Warren JFK will forfeit CVCA win

By Steve Ruman

The Eagles used a player who was academically ineligible in their Aug. 22 victory.

For the second time in six years, a big opening-season win by the Warren JFK High football team has turned into a loss.

JFK first-year principal Brian Sinchak on Thursday confirmed that the Eagles’ 27-7 victory against Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy on Aug. 22 will be forfeited because of the use of an academically ineligible player. The athlete also played both offense and defense in JFK’s 35-30 loss last Saturday against Hubbard.

“As unfortunate as it is, we played an academically ineligible player, and we didn’t discover the error until earlier this week,” Sinchak said. “We’ve contacted the headmaster at CVCA, and we have also contacted the Ohio High School Athletic Association. We have informed the necessary parties of our situation and acknowledged the forfeit.”

Though Sinchak would not reveal the student’s name, sources from both JFK and Lakeview have confirmed that the ineligible player transferred from Lakeview to Warren JFK in late May.

Athletes who do not meet academic eligibility requirements during the final nine weeks of a school year cannot participate in athletics at the start of the following school year.

JFK’s current roster includes at least three players who were on the Lakeview roster in 2007.

Sinchak, who began serving as JFK’s principal on June 1, called the incident “an unfortunate clerical error.”

“You can ask 10 different schools how they handle eligibility issues, and you will get 10 different answers,” Sinchak said. “But the bottom line is that I am the principal, and I am ultimately accountable for what happened.

“I met with the team and explained the situation,” Sinchak said. “They were very understanding. I have a great relationship with the players and coaches, and I feel bad for what has happened.”

The forfeit is at least the fourth such incident involving area schools since 2001, and the second involving Warren JFK. In 2002, JFK opened its season with a 26-0 win over Newton Falls. The win was later forfeited because the Eagles used an ineligible athlete.

In 2001, Ursuline was forced to forfeit four of its seven wins. Meanwhile, in 2004 Warren G. Harding was the beneficiary of a forfeit win over Lakewood St. Edward.

The JFK forfeit to CVCA likely will hurt the Eagles in their quest to return to the playoffs. CVCA has averaged more than seven wins per season over the past five years.

JFK, now 0-2, plays host tonight to Girard (2-0). The two teams will meet for the 40th time, with Girard owning a 20-19 edge in a series that has created some memorable outcomes.

In the past seven meetings, the Eagles own a 4-3 edge. The two teams have combined to average 64 points per contest in the past seven meetings, including a 64-62 win by Girard in 2004.