The New York State Public High School Athletic Association disqualified
Holland (N.Y.) from the playoffs after it played 17 regular-season games (15-2), one more than the NYSPHSAA allows in its rules.
According to WKBW, a local appeal and a state appeal were both rejected and the decision is final.
"The rule is black and white. The team has to be disqualified. If you change the rule for one team, you are going to have to change the rule for other teams down the road," Section 6 President Jeff Rabey said
in an interview on the WKBW site.
It gets stranger, though. According to
WGRZ TV, state senator Mark Grisanti (R - Buffalo) felt that the punishment was an "injustice" and contacted governor Andrew Cuomo's office. Grisanti said "It's not acceptable, and it's not fair," adding that the players and their families could suffer financial harm by not playing in front of college scouts in the playoffs.
Someone even created a
Facebook page called "Justice for Holland Girls Varsity Soccer" and on that page gave updates of the saga.
The Holland girls still put on their jerseys and took to the field during the playoffs, though. The team was honored Thursday at halftime of a boys' playoff game.