Kaneland, which has won 30 consecutive games, will be allowed to play in tonight’s Class 3A sectional final against Crystal Lake South despite using an ineligible player in the sectional semifinals.
According to the Illinois High School Association, the inelgible player played in Kaneland’s last seven games. The IHSA originally ruled that Kaneland had to forfeit those seven games and could not play tonight against Crystal Lake South.
Kaneland appealed to the IHSA board. The board amended the ruling Friday morning and will Kaneland to play without the ineligible athlete.
“The Board believes that IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson followed proper protocol when issuing his initial ruling,” said Dan Tully, the Principal at Notre Dame College Prep in Niles and the President of the IHSA Board of Directors. “New information came to light during the appeal hearing that led the IHSA Board to allow the team to continue to participate in the State Series. The Board acknowledges that failures by the Kaneland administration in seeking an eligibility ruling exacerbated this situation. We have directed the IHSA staff to work with the school to improve their processes moving forward, while also reevaluating the IHSA’s internal processes to identify ways to streamline the eligibility ruling process for all member schools.”
The IHSA placed Kaneland on probation and requested a corrective action plan.
Last season, the IHSA kicked Kenwood out of the state tournament on the opening day of the event. According to the IHSA the Broncos had multiple ineligible players. Kenwood appealed to the IHSA’s board and its regional semifinal game was postponed. The IHSA board ruled that the Broncos could play in the state tournament without the five ineligible players, two assistant coaches and their head coach. Kenwood responded by requesting a temporary restraining order in Cook County Circuit court and the judge ruled in favor of the IHSA.