Judge Santoli sets Monday hearing on Glenville football playoff dispute

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Andrew Santoli will hold a hearing on Monday to determine whether Glenville High School and University School must play in the Ohio High School Athletic Association football tournament.

The dispute centers on the eligibility of two Glenville players. OHSAA officials canceled the original game on Thursday, October 29, after an investigation found that students from Ginn Academy were inaccurately assigned to Glenville Academy for athletic participation. Ginn Academy is a non-member magnet school without a sports program, which allows its students to compete at the nearest Cleveland Metropolitan School District campus.

Family members of the two Glenville football players filed for a temporary restraining order. Judge Santoli granted the request on Friday, October 30, and the OHSAA rescheduled the contest for Saturday, October 31. According to Jon Benedict, the communications officer for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, the Glenville players arrived at noon on October 31, but the University School team did not appear.

University School officials released a statement on October 31 explaining their absence. The school said it prepared for the matchup originally scheduled for the evening of October 30. The officials expressed disappointment at the initial cancellation and surprise at the temporary restraining order that led to the reschedule. The statement noted that the school would not compete in the rescheduled contest and would respect the court's decision on the final outcome.

The University School officials added that they would prepare to play Salem on Friday night if that resolution occurred. The Glenville Tarblooders are now waiting for the judge's ruling on whether they advance in the tournament.

This is the second time Glenville has been removed from the football playoffs for the same violation. In 2018, the team was removed, fined $5,000, and placed on probation until 2021.