• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

       

Click to join our weekly e-newsletter

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Steinbrenner avoids major FHSAA sanctions

January 2, 2012 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Jeff Odom

and Kyle LoJacono

The Steinbrenner boys soccer team must forfeit nine wins and two ties and give up the top seed in this week’s Class 4A-District 8 tournament, but avoids major sanctions after an internal investigation into using an ineligible player.

Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) spokesman Corey Sobers said they were informed one of the Warriors’ players was living outside Steinbrenner’s district and had falsified information to gain admittance to the school.

“There was an allegation made and at that point our compliance department asked them to look into it,” Sobers said. “They did end up finding that there was an issue.”

The FHSAA ruled on Jan. 19 an ineligible player had been used in 12 contests this year. The Warriors had to forfeit all those games, one of which was already a loss, dropping their record from 11-2-2 to 2-13. The two victories the squad keeps came after the ineligible player was removed.

“Once an ineligible player plays in a game forfeiture is mandatory and automatic,” Sobers said.

The student was deemed ineligible Jan. 5 and was removed from the squad. He cannot participate in any FHSAA contests with any school for one year as a penalty for falsifying information.

The Laker/Lutz News has learned the player at the center of the investigation is Ryan Kennedy. The junior midfielder attended Martinez Middle in Lutz before moving to Steinbrenner when the school opened in 2009. He has been on the Warriors’ squad the last three seasons before his name was removed from their roster for their game against Plant on Jan. 6.

Steinbrenner junior forward Logan Siben said he attended Martinez with Kennedy from sixth through eighth grade. He said he knew Kennedy lived in Pasco County, but thought he was on special assignment.

“We did not recruit him by any means,” Siben said. “He’s gone to Hillsborough schools since sixth grade.”

Kennedy recently withdrew from Steinbrenner, and his Facebook page says he is now attending Mitchell High in Trinity. Kennedy declined to comment for this story.

Steinbrenner went 5-0 in 4A-8 play this year, but all of those games were before Jan. 5. Forfeiting the district contests dropped the Warriors from the top seed to No. 6.

Sobers said Steinbrenner is eligible for the postseason because the player has been removed from the team. Provided there are no additional ineligible players on the squad, the Warriors won’t have to worry about the any playoff appearance being vacated.

“The school wasn’t found to have any wrongdoing,” Sobers said. “The student falsified information. It’s not like the school was involved in helping him do it or recruited him.”

Sobers said Steinbrenner won’t have to forfeit any part of past seasons.

“It wouldn’t be a situation when you go back in time and punish someone last year and then punish them again this year going forward,” Sobers said.

Sobers said the school will receive no fines or probation because of the case and added the FHSAA is not performing any investigation into the program and the case is closed.

“I think the FHSAA made the right decision,” said Steinbrenner athletic director Eddie Henderson. “It was fair and just.”

The Warriors’ drop to the No. 6 seed in the district moves Freedom up to the top spot and Gaither to No. 2. Sickles takes over the No. 3 seed, with Wiregrass Ranch and Chamberlain becoming Nos. 4 and 5, respectively.

Siben said losing the top seed is just extra motivation for the squad, which is looking for the first district championship in the program’s three-year history.

“We deserve to be (on) top, we just have to put in the work to prove that’s where we belong once again,” Siben said. He then added, “Only according to FHSAA we’re winless. In our minds we are still undefeated in our district, and we will still go out with our best and play our best to prove that we are the best team in our district, region and state. Just because we dropped rankings in district because of a faulty player means nothing.”

The top-two seeds in the six-team district receive byes to the semifinals, meaning the Nos. 1 and 2 squads only have to win one game in order to earn a playoff berth.

“I look at (it) as an extra game,” Siben said. “We were previously having a bye to the semis, now we get to play a game then semis. More of a preparation in my eyes.”

The Warriors host the 4A-8 tournament Jan. 25-28, with the championship on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. Steinbrenner plays Sickles in the opening round on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. If the Lutz program wins it would play Gaither in the semifinals on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m.

 

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Reddit
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

WAVE Wellness Center — Tampa Bay’s Most Advanced Upper Cervical Spinal Care

September 5, 2023 By Mary Rathman

Tampa Bay welcomes WAVE Wellness Center, a state-of-the-art spinal care clinic founded by Dr. Ryan LaChance. WAVE … [Read More...] about WAVE Wellness Center — Tampa Bay’s Most Advanced Upper Cervical Spinal Care

Only a Few Homes Remain — It’s Your Final Chance to Build Your Home in Del Webb Bexley

August 29, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Time is running out on your chance to live at Del Webb Bexley. We’ve built the ideal active adult community to suit your … [Read More...] about Only a Few Homes Remain — It’s Your Final Chance to Build Your Home in Del Webb Bexley

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

10/03/2023 – Drawing Workshop

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host a Drawing Workshop: Exquisite Corpse, on Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., as part of its Museum + Art Series. Participants can learn about the exquisite corpse drawing method and create a drawing inspired by surrealist artists. Registration is required; call 727-815-7126. To learn more, visit MOMA.org/collection/terms/exquisite-corpse. … [Read More...] about 10/03/2023 – Drawing Workshop

10/03/2023 – Halloween Games/Crafts

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host Teen Halloween Games and Crafts on Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 13 to 17. Supplies will be provided. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 10/03/2023 – Halloween Games/Crafts

10/03/2023 – Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a porch book sale on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to noon, featuring all genres of books including novels, nonfiction, biographies, sewing, cooking, self-help, and more. The porch sale takes place every Tuesday. Call 813-929-1214 for information. … [Read More...] about 10/03/2023 – Library Book Sale

10/04/2023 – Harry Potter Club

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a Harry Potter Club on the first Wednesday of every month at 3 p.m., for wizards, witches and muggles in grades five to eight. The next meeting is Oct. 4. Fans can gather to create replicas of popular items from the series, while discussing the books and movies. Participants do not have to read the books. Register online at bit.ly/PCLSEvents. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 10/04/2023 – Harry Potter Club

10/04/2023 – Houseplant Discussion

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a master gardener discussion about houseplants on Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. Registration is required. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 10/04/2023 – Houseplant Discussion

10/04/2023 – Spells and Potions

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host a Witching Hour: Spells and Potions on Oct. 4 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for adults. Participants can create a love potion bottle and a witchy wand. All supplies will be provided. Registration is required. Call 727-815-7126. … [Read More...] about 10/04/2023 – Spells and Potions

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: