OSHAA, Alexander case is dismissed by court

A Lucas County appellate court dismissed an Ohio High School Athletic Association's appeal in LeRoy Alexander's eligibility case. THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON Enlarge | Buy This Photo

A Lucas County appellate court dismissed an Ohio High School Athletic Association's appeal in LeRoy Alexander's eligibility case, determining it to be moot because the Whitmer star has already graduated.

The decision rendered from a panel of three judges brings to end a contentious battle that began in April, 2011, when the OHSAA ruled Alexander ineligible upon his transfer from Springfield, citing a falsified eligibility affidavit submitted by his mother Teresa.

Alexander, who has signed a scholarship to play football at Nebraska, participated in football and in basketball at Whitmer under a temporary injunction obtained in August at a trial court.

"I'm glad that it's over," Teresa Alexander said. "I don't think it ever should have gotten to this point. I don't understand what the big hoopla was about when the OHSAA has granted transfers to people who have attended two or three different high schools in one year. I think there was a lot of people behind all of this, not just the OHSAA. I think it went personal."

Lawyers representing the OHSAA were unavailable for comment.

Alexander's attorney Terry Lodge filed a motion in April to dismiss the OHSAA's appeal on the grounds of mootness, arguing the OHSAA's ruling of Alexander ineligible had reached the one-year anniversary. Transfer athletes, in most cases, must sit out one year before becoming eligible.

The OHSAA responded, arguing in part that the situation is not moot because no penalty had been imposed for the Alexander's falsification of the eligibility affidavit, and therefore any penalty imposed for such falsification would begin to run "from the date the penalty is imposed."

Teresa Alexander contends she did not lie on the affidavit when she left an answer blank of whether she gained custody of her son through a court order.

"I left it blank because I've never been to court to gain custody of my child, which is no lie," she said.

The OHSAA since has restructured the affidavit, admitting the wording on the previous form was ambiguous. Teresa and LeRoy Alexander moved from the family's home in Holland in April, 2011, and rented an apartment within the boundaries of Washington Local Schools. Teresa's husband -- LeRoy's father -- remained in Holland.

Legal fees were "extremely out of hand," Teresa said, adding "I would do it all over again because that's my kid."

Contact Ryan Autullo at: rautullo@theblade.com, 419-724-6160 or on Twitter @RyanAutullo.