CROSS COUNTRY Salem set to file suit in County

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
Salem High School plans to file a lawsuit against the Ohio High School Athletic Association this morning in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, hoping to get its boys cross country team into Saturday's boys state cross country meet.
The action comes after a Franklin County judge refused to review the school's lawsuit on Wednesday.
"The Franklin County judge didn't feel she would take action at this point," Salem superintendent Dave Brobeck said.
Today's lawsuit is Salem's last option, Brobeck said.
"I don't know what other choices we have," he said. "It doesn't do much good to go after the OHSAA after the fact."
Salem originally was awarded the sixth and final qualifying spot at last Saturday's Division II regional meet at Boardman High. But Cardinal Mooney, which lost the sixth-place tiebreaker to Salem, successfully appealed to have the results reviewed by meet officials after the 10-minute appeal period.
After reviewing the race, race officials awarded the final spot to Mooney late Saturday night. The OHSAA gives tournament directors the final say regarding the application of rules.
"I guess what bothers me about it is [the OHSAA] admitted the appeal was not filed timely and was not filed in writing, which it has to be," Brobeck said. "They said they have another rule that the results can be changed within 48 hours and another rule that we're not allowed to protest.
"That seems inconsistent to us."
Salem is not looking to take Mooney's spot, Brobeck said. The Quakers want to go in addition to Mooney.