Guest GCMPats Posted January 15, 2010 Report Posted January 15, 2010 [size=12pt]Sterling stripped of district volleyball title[/size] From sports staff reportsBaytown Sun Published January 15, 2010 Goose Creek CISD announced Thursday that the Ross S. Sterling High School volleyball team must forfeit two district games for playing an ineligible student.As a result, the Sterling volleyball team must relinquish its District 21-5A title. Channelview now becomes the district champion, while Sterling drops into a second place tie with North Shore.Sterling had celebrated the title as its first outright volleyball district title since 1982.According to a news release from the school district, campus personnel did not file paperwork establishing the residency and the eligibility of the student in question before the season began as required by the University Scholastic League.Once the violations were discovered, Sterling Principal Don Beck reported them to the 21-5A District Executive Committee. On Wednesday, that committee approved a public reprimand of the school. The forfeitures were automatic, according to the UIL Constitution and Contest rules.Goose Creek CISD will not appeal the decision.Beck and head coach Nadine Horne informed the volleyball team and parents about the unfortunate turn of events on Thursday night.“It’s a sad day for Sterling. I made a mistake and let my players down, and for that I am deeply sorry,†said Horne, who has coached volleyball at Sterling for two decades. “But we’re going to learn from this, and we’re going to get things right from now on.†In a release announcing the forfeits, the school district pledged to take appropriate action to avoid similar mistakes in the future, including meeting with all extracurricular sponsors and insisting that they are familiar with and adhere to all UIL guidelines.“As painful as it is to have to vacate a district title, there's no glory if it comes at the expense of the process. We must be diligent in our responsibilities,†said Toby York, Goose Creek CISD Superintendent of Schools. “It’s a very, very valuable lesson learned the hard way.†--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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