Blair Back In Ironman?
Blair Back In Ironman?
Blair Back In Ironman?
Willie Saylor, Editor
It appears Blair Academy (NJ), the #1 high school wrestling program this season and for most of the past two decades, will be allowed to wrestle in the Walsh Ironman, the #1 in-season high school wrestling tournament.
Last weekend, Blair confirmed that tournament officials at the Ironman notified school administrators that they were not approved during the sanctioning process by the National Federation of High School Associations.
While details were cloudy at best, the stipulation at hand stemmed from New Jersey's official start date, which is December 20, 2013. The Walsh Ironman occurs on Decemeber 13th, preventing most New Jersey teams from competing there.
However, start date has never been an issue for Blair Academy, who, although residing in New Jersey, is only a federated member of the NJSIAA, which governs high school athletics in the Garden State.
The start date is only applicable for schools that participate in the New Jersey State Championships, which Blair does not. Blair competes at the National Prep Championships as their season-ending tournament.
The decision and citation of the start date raised eyebrows considering Blair has competed at the Ironman for the last 19 years under the exact same circumstances. It prompted speculation of foul play and/or ulterior motives, with some pointing fingers at the NFHS, NJSIAA, Ironman Tournament officials, and the IHSAA, the governing body of Illinois for whom credible sources attributed objections to Blair's eligibility.
In the official sanctioning document, two states were listed as not approving to the sanctioning: Idaho, which has no full teams present, and New Jersey. The document also has 'NO' listed as the entry for NJ's 'Jurisdiction' selection, begging the question 'How can you rule over a school where you have no jurisdiction?'
Going back in to NFHS sanctioning documents to 2009, New Jersey has been listed as not approved every year. In 2008, no ruling from New Jersey is listed. This could be an indication that the NJSIAA ruling is for full members, and does not apply to federated members such as Blair Academy.
Other states that have no jurisdiction over teams in their state that compete, or have competed, at the Ironman include Pennsylvania (Wyoming Seminary), Maryland (Good Counsel, McDonogh, St. Mary's Ryken), Texas (Bishop Lynch, Trinity Christian Academy), and Virginia (St. Christopher's). This highlights the broad precedent that teams need not be members of their states' governing bodies to be eligible for sanctioning.
In an early morning conversation with NFHS Santctioning Official, Elliot Hopkins, Flowrestling confirmed that, in their initial judgement, Blair Academy was in fact barred from competing at the Walsh Ironman this year. Hopkins cited the start date rule and objection from other states' governing bodies, though he declined to name specific states.
Later in the day, and through all the legal-ese fog and the bureaucratic hoops to jump through, it appears that this Blair-Ironman fiasco will soon be resolved.
In continued dialogue, Hopkins informed Flowrestling that if the NJSIAA sends official approval, Blair Academy will be free and clear to compete at the Ironman this year.
Hopkins stated that it is almost always the case that the NFHS accepts a state board's ruling as the final verdict in sanctioning issues. Approval from the NJSIAA would ultimately guarantee Blair's eligibility.
Both Hopkins and Blair Head Coach, Solomon Fleckman expressed that NJSIAA approval is inevitable, and likely by the end of the day Friday.
Disaster averted, right?
NJSIAA sends approval, Blair wrestles.
However, one final hurdle may need to be cleared.
Administrators at Walsh Jesuit High School would still need to accept Blair into the tournament field.
Why wouldn't they?
There's the theory that objections from an Illinois school or schools, could sway tournament directors in an 'us-or-them' decision. In essence, and wholly speculative, despite there being no legal ground to block Blair, Ironman would have to chose the Illinois schools or Blair Academy if the Illinois schools continue to press the issue.
The ball would again be in Blair's court as it has a signed contract and receipt of paid entry fee.
My two cents? Stop the politics and whining and just wrestle.
Willie Saylor, Editor
It appears Blair Academy (NJ), the #1 high school wrestling program this season and for most of the past two decades, will be allowed to wrestle in the Walsh Ironman, the #1 in-season high school wrestling tournament.
Last weekend, Blair confirmed that tournament officials at the Ironman notified school administrators that they were not approved during the sanctioning process by the National Federation of High School Associations.
While details were cloudy at best, the stipulation at hand stemmed from New Jersey's official start date, which is December 20, 2013. The Walsh Ironman occurs on Decemeber 13th, preventing most New Jersey teams from competing there.
However, start date has never been an issue for Blair Academy, who, although residing in New Jersey, is only a federated member of the NJSIAA, which governs high school athletics in the Garden State.
The start date is only applicable for schools that participate in the New Jersey State Championships, which Blair does not. Blair competes at the National Prep Championships as their season-ending tournament.
The decision and citation of the start date raised eyebrows considering Blair has competed at the Ironman for the last 19 years under the exact same circumstances. It prompted speculation of foul play and/or ulterior motives, with some pointing fingers at the NFHS, NJSIAA, Ironman Tournament officials, and the IHSAA, the governing body of Illinois for whom credible sources attributed objections to Blair's eligibility.
In the official sanctioning document, two states were listed as not approving to the sanctioning: Idaho, which has no full teams present, and New Jersey. The document also has 'NO' listed as the entry for NJ's 'Jurisdiction' selection, begging the question 'How can you rule over a school where you have no jurisdiction?'
Going back in to NFHS sanctioning documents to 2009, New Jersey has been listed as not approved every year. In 2008, no ruling from New Jersey is listed. This could be an indication that the NJSIAA ruling is for full members, and does not apply to federated members such as Blair Academy.
Other states that have no jurisdiction over teams in their state that compete, or have competed, at the Ironman include Pennsylvania (Wyoming Seminary), Maryland (Good Counsel, McDonogh, St. Mary's Ryken), Texas (Bishop Lynch, Trinity Christian Academy), and Virginia (St. Christopher's). This highlights the broad precedent that teams need not be members of their states' governing bodies to be eligible for sanctioning.
In an early morning conversation with NFHS Santctioning Official, Elliot Hopkins, Flowrestling confirmed that, in their initial judgement, Blair Academy was in fact barred from competing at the Walsh Ironman this year. Hopkins cited the start date rule and objection from other states' governing bodies, though he declined to name specific states.
Later in the day, and through all the legal-ese fog and the bureaucratic hoops to jump through, it appears that this Blair-Ironman fiasco will soon be resolved.
In continued dialogue, Hopkins informed Flowrestling that if the NJSIAA sends official approval, Blair Academy will be free and clear to compete at the Ironman this year.
Hopkins stated that it is almost always the case that the NFHS accepts a state board's ruling as the final verdict in sanctioning issues. Approval from the NJSIAA would ultimately guarantee Blair's eligibility.
Both Hopkins and Blair Head Coach, Solomon Fleckman expressed that NJSIAA approval is inevitable, and likely by the end of the day Friday.
Disaster averted, right?
NJSIAA sends approval, Blair wrestles.
However, one final hurdle may need to be cleared.
Administrators at Walsh Jesuit High School would still need to accept Blair into the tournament field.
Why wouldn't they?
There's the theory that objections from an Illinois school or schools, could sway tournament directors in an 'us-or-them' decision. In essence, and wholly speculative, despite there being no legal ground to block Blair, Ironman would have to chose the Illinois schools or Blair Academy if the Illinois schools continue to press the issue.
The ball would again be in Blair's court as it has a signed contract and receipt of paid entry fee.
My two cents? Stop the politics and whining and just wrestle.
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