Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:54 am
LANGDON, N.D.
School officials here have appealed a North Dakota High School Activities Association ruling that coaches broke rules by recruiting volleyball players from nearby Munich.
Langdon coaches met with three Munich players and their family members in a Munich home in February, according to Langdon Superintendent Rich Rogers. However, Rogers said, Munich players and their parents had already indicated to Langdon coaches that they wanted out of a cooperative agreement for volleyball with Cando, Bisbee-Egeland and Starkweather.
Cando, Bisbee-Egeland, Starkweather and Munich form the North Star volleyball co-op team.
Cando forwarded a letter to the activities association about the alleged recruiting. Sherm Sylling, the group's executive secretary, said he talked with administrators, coaches and parents and determined a rules infraction had occurred.
Langdon's appeal is to be heard by the association's executive committee Tuesday morning in Valley City. If the ruling is upheld, Langdon can appeal to the entire association board of directors.
Penalties can range from reprimands to a suspension of teams.
Rogers acknowledged that a mistake was made when the coaches visited the players and parents in the Munich home.
However, "We're stating that there was no intent to encourage dissolving of the present co-op or trying to influence them into a new one," he said. "We feel that was already in the works."
Munich has requested that the activities association dissolve its co-op with Cando, Bisbee-Egeland and Starkweather in volleyball. The school also has submitted a request to co-op with Langdon in the sport. Langdon also has done the paperwork for the co-op.
If Langdon wins its appeal, the requests could be voted on later Tuesday.
Cando Superintendent Mark Lindahl said he has received many calls from administrators and coaches who are following the case.
"This isn't college," Lindahl said. "College coaches come right into your living room and talk, and that's what happened."
Langdon has advanced to the Class B volleyball tournament nine straight seasons.
"We've had a good program and our girls have worked hard, our coaches have worked hard," Rogers said. "We hate to be in the center of controversy."
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Information from: Grand Forks Herald, http://www.grandforksherald.com
School officials here have appealed a North Dakota High School Activities Association ruling that coaches broke rules by recruiting volleyball players from nearby Munich.
Langdon coaches met with three Munich players and their family members in a Munich home in February, according to Langdon Superintendent Rich Rogers. However, Rogers said, Munich players and their parents had already indicated to Langdon coaches that they wanted out of a cooperative agreement for volleyball with Cando, Bisbee-Egeland and Starkweather.
Cando, Bisbee-Egeland, Starkweather and Munich form the North Star volleyball co-op team.
Cando forwarded a letter to the activities association about the alleged recruiting. Sherm Sylling, the group's executive secretary, said he talked with administrators, coaches and parents and determined a rules infraction had occurred.
Langdon's appeal is to be heard by the association's executive committee Tuesday morning in Valley City. If the ruling is upheld, Langdon can appeal to the entire association board of directors.
Penalties can range from reprimands to a suspension of teams.
Rogers acknowledged that a mistake was made when the coaches visited the players and parents in the Munich home.
However, "We're stating that there was no intent to encourage dissolving of the present co-op or trying to influence them into a new one," he said. "We feel that was already in the works."
Munich has requested that the activities association dissolve its co-op with Cando, Bisbee-Egeland and Starkweather in volleyball. The school also has submitted a request to co-op with Langdon in the sport. Langdon also has done the paperwork for the co-op.
If Langdon wins its appeal, the requests could be voted on later Tuesday.
Cando Superintendent Mark Lindahl said he has received many calls from administrators and coaches who are following the case.
"This isn't college," Lindahl said. "College coaches come right into your living room and talk, and that's what happened."
Langdon has advanced to the Class B volleyball tournament nine straight seasons.
"We've had a good program and our girls have worked hard, our coaches have worked hard," Rogers said. "We hate to be in the center of controversy."
___
Information from: Grand Forks Herald, http://www.grandforksherald.com