OHSAA fines Whitmer, vacates its 2011 football wins, 2011-12 basketball wins
12/20/2012All of Whitmer's wins from the 2011 football season and the 2011-12 basketball season have been vacated as part of penalties levied against the school by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Additionally, Whitmer must pay the OHSAA $50,000, or roughly half of the cost of the 17-month investigation the state's governing body of high school athletics conducted concerning the eligibility of transfer student athletes into the Washington Local Schools district.
The OHSAA concluded that former Panthers standout football and basketball player LeRoy Alexander was ineligible to participate in athletics during the 2011 school year. Due to Alexander's participation, Whitmer will no longer be recognized for its Division I state semifinal appearance in football or its state finals appearance in basketball.
The OHSAA also found that some Whitmer coaches did not possess a required coaching permit.
Washington Local Superintendent Patrick Hickey, who conducted a news conference at the district building today alongside OHSAA commissioner Dan Ross, said he disagrees with the OHSAA's declaring Alexander ineligible, noting that Alexander obtained a preliminary injunction by a Lucas County judge to participate in athletics.
Ross said the OHSAA investigated several other transfer athletes.