That’s a reasonable question in the aftermath of an error that cost Ithaca High School the services of five all-star seniors for Wednesday’s first-round state playoff game against Newburgh Free Academy.
Chris Tien, Alex Doliner, Nate Greene, Adam Sullivan and Dan Snedeker were declared ineligible for the remainder of the season by the NYSPHSAA after they played briefly in a the Southern Tier Athletic Conference Senior Showcase on Sunday, in essence signifying they were no longer playing varsity soccer.
According to The Ithaca Journal, the five were abruptly removed from the senior all-star game when someone raised the issue of whether the rules allowed them to play while their season was still in progress. The NYSPHSAA handbook and the organization’s Web site clearly explain that only players who have completed their scholastic career can play.
Ithaca officials sought to have the players' eligibility restored, but the request was denied Tuesday. Coach Jeff Dumont accepted responsibility for the error, even offering his own suspension as an alternative punishment.
"The buck stops with me," he told the paper. "They're my charges and I feel that I let them down."
NYSPHSAA Executive Director Nina Van Erk told the New York State Sportswriters Association that she did not have the authority to unilaterally waive the rule, which has been in the book for more than 20 years.
"I get it," she said. "I feel bad for the players and their parents, but as the executive director of the membership it's my duty to enforce the rule."
Van Erk said administrators and parents seeking relief from the rule were understanding during discussions, but she was disappointed to see the players' season end so unexpectedly. "These are days I wish I didn't have to have," she said.
It was the second time in less than a week that she had to enforce that rule. On Friday, two Livonia girls volleyball players missed the Bulldogs' five-game loss to underdog Wayne in the Section V Class B final after they also played in an all-star game.
Without nearly half its lineup, Ithaca tried using a defensive shell against Newburgh in the Class AA pre-quarterfinal at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta. But junior Nick Bramall scored twice in the opening 14 minutes to propel a 2-0 victory.
I knew (Ithaca) had some guys missing, so I thought they might do that," Bramall told The Times Herald-Record. "We just had to be patient and I knew we would get at least one in."
Newburgh has posted 11 shutouts in row, outscoring opponents 37-0 since a 1-1 tie vs. Martin Luther King of the PSAL on Sept. 26.
Cross country: A sporting gesture by a teammate
Defending champion Otis Ubriaco eased up near the finish, allowing Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake senior teammate Scott Maughan to hit the tape first for individual honors at the Section II boys Class A cross country championships.
Ubriaco, a junior, was even with Maughan down the final straightaway before backing down. Their one-two finish led the team's sweep of the top four spots. Ubriaco was evasive when asked about the end of the race, but Maughan understood what transpired.
"I think Otis kind of let me have a turn winning sectionals, so that was nice of him," Maughan told The Times Union.
At the same meet, the Saratoga girls had a close call en route to their 10th straight Class AA championship. The Blue Streaks edged Shenendehowa 27-31 at Saratoga Spa State Park. Freshman Keelin Hollowood paced the winners by finishing first as Saratoga triumphed for the 13th time in 14 years.
Girls tennis: A memorable final for Yale recuit
Tennis fans will be talking about Monday's NYSPHSAA girls singles final for a very long time after Yale-bound Jericho senior Blair Seideman scored a 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 6-3 victory over Ossining freshman Jamie Loeb. Neither player was able to break serve in the first set, forcing the tiebreaker.
Loeb was the third-place finisher a year ago. Her sister Jenna won three state championships by the time she graduated in 2004.
In doubles, Keio Academy juniors Shiho Sato and Kaho Sato breezed through the field and won the final vs. Brooke Pottish and Lindsay Kantor of Westhampton Beach, 6-1, 6-1, at Eastside Racquet Club in Manlius. The twins placed fourth a year ago.
Mount St. Michael football player dies
Mount St. Michael has moved its CHSFL Class AA semifinal vs. St. Francis Prep to Sunday because funeral services for junior Kyle Rembert will be held Saturday morning.
The 16-year-old running back died of carbon monoxide poisoning over the weekend in his family's Bronx home.
"He was a great kid," coach Mario Valentini told the The New York Post. "He always had a smile on his face, very pleasant, low-key type of kid. He was just a wonderful young man."
Legendary hockey coach dies
Stan Moore, who coached Massena to more than 500 ice hockey victories over 32 seasons, died last week at the age of 79 in a Massena nursing home.
Moore compiled a 522-141-15 record and his teams earned 17 Section X and seven state championships. He held the state mark for victories until Salmon River coach Bill Plante eclipsed him in 2006. Moore played for Clarkson University and coached at Massena beginning in 1960.
Empire State Games staying upstate for now
The Empire State Summer Games will return to Rochester in 2011, officials announced last week.
State budget issues forced cancellation of the 2009 event, but the ESGs are scheduled to resume next summer in Buffalo. Scheduling the event in Western New York cities in consecutive years is expected to help the state's Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation recruit sponsors for two-year commitments.
The 2011 Games are scheduled for July 27-31 in Rochester, which previously hosted in 1993, 1998 and 2006.
John Schiano, who has written about high school sports in western and central New York for more than 25 years, covers New York for MaxPreps. He may be reached at
