Court Not Asked or Permitted to Determine Who is Entitled to Play in OHSAA Playoffs

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio High School Athletic Association has issued the following response to Tuesday afternoon’s order issued by the Court of Common Pleas in Cuyahoga County regarding the preliminary injunction issued October 30 by two student-athletes from the Cleveland Glenville football team.

The OHSAA agrees with the court’s conclusion within the order:

“The Court emphasizes that it is not asked, nor permitted, to determine who is entitled to play in the Playoffs. It is beyond the scope of this Court’s authority to order that one team be entered into the Playoffs over another, or that one team advance in the Playoffs over another.”

The court order included additional findings that the OHSAA will challenge in appellate court in Cleveland Wednesday morning. More information regarding Salem’s playoff opponent this Friday will be released Wednesday. The OHSAA has stayed in communication with Salem and appreciates the school’s cooperation and patience.

The OHSAA also has released additional information regarding the case against the Glenville football team, including:

–         The lawsuit last Friday was brought by two student-athletes from Glenville. The lawsuit was not brought by Cleveland Metropolitan School District or Glenville High School. It was brought by two student-athletes.

–         Since the middle of last week, Glenville and Cleveland Metro has submitted conflicting residential documentation of numerous student-athletes on the Glenville football team.

–         Of note, 63 of the 64 student-athletes on the Glenville football roster this season do not attend Glenville High School and Cleveland Metro has not successfully proven that many of those student-athletes should have been participating at Glenville.

–         Cleveland Metro and Glenville have not met the participation regulations and expectations that were set in 2007 when Ginn Academy opened. Glenville was removed from the football playoffs in 2018 for violations of these and OHSAA regulations. The lack of administrative control by Cleveland Metro and Glenville will result in additional penalties and do not meet the expectations of the other 812 member schools of the OHSAA.

The OHSAA removed Glenville from the football playoffs on Thursday, Oct. 29. A court order temporarily halted the OHSAA’s ruling pending a hearing Monday, which continued today. The OHSAA first requested student residential information from Cleveland Metropolitan School District on September 28. The OHSAA received an initial batch of information from CMSD on Oct. 22. On Thursday (Oct. 29) in a meeting with Glenville, the school did not object to the findings of the OHSAA audit.