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| MPSSAA: National Christian girls’ basketball violated standards of competition by using players enrolled at another school | |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association removed National Christian Academy from its list of approved non-member schools Monday after it determined the Eagles’ nationally-ranked girls’ basketball team violated the state’s standards of competition by using two players who were enrolled at another Prince George’s County charter school this season. | The Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association removed National Christian Academy from its list of approved non-member schools Monday after it determined the Eagles’ nationally-ranked girls’ basketball team violated the state’s standards of competition by using two players who were enrolled at another Prince George’s County charter school this season. |
| MPSSAA Executive Director Andy Warner said Monday that the state’s high school athletics governing body believes two National Christian players are currently attending Chesapeake Math and IT Academy in Laurel, including one eighth-grader. | MPSSAA Executive Director Andy Warner said Monday that the state’s high school athletics governing body believes two National Christian players are currently attending Chesapeake Math and IT Academy in Laurel, including one eighth-grader. |
| “The standards of competition are pretty clear about representing your high school that you are affiliated with and that high school team members may participate in interscholastic athletics for a maximum of four seasons in one sport within the ninth through 12th grades,” Warner said. | “The standards of competition are pretty clear about representing your high school that you are affiliated with and that high school team members may participate in interscholastic athletics for a maximum of four seasons in one sport within the ninth through 12th grades,” Warner said. |
| The administrative head of every private school in Maryland must sign the MPSSAA’s standards of competition in order to play against the state’s public schools in athletic events. Many other states also require that private schools be sanctioned by their home state’s governing body in order to compete in out-of-state tournaments. Warner said the MPSSAA’s decision to remove National Christian from its non-approved member schools applies to all of the Fort Washington school’s sports for the remainder of the school year. | The administrative head of every private school in Maryland must sign the MPSSAA’s standards of competition in order to play against the state’s public schools in athletic events. Many other states also require that private schools be sanctioned by their home state’s governing body in order to compete in out-of-state tournaments. Warner said the MPSSAA’s decision to remove National Christian from its non-approved member schools applies to all of the Fort Washington school’s sports for the remainder of the school year. |
| As a result of the MPSSAA’s ruling, the D.C. State Athletic Association will consider National Christian’s four wins this season over teams from the District — Georgetown Visitation, Wilson, Bell and Richard Wright — to be forfeits. | As a result of the MPSSAA’s ruling, the D.C. State Athletic Association will consider National Christian’s four wins this season over teams from the District — Georgetown Visitation, Wilson, Bell and Richard Wright — to be forfeits. |
| [National Christian regains unbeaten record after NACA tournament] | [National Christian regains unbeaten record after NACA tournament] |
| National Christian Athletic Director Trevor Brown said the school plans to appeal the MPSSAA’s decision. | National Christian Athletic Director Trevor Brown said the school plans to appeal the MPSSAA’s decision. |
| “The two girls that are attending another school, their school didn’t have basketball and our assumption was they didn’t have a varsity team this year,” Brown said. “We have a letter from their principal stating that they were allowed to play at National Christian Academy.” | “The two girls that are attending another school, their school didn’t have basketball and our assumption was they didn’t have a varsity team this year,” Brown said. “We have a letter from their principal stating that they were allowed to play at National Christian Academy.” |
| Chesapeake Math and IT officials did not respond to a message seeking comment on the situation. The charter school fielded both girls’ and boys’ varsity basketball teams for the first time this winter. | Chesapeake Math and IT officials did not respond to a message seeking comment on the situation. The charter school fielded both girls’ and boys’ varsity basketball teams for the first time this winter. |
| Brown pointed to a rule in the MPSSAA handbook that states, “students, while participating on a school team, are permitted to participate on sports teams outside of school during the high school sport’s season.” But Warner said the MPSSAA handbook only pertains to the state’s public schools and that specific rule is related to non-interscholastic sports such as AAU basketball and club soccer. | Brown pointed to a rule in the MPSSAA handbook that states, “students, while participating on a school team, are permitted to participate on sports teams outside of school during the high school sport’s season.” But Warner said the MPSSAA handbook only pertains to the state’s public schools and that specific rule is related to non-interscholastic sports such as AAU basketball and club soccer. |
| “That’s the ruling we’ve gone by forever,” Brown said. “It’s unclear. It says a kid may participate in a sport outside of their school in what we understand is as long as the kid doesn’t participate in a sport at the school. Now, if they participate in the sport at their school, they’re ineligible to play for us and if they play for us, they’re ineligible to play for their school.” | “That’s the ruling we’ve gone by forever,” Brown said. “It’s unclear. It says a kid may participate in a sport outside of their school in what we understand is as long as the kid doesn’t participate in a sport at the school. Now, if they participate in the sport at their school, they’re ineligible to play for us and if they play for us, they’re ineligible to play for their school.” |
| With regard to playing a middle schooler, Brown said he spoke with former MPSSAA executive director Ned Sparks last year when the player in question expressed interest in playing as a seventh grader and that the student’s parents called the MPSSAA for approval. | With regard to playing a middle schooler, Brown said he spoke with former MPSSAA executive director Ned Sparks last year when the player in question expressed interest in playing as a seventh grader and that the student’s parents called the MPSSAA for approval. |
| Just last week, National Christian had its first loss of the year against Potter’s House (Fla.), which occurred at the National Association of Christian Athletes tournament in Tennessee, reversed after NACA officials determined Potter’s House used a player from a neighboring school. | Just last week, National Christian had its first loss of the year against Potter’s House (Fla.), which occurred at the National Association of Christian Athletes tournament in Tennessee, reversed after NACA officials determined Potter’s House used a player from a neighboring school. |
| NACA Commissioner Dave Sekura said Saturday he was made aware of allegations concerning National Christian’s player eligibility last week, but cleared the team after National Christian officials said they had a written agreement with Chesapeake Math and IT. Sekura noted, however, that he wasn’t sure if that would satisfy MPSSAA officials. | NACA Commissioner Dave Sekura said Saturday he was made aware of allegations concerning National Christian’s player eligibility last week, but cleared the team after National Christian officials said they had a written agreement with Chesapeake Math and IT. Sekura noted, however, that he wasn’t sure if that would satisfy MPSSAA officials. |
| Coach Henry Anglin, who was previously at H.D. Woodson and Capitol Christian, re-started National Christian’s girls’ basketball team last season and quickly built the Eagles into a powerhouse. National Christian ascended to No. 1 in The Post’s girls’ basketball poll earlier this season. It is currently ranked as high as No. 3 in the country by one national outlet. | Coach Henry Anglin, who was previously at H.D. Woodson and Capitol Christian, re-started National Christian’s girls’ basketball team last season and quickly built the Eagles into a powerhouse. National Christian ascended to No. 1 in The Post’s girls’ basketball poll earlier this season. It is currently ranked as high as No. 3 in the country by one national outlet. |