By Larissa Dudkiewicz
Ambridge Area School District won't appeal a recent WPIAL decision allowing a student-athlete to transfer and play football and basketball for Aliquippa.
Board member Roger Kowal asked for a roll call vote during the Oct. 15 meeting, seeking to move forward with an appeal at the request of the high school football and basketball coaches – both of whom were present at the board meeting.
Ambridge Area School District won't appeal a recent WPIAL decision allowing a student-athlete to transfer and play football and basketball for Aliquippa.
Board member Roger Kowal asked for a roll call vote during the Oct. 15 meeting, seeking to move forward with an appeal at the request of the high school football and basketball coaches – both of whom were present at the board meeting.
advertisement The motion failed with a 4-4 tie vote. Board members Robert Keber, Kimberly Locher, Kowal and John Baker voted for the appeal while Jeremy Angus, Scott Angus, Mary Jo Kehoe and Kelly Smith voted no. Board president MJ Knafelc was absent.
Stephon McGinnis, a standout athlete in football and basketball, was declared eligible to compete in athletics at Aliquippa High School after transferring there in late September.
WPIAL ruled last week there was no athletic intent for the senior's transfer.
The board also established that he lived with his mother both before and after the move.
Solicitor Lisa Colautti said Ambridge has the right to appeal to the PIAA for a period of 30 days after the decision. The associated costs for the district to appeal would involve traveling to Harrisburg--where the PIAA holds the hearings--to present the district's case.
Colautti said she would follow the will of the board's majority, but cautioned the board on the potential outcome.
“If you’d like me to repeat my assessment of the case, the chances of success are unlikely,” Colautti said.
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Stephon McGinnis, a standout athlete in football and basketball, was declared eligible to compete in athletics at Aliquippa High School after transferring there in late September.
WPIAL ruled last week there was no athletic intent for the senior's transfer.
The board also established that he lived with his mother both before and after the move.
Solicitor Lisa Colautti said Ambridge has the right to appeal to the PIAA for a period of 30 days after the decision. The associated costs for the district to appeal would involve traveling to Harrisburg--where the PIAA holds the hearings--to present the district's case.
Colautti said she would follow the will of the board's majority, but cautioned the board on the potential outcome.
“If you’d like me to repeat my assessment of the case, the chances of success are unlikely,” Colautti said.
Like Ambridge Connection on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our weekly newsletter.
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