T.C. Forfeits Wins Because Of Ineligible Players

(Tuesday) February 2, 2010

Carla Branch

alexandrianews.org

TC Williams senior, Billy Rowland. (Photo: Regan Kireilis)

The T.C. Williams High School boys basketball team has forfeited this year’s 12 victories because seniors Billy Rowland and Darrius Porter have been determined ineligible under Virginia High School League rules. The two students transferred to T.C. from other schools and are currently in their fifth years as varsity basketball athletes, a violation of VHSL rules.

T.C. Athletic Director Bob McKeag learned of the potential problem in a phone call on Feb. 1, from Lake Braddock Athletic Director Mark Martino. Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Morton Sherman explained further in a statement that he sent to ACPS staff late today.

TC Williams senior, Darris Porter. (Photo: Regan Kireilis)

” On Monday, Feb. 1, T.C. Athletic Director Robert McKeag received a phone call from Lake Braddock Athletic Director Mark Martino alerting him to an anonymous call he had received about a senior on the boys basketball team who may be ineligible to play because he is in his fifth year playing high school sports. Virginia High School League  regulations forbid public school athletes from playing more than four years. Rules for private schools are different.

“When Mr. McKeag pulled the transcripts for the student, he discovered that this was true. He then checked the transcripts for all seniors on the team and found that one other student was also in his fifth year. Both students transferred to T.C. Williams High School from other schools in 2007 and 2008. Mr. McKeag (who began his career with ACPS in 2008, when the two students were already team members) immediately forfeited the team’s 12 wins this season and notified the Virginia High School League. (Editor’s Note: Neither student was a member of the 2007/2008  State Championship T.C. team. Both students began playing varsity basketball at T.C. during the 2008/2009 season)The team will continue to compete this season, with a 0-15 record and without the two students who are no longer team members.

“We are taking the following steps:

1. T.C. Principal William Clendaniel has been directed to conduct a thorough investigation of all personnel and processes involved in the handling of the students’ transcripts when they entered T.C. in 2007 and 2008. Results of the investigation will be submitted to me by this Friday.

2. The T.C. Athletic Department is checking to confirm that all other athletes are in full compliance.

3. School officials will review practices and procedures and make changes as appropriate. There will be a focus on improved communication between the counseling and athletic offices.

“I am very disappointed for our students and for the T.C. community. Whether this was caused by a lack of checks and balances at the school level or by human error, I am deeply disturbed that T.C.’s long standing practices have resulted in hurting our students, ” Sherman’s statement said.

Eligibility

At the beginning of each athletic season students who which to participate in a T.C. sport must submit appropriate documentation about their student and health status to the T.C. athletic department. The form that students must complete includes questions about where they have attended high school in the past, their age and how many semesters they have been enrolled in any high school. When students complete these forms, a member of the athletic department staff verifies the information, including grade point average, and signs an eligibility card stating that the student may participate in his/her selected sport. Coaches may not allow a student to participate in practice unless the coach has received the signed eligibility card.

Current Vice Mayor Kerry Donley was the athletic director at T.C. from 2005 until 2008.

“We certainly had eligibility issues with students when I was there and we dealt with them. When we checked one transfer student’s transcript and found that he had already played four years of varsity sports, we did not allow him to participate his senior year, ” Donley said.

T.C. has five Patriot District games remaining before the tournament.

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