlete should lose the opportunity to continue their season because of the actions of others. NYSPHSAA rules provide a process for reversing a player's disqualification when clear evidence establishes misidentification. We are actively pursuing that process.
"I am encouraged by the discussions we have had with Section V and NYSPHSAA and remain hopeful that these students will be cleared to participate in the next sectional game.
"Our student athletes have worked hard to reach this point. I will continue working with our team and the appropriate athletic associations to see this process through and advocate for our students.
"I appreciate the community's engagement and concern for our student athletes. We share a commitment to supporting our students and ensuring they have every opportunity to succeed."
The wording lends a degree of clarity to the East/WOI team's status in the aftermath of Sunday's statement by Section 5 that avoided explicitly saying player disqualifications leading to game suspensions were in play. Section 5 also revised its brackets page to leave Honeoye Falls-Lima without an opponent for Saturday's Class B final.
Section 3 star to miss soccer semifinal with knee injury
Section 3 Class B girls soccer champion Marcellus will be without Central New York leading scorer
Lexie Fragnito for this weekend's NYSPHSAA semifinals.
Fragnito, who scored 57 goals this fall, tore an ACL on Nov. 1 during the Mustangs' 2-0 win vs. Westhill in the sectional final.
The two-time defending state champions play Pleasantville on Saturday at Cortland High School.
Fragnito is delaying surgery until after the state championship weekend.
"She's like, 'No, coach, I want to be here for states," Mustangs coach Laurie Updike told Syracuse.com. "I don't want to be laying in my bed when I can be with the team,'" Updike said. "That's the kind of player that she is."
Phenomenal Section 2 streak still intact
Top-seeded Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake swept No. 2 Bethlehem 25-20, 25-16, 25-13 in Friday's Section 2 Class AA final to sew up the Spartans' 24th straight crown and 31st overall.
Texas approves shot clock for basketball
As hard as it is for us to imagine, more than half the state high school associations across the country continued to play basketball without a shot clock last season.
The tide is turning, with six more states adopting the rule for the upcoming season to bring the total to 30. Five more states will add timed possessions over the next three seasons, with a big one is coming on board for the 2028-29 season.
Last month, the University Interscholastic League, the governing body in Texas, approved a 35-second shot clock for all boys and girls basketball games beginning with a class 5A ad 6A in 2028-29. Other classes will be phased in over six years.
There are still staunch opponents to shot clocks. Earlier this year, the Indiana High School Athletic Association board rejected the proposal by a 17-1 margin. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association board opposed it by a 17-0 margin.
