The Ohio High School Athletic Association plans to challenge a Cuyahoga County court ruling Wednesday morning as a legal dispute involving Cleveland Glenville’s removal from the high school football playoffs continues, leaving Salem High School uncertain of its opponent for Friday night’s postseason game.
The OHSAA issued a statement Tuesday afternoon responding to an order from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas involving a preliminary injunction sought by two Glenville football players.
While the association agreed with the court’s determination that judges do not have the authority to decide which teams participate in or advance through the playoffs, it said other findings in the ruling would be challenged in an appellate court in Cleveland.
“The Court emphasizes that it is not asked, nor permitted, to determine who is entitled to play in the Playoffs,” the court stated. “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 OHSAA said additional information regarding Salem’s opponent for Friday’s playoff game will be released Wednesday.
The association has remained in communication with Salem officials throughout the dispute and expressed appreciation for the school’s cooperation and patience.
OHSAA raises concerns about Glenville player eligibility
In its Tuesday statement, the OHSAA released additional details about its investigation into Glenville’s football program, including significant concerns about student residency documentation and eligibility.
According to the association, 63 of the 64 players listed on Glenville’s football roster this season do not attend Glenville High School.
The OHSAA said the Cleveland Metropolitan School District has not successfully demonstrated that many of those athletes were eligible to participate in Glenville’s football program.
The association also alleged that Glenville and the school district submitted conflicting residency documentation for numerous players beginning in the middle of last week.
The dispute involves participation regulations established in 2007 when Ginn Academy opened.
The OHSAA maintains that Glenville and Cleveland Metropolitan School District have failed to comply with those requirements.
Glenville previously was removed from the football playoffs in 2018 for violations involving those regulations and other OHSAA rules.
In Tuesday’s statement, the association criticized what it described as a lack of administrative control by the district and Glenville.
“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 association stated.
The OHSAA indicated that additional penalties are expected, although specific disciplinary measures were not announced.
Legal dispute began after Glenville’s removal
The OHSAA removed Glenville from the football playoffs Thursday, Oct. 29, following an investigation into the program’s compliance with participation regulations.
A lawsuit was subsequently filed Friday by two Glenville student-athletes, resulting in a temporary court order that halted the association’s decision pending further proceedings.
The OHSAA emphasized Tuesday that the lawsuit was brought by the two individual athletes, not Glenville High School or Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
A hearing began Monday and continued Tuesday.
According to the association, its investigation began Sept. 28, when officials first requested student residency information from Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
The district provided an initial batch of documentation Oct. 22.
During an Oct. 29 meeting with Glenville officials, the school did not object to the findings of the OHSAA’s audit, according to the association.
Salem awaits Wednesday decision
The ongoing legal proceedings have created uncertainty for Salem as the Quakers prepare for the second round of the OHSAA football playoffs Friday.
The association has not yet announced how the dispute will affect Salem’s postseason matchup.
With an appellate court challenge scheduled for Wednesday morning, the OHSAA expects to provide additional information about Salem’s opponent later that day.
The association has not specified when Wednesday’s announcement will be made.
For now, Salem’s playoff preparations continue as the school awaits clarification on which team it will face Friday night.
