(Sports news update) Appeals committee upholds Westlake used ineligible player

Westlake appeal denied by MPSSAA

Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009

Appeal denied.

On Tuesday, a Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association appeals committee upheld a Charles County Public Schools' ruling on Monday that the Westlake football program used an ineligible player for four games during the regular season and must forfeit each of those contests.

The Class 3A defending state champion had won two of the forfeited games, so its 8-2 record dropped to 6-4 after the penalty for the infraction was enforced. However, Westlake still remains alive in the playoffs – at Huntingtown in the 3A South region final at 7 p.m. Friday – because neither its postseason fate nor subsequent regional second seed changed from the forfeits.

MPSSAA Executive Director Ned Sparks disclosed the appeals committee's decision Wednesday afternoon.

"I can't get into specifics, because I don't serve on the committee. I'm not part of any decision," said Sparks, whose role in the appeals process was to present the facts of the case as determined by the CCPS hearing and answer any questions the committee had. "It was closed-door, and I don't think any facts [from the committee members] would be shared [about the appeals decision]."

Westlake head coach Dominic Zaccarelli remains firm in his stance, even after the appeals process, that his team never used an ineligible player.

"I still feel there had not been a date set for ineligibility other than Oct. 23," he said late Wednesday evening. "Due to that, I don't think our county or the appeals committee did come to the right decision. I don't feel due process was done right. I feel that [Prince George's] County schools sent a letter of a complaint with no evidence or no documentation as to any type of verification. I think that's a very dangerous situation and something that needs to be changed and reviewed."

dcogle@somdnews.com