Judge sets Monday hearing for Glenville football playoff dispute
A Cuyahoga County judge will decide if two Cleveland teams must play to advance after a recent no-show and a temporary restraining order.
By Carlos Rousseau ·
High school football fans in Cuyahoga County face another court date to settle who advances in the playoffs. Judge Andrew Santoli of the Court of Common Pleas will hold a hearing on Monday, November 2. The judge must determine whether the Glenville High School Tarblooders and University School are required to play a makeup game to move forward in the Ohio High School Athletic Association tournament.
The dispute began when officials canceled a scheduled game between the two teams on Thursday, October 29. The match was originally set for Friday, October 30. OHSAA officials canceled the contest after an investigation found that students from Ginn Academy were incorrectly assigned to Glenville for athletic participation. Ginn Academy is a non-member magnet school without its own sports teams, but its students are permitted to play for the closest Cleveland Metropolitan School District team.
Family members of two Glenville players filed a motion for a temporary restraining order. Judge Santoli granted that order on Friday, October 30, which forced the OHSAA to reschedule the game for Saturday, October 31. University School officials said they were surprised by the legal move and the new time. They stated in a release that they would respect the court's decision on the final outcome but would not compete in the rescheduled Saturday game.
When the Glenville players arrived at noon on Saturday, October 31, their opponents were not there. Jon Benedict, the communications officer for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, confirmed that the Glenville team showed up but the University School team did not. University School officials said they would prepare to play Salem on Friday night if that becomes the final resolution.
This is the second time in eight years that Glenville has been removed from the football playoffs for the same violation. In 2018, the Tarblooders were cut from the tournament for the same issue. The school was fined $5,000 and placed on probation until 2021. The current legal dispute leaves the playoff bracket in limbo until Judge Santoli rules on Monday.
