Greenhills top tennis player ruled ineligible for state championships
Greenhills School will have to defend its Division 4 girls tennis state title without the top player in the state.
The MHSAA announced in a press release on Tuesday that sophomore Kasey Gardiner has been ruled ineligible to compete at the state championships at Kalamazoo College June 4-5 after learning that Gardiner competed in a non-school related contest last week.
"I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say that she’s absolutely distraught. She came into the my classroom crying," said Greenhills coach Mark Randolph. "She feels she let the team down and she feels horrid that she won’t be able to lift the team up like she always has in the past."
Gardiner competed in three non-school competitions this season and MHSAA rules state that a student-athlete in individual sports such as tennis "may participate in a maximum of two non-school individual meets or contests during the season."
According to Randolph, the Gardiner family didn't know her participation in the qualifying stages of an ITF tournament counted toward her total and thought only her participation in two USTA tournaments counted. Neither governing body is mentioned in the MHSAA Coaches Guidebook.
"The Gardiners were operating under the impression that they were in compliance, and I honestly believe that to be the case," said Randolph, "The results are online. She’s not trying to sneak past anybody. She’s not playing in these tournaments for a competitive edge, she doesn’t need one."
Gardiner is the defending state champion at No. 1 singles and would have been the top seed in the flight this weekend. She has yet to lose a set in her high school career.
Randolph knew prior to the season that Gardiner would be participating in the USTA tournaments, but did not know of the ITF qualifiers until the suspension had been levied.
Greenhills will still compete in the state championships, but will not have an entry at the No. 1 flight.
"I try to always comply with the rules and if, in a situation like this, there is something I need to learn fast, then we’ll do everything we can to be in compliance," Randolph said. "We’re an educational institution, we’re not a tennis trophy factory…I’m an educator and it's an opportunity that we have to show our meddle."
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com, or by phone at 734-623-2565. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
Jim Mulchay
Thu, Jun 3, 2010 : 6:04 p.m.
The MHSAA rules are set by member schools. Greenhills agreed to abide by those rules when they joined the MHSAA and chose to compete in tennis in the MHSAA tournament. IF (big IF) enough member schools think the rules should be changed, they will be. Please note the recent softball tournament reported in Ann Arbor.com where Milan HS had to drop out because the MHSAA game limits; a few years back Lenawee Christian had to forfeit MHSAA tournament wins because they had a player participating without proper registrations. No idea about the SEMTA or their policies. Some states are more flexible than Michigan, but not all. Tell you coach what you are doing during the season (before you do it) and give them a chance to check.
NCAA Rules
Thu, Jun 3, 2010 : 11:55 a.m.
Four years, full athletic rides; not uncommon for awesome players. You should check out the Tennis Recruiting website.
Jay Allen
Thu, Jun 3, 2010 : 8:46 a.m.
Personally, YES the parents "should" have known the rules. But come on, let the young lady play, what harm did she cause?.......Sounds to me as a 2nd or 3rd flight athlete reported her or another school did. The old addition by subtraction. LOL Directed to NCAARules: "Happy ending: all three of my kids are/will play D1 tennis with full scholarships" Really? Full scholarships? Perhaps a young woman because it relates to Title-9........I do 100% believe your kids are awesome and I do 100% believe they will be scholarship athletes. But full as a freshman? More than likely a sophomore? I do not believe that.
NCAA Rules
Thu, Jun 3, 2010 : 7:58 a.m.
Thems the (stupid) rules. Michigan is one of the few states that impose such restrictions on tennis players. For Nationally top-ranked kids like Kasey it forces them into compromises that could negatively impact her college career. I had my 3 girls in Michigan for one year of high school tennis, then decided that the hassle from the Michigan High School Athletics Assc and the BS from the sanctimonious SE Michigan Tennis Association (SEMTA) was not worth it, so we did what a lot of families do - we headed to Florida. Happy ending: all three of my kids are/will play D1 tennis with full scholarships
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Jun 2, 2010 : 5:47 p.m.
True. The rules are clear. They are intended to ensure every child has an opportunity to play against other high school amateurs. It's the responsibility of every school to learn those rules and ask the MHSAA for a clarification if uncertain. There is no clause in the rules saying Kasey Gardiner is exempt from the same rules everyone else must follow. Odd that the Gryphons can compete in the championships without filling the 1-singles slot. Couldn't that lead to schools cleverly slotting players in order to amass more points?
friend12
Wed, Jun 2, 2010 : 11:31 a.m.
Sorry, minor typo. Lets try again. This sucks, but, someone with that kind of talent should have known better.
friend12
Wed, Jun 2, 2010 : 11:29 a.m.
This sucks, but, someone with that kind of talent should have none better.
sloppySam
Wed, Jun 2, 2010 : 11:06 a.m.
That is a crying shame. I'm sure hope someday we'll all hear the name Kasey Gardiner is in the draw and we can say we remember when the time the South East Michigan Tennis Association got all sanctimonious on you. i guess it's just time to relocate to Florida. The ITF tourney really shouldn't have counted. You are such a class act to go cheer your team on. Your time will come and i'm predicting you will rule. Even, if it's not in this backwards little Great Lake State. Rules are rules but this one sucks!