IHSAA Executive Committee

Minutes from the November 7, 2003 meeting in Indianapolis

 

PRESENT

Chairperson Cassel White, Linda Barnett, Randy Barrett, Dennis Bunda, Jim Feist, Phil Hoskins, Lee Lonzo, Patrick Mapes, Pam Noble, Geoff Penrod, Michael Powell, Janis Qualizza, Roy Simpson, Roger Weaver, Commissioner Blake Ress, Associate Commissioner Ray Craft, Assistant Commissioners Bobby Cox, Sandy Searcy, Theresia Wynns, Sports Information Director Jerry Baker and Attorney Robert Baker.

 

MINUTES

The minutes of the October 9, 2003 meeting were presented for approval.  A motion to approve the minutes was made by Michael Powell; seconded by Dennis Bunda; motion passed 12-0.

 

EMERGENCY BY-LAW AMMENDMENTS

Commissioner Ress proposed two emergency by-law amendments.  Rule 12, which addresses attendance and enrollment, would be changed to allow student athletes attending a magnet school within their school corporation to participate in athletics at their school of residence, provided the following criteria are met:

 

1.   The magnet school does not accept any student who is not a legal resident within the boundaries of the school corporation.

2.   The magnet school does not sponsor any IHSAA recognized program.

3.   Prior to participation, the student athlete receives written approval from the Association.

4.   The magnet school student must meet all IHSAA standards for eligibility.

 

A proposal to rename Rule 16 to Administrative Decisions would provide an alternative for student athlete suspension when he/she is declared ineligible due to administrative error.  Any approval or denial of a proposed alternative penalty shall be at the discretion of the Commissioner, and shall be considered final and binding.

 

A motion to approve the proposals for the 2003-04 emergency by-law amendments was made by Patrick Mapes; seconded by Roy Simpson; motion passed 13-0.

 

2003-04 BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FORMAT

Associate Commissioner Craft reported on the general format, sites and other preliminary plans for the 2003-04 Boys Basketball Tournament Series.  These recommendations included the following schools designated as host sites:

 

Sectionals – March 2, 5, 6, 2004

Class AAAA                                                     Class AAA                                           

Sect.    Host                                                     Sect.    Host    

#1         East Chicago Central                             #17       Calumet           

#2         Portage                                                 #18       Gary Roosevelt

#3         Michigan City                                        #19       Plymouth

#4         Elkhart Central                                       #20       Frankfort

#5         Warsaw                                                #21       NorthWood

#6         Fort Wayne Northrop                              #22       Fort Wayne Wayne

#7         Lafayette Jefferson                                 #23       New Haven

#8         Muncie Central                                      #24       Blackford

#9         Carmel                                                  #25       Lebanon

#10       Warren Central                                      #26       Whiteland

#11       Center Grove                                         #27       New Castle

#12       Avon                                                     #28       Connersville

#13       Plainfield                                               #29       Greencastle

#14       Columbus North                                     #30       Corydon Central

#15       Seymour                                               #31       Washington

#16       Evansville Central                                   #32       Boonville

Class AA                                                          Class A

#33       Hammond Bishop Noll                            #49       Morgan Township

#34       Westview                                              #50       Triton

#35       North Judson                                         #51       Bethany Christian

#36       Fountain Central                                    #52       Tri-County

#37       Garrett                                                  #53       Frontier

#38       Bluffton                                                 #54       Southern Wells

#39       Cass                                                     #55       Monroe Central

#40       Taylor                                                   #56       Lapel

#41       Alexandria                                             #57       Southwestern (Shelby)

#42       Hagerstown                                           #58       South Decatur

#43       Triton Central                                         #59       West Washington

#44       Milan                                                    #60       Henryville

#45       South Putnam                                       #61       North Vermillion

#46       Paoli                                                     #62       White River Valley

#47       Brownstown Central                               #63       Loogootee

#48       Southridge                                             #64       Oakland City Wood

 

Regionals – March 13, 2004

Class AAAA

Reg.     Host                                         Sectional Sites

#1         Michigan City                            #1,2,3,4

#2         Marion                                      #5,6,7,8

#3         Pike (Hinkle Fieldhouse)             #9,10,11,12

#4         Seymour                                   #13,14,15,16

Class AAA

#5         Plymouth                                  #17,18,19,20

#6         NorthWood                                #21,22,23,24

#7         New Castle                                #25,26,27,28

#8         Washington                               #29,30,31,32

Class AA

#9         North Judson                             #33,34,35,36

#10       South Adams                            #37,38,39,40

#11       Alexandria                                 #41,42,43,44

#12       Southridge                                 #45,46,47,48

Class A

#13       Triton                                        #49,50,51,52

#14       Tipton                                       #53,54,55,56

#15       Edinburgh                                  #57,58,59,60

#16       White River Valley                      #61,62,63,64

 

Semi-States – March 20, 2004, 1:00pm and 3:30pm

 

Host                                                                

TBA                                                                 

Lafayette Jefferson                                

Warsaw                                                           

Seymour                                                          

 

State – Conseco Fieldhouse, March 27, 2004

 

 

2003-04 GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FORMAT

Assistant Commissioner Wynns reported on the general format, sites and other preliminary plans for the 2003-04 Girls Basketball Tournament Series.  These recommendations included the following schools designated as host sites:

 

Sectionals – February 10, 13, 14, 2004

 

Class AAAA                                                      Class AAA

#1         Gary West Side                                     #17       Calumet           

#2         Crown Point                                           #18       Kankakee Valley

#3         South Bend Riley                                   #19       New Prairie

#4         Goshen                                                 #20       Frankfort

#5         Warsaw                                                #21       Wawasee

#6         Huntington North                                    #22       Fort Wayne Elmhurst

#7         Kokomo                                                #23       Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger

#8         Anderson Highland                                 #24       Elwood

#9         North Central (Indpls.)                             #25       Western Boone

#10       Indianapolis Arsenal Technical                #26       Beech Grove

#11       Franklin Community                               #27       Pendleton Heights

#12       Ben Davis                                              #28       Franklin County

#13       Terre Haute South                                  #29       Edgewood

#14       Columbus North                                     #30       North Harrison

#15       Floyd Central                                         #31       Gibson Southern

#16       Evansville Harrison                                 #32       Evansville Memorial

 

Class AA                                                          Class A

#33       Hanover Central                                     #49       Kouts

#34       Bremen                                                 #50       Culver Community

#35       Winamac                                              #51       Hamilton

#36       North Montgomery                                 #52       North White

#37       Garrett                                                  #53       Frontier

#38       Harding                                                 #54       Tri-Central

#39       Manchester                                           #55       Randolph Southern

#40       Northwestern                                         #56       Eminence

#41       Shenandoah                                          #57       Southwestern (Shelby)

#42       Winchester                                            #58       Jac-Cen-Del

#43       Speedway                                             #59       Springs Valley

#44       Milan                                                    #60       New Washington

#45       Cascade                                               #61       Covington

#46       North Knox                                            #62       Clay City

#47       Clarksville                                              #63       North Daviess

#48       Tell City                                                #64       Tecumseh

 

Regionals – February 21, 2004

Reg.     Host                                                     Sectional Sites

#1         Valparaiso                                             #1,2,3,4

#2         Huntington North                                    #5,6,7,8

#3         Southport                                              #9,10,11,12

#4         Bedford North Lawrence                          #13,14,15,16

Class AAA

#5         Twin Lakes                                            #17,18,19,20

#6         Peru                                                     #21,22,23,24

#7         Mt. Vernon (Fortville)                              #25,26,27,28

#8         Jasper                                                   #29,30,31,32

Class AA

#9         Rensselaer Central                                 #33,34,35,36

#10       South Adams                                        #37,38,39,40

#11       TBA                                                      #41,42,43,44

#12       Forest Park                                           #45,46,47,48

Class A

#13       Culver Community                                  #49,50,51,52

#14       Lapel                                                    #53,54,55,56

#15       Southwestern (Shelbyville)                      #57,58,59,60

#16       North Daviess                                        #61,62,63,64

 

Semi-States – February 28, 2004, 1:00pm and 3:30pm

 

Host                                                                            

Warsaw                                                                       

Plymouth                                                                     

Southport                                                                     

Southridge                                                                    

 

State – Conseco Fieldhouse, March 6, 2004

 

A motion to approve the proposals for the 2003-04 boys and girls basketball tournament series was made by Michael Powell; seconded by Roy Simpson; motion passed 14-0.

 

2003-04 GYMNASTICS TOURNAMENT FORMAT

Assistant Commissioner Searcy reported on the general format, sites and other preliminary plans for the 2003-04 Gymnastics Tournament Series.  A motion to approve the recommendations for the gymnastics tournament series was made by Phil Hoskins; seconded by Pam Noble; motion passed 14-0.

 

2003-04 BOYS & GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING TOURNAMENT FORMAT

Assistant Commissioner Searcy reported on the general format, sites and other preliminary plans for the 2003-04 Boys & Girls Swimming & Diving Tournament Series. These recommendations included the following changes in host sites:

Site Changes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Reason

Girls Sectional                         To Avon                                     From Ben Davis                         Rotation

                                                To Mishawaka                           From Penn                                Rotation

 

Girls Diving Regional               To Jasper                                  From Bloomington North             New Facility

 

Boys Sectional                         To Ben Davis                             From Avon                                 Rotation

                                                To Jasper                                  From Boonville                           New Facility

                                                To Penn                                    From South Bend Riley              Rotation

 

Boys Diving Regional              To Kokomo                                From Oak Hill                            Host Site Request

 

 

School Assignment Changes

Girls Sectional

School                                     To                                            Reason

Corydon Central (team)               Boonville                                   New Program

Fremont (1 individual)                 Concord                                    New Program

Southern Wells (1 individual)       Jay County                                New Program

Union City (1 individual)              Jay County                                New Program

Wapahani (1 individual)               Hamilton Southeastern               New Program

West Noble (1 individual)            Warsaw                                    New Program

 

Boys Sectional

School                                     To                                            Reason

Batesville (team)                        Richmond                                  New Program

Corydon Central (team)               Jasper                                       New Program

Muncie Burris (1 individual)         Hamilton Southeastern               New Program

 

A motion to approve the recommendations for the boys and girls swimming and diving tournament series was made by Pam Noble; seconded by Linda Barnett; motion passed 14-0.

 

2003-04 WRESTLING TOURNAMENT FORMAT

Assistant Commissioner Cox reported on the general format, sites and other preliminary plans for the 2003-04 Wrestling Tournament Series. 

 

Individual Sectionals

Sectional #22 – Shelbyville (from Franklin Central – Rotation)

Sectional #23 – Tri (from Shenandoah – Rotation)

Sectional #27 – Northview (from Owen Valley – Rotation)

 

Individual Regionals

Regional #8 – Jay County (from Delta – Size of Venue)

 

Team Regionals

Regional #2 – Portage (from LaPorte – Rotation)

Regional #10 – North Central (Indpls.) – (from Indpls. Manual – ONE YEAR ONLY – Need host in 2005)

Regional #12 – Union County (from Milan – Rotation)

 

A motion to approve the recommendations for the wrestling tournament series was made by Linda Barnett; seconded by Geoff Penrod; motion passed 14-0.

 

AUDITOR’S REPORT

John Leemhuis and Doug Hunter of Ernst & Young LLP presented the annual auditor’s report on the Association to the Executive Committee.  They issued an unqualified opinion on the Association’s financial statements for the year ending June 30, 2003 and recommended some adjustments in the accounting policies of the Association.

 

TRANSFERS

Associate Commissioner Craft reported on the transfers that have been ruled on for the 2003-04 school year.  This report included the following actions as of November 7, 2003:                  

Full Eligibility                     1,740

Limited Eligibility                  123

Ineligible                                31

Total                                 1,894

 

SPORTSMANSHIP

Assistant Commissioner Wynns updated the Executive Committee on the unsportsmanlike conduct reports that have been submitted.  As of November 7, 2003, there have been 383 reports filed.  Student athletes recently met with Student Advisory Committee members to discuss numerous issues relative to sportsmanship.  A majority of the member schools that were represented in those meetings maintain a sportsmanship policy or program. Student athletes were given the opportunity to present ideas for improving sportsmanship in their schools.  Many suggested the establishment of mandatory meetings to educate parent and fans about their school’s expectations of behavior during contests.

 

LITIGATION

Attorney Robert Baker updated the Executive Committee on the current status of pending litigation against the Association.

 

PENALTIES ASSESSED

Bloomington South High School – (Non-rostered player participate in girls’ soccer tournament)

Commissioner Ress reported the following action as a result of a violation of Rule 3-9.4.

1.       The Bloomington South High School girls’ soccer program is issued a warning.

2.       The IHSAA accepts and supports the suspension of Coach Whitney Hornsby from the semi-state soccer tournament as an appropriate response to this violation. 

3.       It is strongly suggested that future sectional entry lists be reviewed with the utmost care and posted conspicuously in locker rooms for student athletes to review before submission to the IHSAA.

4.       The administration of Bloomington South High School is commended for its reporting and handling of this matter once the error was discovered.

 

Evansville Bosse High School – (Fifth year student participated in soccer matches.)

Commissioner Ress reported the following action as a result of a violation of Rule 12-2.

1.       The Evansville Bosse High School boys’ soccer program is issued a warning. 

2.       The athletic department is directed to be more attentive to the by-laws of the IHSAA with an emphasis on the eligibility rules. 

3.       It is the understanding of the IHSAA that schools against whom the ineligible student athlete participated have been notified of this violation.

4.   The Evansville Bosse High School student athlete is declared ineligible.

5.   The administration of Evansville Bosse High School is commended for its reporting and handling of  this matter.

 

Griffith High School – (Boys’ soccer team left field due to dissatisfaction w/officials-PROBATION)

Commissioner Ress reported the following action as a result of a violation of Rule 9-16.1.

1.       The Griffith High School boys’ soccer program is placed on probation through October 4, 2004. 

2.       The IHSAA severely reprimands Boys’ Soccer Coach Ron Knestrict for removing the team from the field prior to the end of the match in violation of Rule 9-16.1 of the IHSAA By-Laws.  It is never appropriate to arbitrarily remove a team from a match that is not yet completed.

3.       The administration of Griffith High School is directed to meet with the coaching staff to emphasize the importance of sportsmanship and abiding by the IHSAA By-Laws.  It appears that the officials were extremely lenient in issuing only two red cards in this match

4.       Additional problems could jeopardize the boys’ soccer team’s regular season matches and/or tournament participation.

 

Muncie Central High School – (Amateurism & open facility violations in boys’ b’ball program –PROBATION) Commissioner Ress reported the following action as a result of a violation of Rule 5 & 15.

  1. The Muncie Central High School boys’ basketball program is placed on probation through October 31, 2004. 
  2. The resignation of Coach Bill Harrell is accepted and supported as an appropriate response to the documented violations.
  3. Likewise, written reprimands for not reporting known rule violations to the school administration shall be issued to assistant coaches Matt Fine and Michael Bree.
  4. The fourteen student athletes who were provided gifts and/or cash in violation of Rule 5 are, hereby, declared ineligible.  Should the student athletes reimburse the school, in full, they may request that their amateur status be reinstated. 
  5. Muncie Central High School is directed to establish a process through which open facility programs will be monitored.
  6. The administration of Muncie Central High School is to be commended for the prompt and thorough manner in which allegations were investigated and for the preemptive steps that have been taken to prevent future, similar incidents from occurring.

 

Oak Hill High School – (Non-rostered player participated in boys’ soccer sectional)

Commissioner Ress reported the following action as a result of a violation of Rule 3-9.4.

1.       The Oak Hill High School boys’ soccer program is issued a warning.

2.       The student athlete is ineligible to compete in any remaining Oak Hill matches in the sectional tournament. 

3.       It is strongly suggested that future sectional entry lists be reviewed with the utmost care and posted conspicuously in locker rooms for student athletes to review before submission to the IHSAA.

4.       The administration of Oak Hill High School is commended for its reporting and handling of this matter once the error was discovered.

 

Richmond High School – (Boys’ soccer team left field due to dissatisfaction w/officials)

Commissioner Ress reported the following action as a result of a violation of Rule 9-16.1.

1.   The Richmond High School boys’ soccer program is issued a warning. 

2.   The IHSAA reprimands Boys’ Soccer Coach Paul Retheford for removing the team from the field prior to the end of the match in violation of Rule 9-16.1 of the IHSAA By-Laws.  It is never appropriate to remove a team from a match that is not yet completed because one is unhappy with the play and/or the officiating.

3.   The administration of Richmond High School is commended for its reporting of this matter.

 

South Bend St. Joseph’s High School – (F’ball player w/limited eligibility participated in varsity game)

Commissioner Ress reported the following action as a result of a violation of Rule 54-3.1.

1.   The South Bend St. Joseph’s High School football program is issued a warning.

2.   Coach Kevin Downey is reprimanded for causing this violation to occur.  There is no acceptable excuse for a student with limited eligibility to even be in uniform for a varsity game.

3.   South Bend St. Joseph’s High School is directed to follow the steps outline in Rule 3-9 of the IHSAA By-Laws for resolving this matter including the notification and forfeiture of the varsity football game versus Lakeland High School.

4.   The administration of South Bend St. Joseph’s High School is commended for its reporting and handling of this matter once the error was discovered.

 

IHSAA DISTRICT I DISTINGUISHED MEDIA AWARD

David Musselman of WROI Radio in Rochester, Indiana has been selected as the 2003-2004 recipient of the District I IHSAA Distinguished Media Service Award.  A graduate of North Miami High School and Vincennes University, David began his career at WROI Radio in the fall of 1996.  He has been serving double-duty with the organization, acting as Sports Director and Assistant Station Manager.  Prior to his arrival at WROI, David worked two years at WARU Radio in Peru, Indiana.  David has also served as the head softball coach at Rochester High School until this past spring.  His teams’ captured four consecutive Three Rivers Conference championships.  David and his wife, Carlene, reside in Rochester with their two daughters, Kennedy, 3, and Mya, 7 months.  David was honored on Friday, October 17, 2003 in a special ceremony at half-time of the Rochester-North Miami football game

 

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

1.       Future of IHSAA/IBCA Basketball Showcases

2.       IHSAA Centennial Scholarship Selection Committees

3.       Possibility of IHSAA Student Leadership Conference replacing NFHS Leadership Conference

 

COMMUNICATIONS

1.   Article authored by Don Wallace, New York Times (November 1, 2003)

2.   Letter from Gerry Adams, Principal, Evansville Memorial HS; Fred Tone, Principal, Ft. Wayne Dwenger HS; and Chuck Weisenbach, Principal, Roncalli HS

3.   Letter from Ben Karasiak, Athletic Director, Penn HS

 

A motion to adjourn the November meeting of the IHSAA Executive Committee was made by Dennis Bunda; seconded by Roy Simpson; motion passed 14-0.  The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be at IHSAA headquarters at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2003.