FHSAA Warns Legislation Will Create High School Free Agents
March 27, 2013
The association that dictates rules for Florida’s middle and high school athletes is fighting what it says is a power grab by legislators that will lessen the oversight of mid-season transfers and allow some schools to become recruiting giants.
The Florida High School Athletic Association is objecting to measures (HB 1279, SB 1164) by Rep. Larry Metz, R-Yalaha, and Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, that could restrict their investigations into student-athlete transfers, limit the amount of fines and fees member schools pay, and revamp the makeup of the association’s board.
FHSAA Executive Director Roger Dearing, during a media teleconference on Tuesday, claimed the legislation would essentially allow middle and high school student-athletes to become “free agents.”
“This legislation opens the door for nefarious people who might want to circumvent rules in order to do what they may think is getting students scholarships to college, or even open the door to professional athletics,” Dearing said.
The measure by Metz also further expands the state law that allows students to play for the school of choice if the public or charter school they attend does not offer the sport.
Stargel’s companion proposal adds more legislative oversight to the FHSAA board by having the House and Senate each make four appointments to the board, with the Commissioner of Education getting to name three.
While the board would be expanded from 16 to 25, the majority of appointments would come from Tallahassee.
Currently, FHSAA member schools select 13 board members, with the three others coming from the Department of Education.
The proposals also call for replacing Dearing by having the commissioner of education name the FHSAA executive director rather than the association’s board.
Dearing said his job being on the line was less a concern than keeping the playing field level for students and schools as they compete across the state if each school district is given powers to self-regulate transfers.
Stargel, in a release from Access for Student Athletes Coalition sent out prior to the teleconference, denied her proposal will allow illegal recruiting or create student-athlete “free agency.”
“This proposal would not prevent the FHSAA from fulfilling their primary role,” Stargel stated. “However, it would help combat their predisposition to consider students as guilty until proven innocent, and would establish true due process and rights for student athletes, which the current system of conducting investigations clearly lacks.”
The coalition, which contends the FHSAA displays overreaching and arbitrary authority when conducting investigations on student eligibility, is an initiative launched by the Naples-based conservative-policy think tank Floridians for Government Accountability, Inc. The think tank is run by former Maine legislator Tarren Bragdon.
The FHSAA doesn’t directly receive state funding, but in addition to relying upon corporate donations for funding draws public dollars through membership fees from public schools.
FHSAA Chief Financial Officer Linda Roberston said the expected reduction in revenue by capping fines and fees could hinder the non-profit association’s ability to promote and run championship events at professional fields, along with training and certification for coaches and officials.
“The quality of our events will certainly suffer,” Robertson said.
“Mike Alstott, the football coach at Northside Christian High in St. Petersburg, said an athlete shouldn’t be allowed to play for one school in the fall for football, another in the winter for basketball and a third in the spring for baseball.
“This could really change the playing field, to not be fair,” said Alstott, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneer fullback.
The high school student-athlete proposal follows a law enacted a year ago that pushed back on the FHSAA for clamping down on mid-school year transfers and students following coaches to new schools.
The law, sponsored by Stargel – then a member of the House – allows students-athletes to change schools at any time without having to sit out a year as was the prior rule after the first 20 days of a school year. Meanwhile it is up to the school districts to self-police themselves for recruiting violations by coaches, parents and alumni.
The FHSAA initially fought the law, noting that none of its member high schools had requested the change.
Months before the bill was introduced, the FHSAA imposed more than $62,500 in fines against the Lakeland High Dreadnaughts after seven of its athletes, including five from the school’s perennial football powerhouse, were found ineligible to play for infractions ranging from falsifying addresses, failing to make a full and complete move before enrolling, and receiving impermissible benefits that included free rent.
Stargel argued that the bill serves Florida’s student-athletes, while regulating FHSAA investigators.
By The News Service of Florida
Tate’s Rivers Signs Soccer Scholarship With Belhaven
March 24, 2013
Tate High School senior Michael Rivers has signed to play soccer with Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss.
Rivers played soccer all four years at Tate High School, with two goals and 10 assists this year for the Aggies. He was chosen as this year’s Tate Boys Soccer Scholar Athlete.
In addition to his stellar performance on the soccer field, Rivers has earned numerous awards and accolades during this four years in ROTC at Tate. He is also an Eagle Scout and a member of the Tate’s Interact, Spanish and Beta clubs.
Pictured: Tate’s Michael Rivers has signed to play soccer with Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lady Aggies Strike Out Cancer While Striking Out Pace 14-4
March 23, 2013
The Tate Lady Aggies held on to their district lead Friday night in their annual Strike Out Cancer game in front of a mostly pink crowd.
The Lady Aggies entered Friday night’s game in first place in District 1-6A. They easily beat second place Pace, 14-4. Hitters for Tate included Kaylan Rowell with a two run triple and two run double from Heather Thomason. Casey McCracken had a two-run homer on a line drive to center. Rachel Dunsford was 4-for-4 with three runs, and Lauren Brennan was 1-1 with one RBI.
The Lady Aggies are now 16-3 overall and still hold a perfect 12-0 record in the district.
The Strike Out Cancer game raised about $6,000 for cancer awareness.
Pictured: The varsity Tate Aggies (above) and the JV Tate Lady Aggies (below), who also beat Pace, sport their “Hope for Halee” bracelets prior to their annual “Strike Out Cancer” game Friday. Halee Boyd, a Tate senior, is continuing to battle a rare form of cancer. Pictured top are: (front, L-R) Rachel Wright, Casey McCraken, Bailey Burk, Amy Waters, Brooke Howell, Bridget Dall, Rachel Dunsford, (back) Jordan Barnett, Lauren Brennan, Kaylen Rowell, Tori Pekins, Heather Thomason and Brooke White. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Chipley Times Two
March 23, 2013
Northview’s varsity baseball and softball teams beat visiting Chipley on Friday.
For the Lady Chiefs, it was another one in the win column of their perfect 10-0 season. The Lady Chiefs will return to action after spring break on Monday, April 1 as they travel to Flomaton.
In baseball action, Northview beat Chipley 10-6.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Monster Truck ‘Bigfoot’ Visits Local Transmission Supplier
March 22, 2013
Bigfoot — one of the true giants in the monster truck world — made a stop at sponsor Alto Products in Atmore Thursday afternoon. Bigfoot is a world famous 4-wheel drive behemoth that achieves its superior power from Atmore-made Alto Red Eagle clutches. Alto has provided the transmission clutch plates for Bigfoot for the past 13 years.
Alto now supplies their Red Eagle racing clutches to over a dozen monster truck teams including Gravedigger, Black Stallion and Big Dawg.
NorhtEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Washington Wins Aggie Classic
March 22, 2013
The Washington Wildcats won the 20th Annual Tate Aggie Classic Thursday night, 201 over the Edmond North (OK) Wildcats.
Here’s a look at final scores from Thursday:
At Tate High
• Hueytown, AL 8, Goodpasture, TN 6
• McAdory, AL 4, Tate 2
At Escambia High
• Overton, TN 9, Jay, OK 7
• Westmoore, OK, 13, Escambia 5
At Washington High
• Navarre 1 vs. Pryor, OK, 11
At West Florida High
• Milton 15, Tahlequah, OK 5
• Washington, OK, 3, West Florida 1
At Pensacola State
•Greenwood, AR 5, Grove, OK 1
•Claremore, OK 8, Hume-Fogg, TN 1
Blue Wahoos Stadium
Third-Place Game
• Jacksonville Arlington Country Day vs. Norman North, OK ***
*** Double forfeit after six innings due to a bench clearing brawl.
Championship
• Washington 2, Edmond North, OK 1
PCA Takes First, Northview Second In Track And Field Meet
March 21, 2013
Pensacola Christian Academy won both the boy’s and girl’s track an field meets held Monday at Northview High School, while Northview placed second and J.U. Blacksher finished third.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Complete results were as follows:
GIRLS
1st Pensacola Christian Academy 90 points
2nd Northview 57 points
3rd Blacksher 26 Points
4X800
1st PCA 11:31
2nd Northview 12:33
4X100
1st Northview 54.
2nd Blacksher 1:34
4X400
1st Northview 4:52
2nd PCA 4:54
100 Hurdles
1st Floyd –Northview 17.80
2nd Lapid -PCA 24.26
3rd Sistrunk –PCA 27.36
100
1st Phillips -PCA 13.24
2nd Dean –Blacksher 13.36
3rd Fiellin –Northview 13.32
4th Kane – PCA 14.00
200
1st Kane – PCA 27.69
2nd Brown –Northview 28.44
3rd Smiley – PCA 28.45
4th Dailey –Blacksher 31.89
300 Hurdles
1st Phillips– PCA 50.80
2nd Dean –Blacksher 51.75
3rd Lapid -PCA 1:00.46
4th Bobo –Northview 1:00.83
400
1st Davis– Northview 1:09.08
2nd Marona -PCA 1:09.55
3rd Simien-PCA 1:10.82
4th McGahan –Northview 1:11.40
800
1st Buschman -PCA 2:55
2nd McGahan –Northview 2:58
3rd Brock-PCA 2:59
4th Smith-PCA 3:00
1600
1st Buschman -PCA 6:14.82
2nd Henderson –PCA 6:18.49
3rd Houk-PCA 6:52.73
4th Brock-PCA 6:53.94
3200
1st Cochran -PCA 13:28.48
2nd Henderson –PCA 13:46.53
3rd Houk-PCA 14:52.96
4th Franklin-Northview 16:04.64
High Jump
1st Floyd –Northview 4’6
2nd Marona-PCA 4’6
3rd Kane-PCA 4’0
Triple Jump
1st Floyd –Northview 29’2”
2nd Simion –PCA 28’10.5”
3rd Brown –Blacksher 26’11.5”
4th Davis-Northview 26’5.5”
Long Jump
1st Dean – Blacksher 14’2”
2nd Fiellin-Northview 13’1.75”
3rd Brown – Northview 12’11.5”
4th Brown –Blacksher 12’8.5”
Discus
1st Andrews –PCA 93’5”
2nd Anderson –Blacksher 79’11”
3rd Bates– Northview 79’5.5”
4th Gibson –PCA 72’7”
Shot Put
1st Anderson –Blacksher 30’6.5”
2nd Bates– Northview 28’8.5”
3rd Syria– Northview 27’9.5”
4th Andrews –PCA 27’4”
Pole Vault
1st Andrews –PCA 10’5”
2nd Andrews –PCA 7’3”
BOYS
1st Pensacola Christian Academy 85 points
2nd Northview 61 points
3rd Blacksher 32 Points
4X800
1st PCA 9:12
2nd Northview 11:23
4X100
1st Blacksher 49.02
2nd PCA 49.30
4X400
1st Northview 3:55.04
2nd PCA 3:55.79
100 Hurdles
1st Daniel -PCA 17.62
2nd Holland -PCA 18.11
3rd White –Northview 18.20
4th Tristan –Blacksher 19.02
100
1st Robinson –Northview 10.97
2nd Trent –Blacksher 11.37
3rd Holden –Northview 11.46
4th Bruanes – PCA 12.12
200
1st Robinson –Northview 24.20
2nd Moore–Northview 24.34
3rd Bruanes– PCA 24.41
4th Fulfer –PCA 25.20
300 Hurdles
1st Daniel– PCA 45.06
2nd Kim -PCA 46.78
3rd Creamer –Northview 49.33
4th Holland–PCA 50.30
400
1st Donobyin– PCA 58.68
2nd Newsome- Northview 58.70
3rd Sherouse –Northview 59.30
4th Grissett –Northview 59.56
800
1st Crist-PCA 2:17
2nd Johnson –Blacksher 2:18
3rd Parker-PCA 2:27
4th Detterson-PCA 2:34
1600
1st Balentine -PCA 5:14.54
2nd Carlson –PCA 5:14.92
3rd Jekel-PCA 5:15.16
4th Stewart-PCA 5:15.42
3200
1st Carlson –PCA 10:51.49
2nd Balentine -PCA 11:17.77
3rd Stewart-PCA 11:46.36
4th Johnson –Blacksher 12:39.11
High Jump
1st Newsome–Northview 6’0
2nd Robbins –Blacksher 5’10
3rd McWilliams–Northview 5’10
4th Myles–Northview 5’8
Triple Jump
1st Jaron–Northview 37’10
2ndFulfer –PCA 37’5
3rd Dean –Blacksher 35’9.5
4th Lett –Blacksher 32’7.5
Long Jump
1st Robbins – Blacksher 19’6.5
2nd Fulfer-PCA 18’6.5
3rd Trevelle– Northview 17’6
4th Myles – Northview 17’2
Discus
1st Waller –Blacksher 105’
2nd Grice– Northview 103’9.5
3rd Hershburger– PCA 94’7.5
4th Nash –Northview 90’4
Shot Put
1st Nash–Northview 41’2.5
2nd Waller –Blacksher 37’3
3rd Whitehead– Northview 35’3.5
4th Shoemaker –PCA 34’10
Pole Vault
1st Collins –PCA 10’
2nd Phillips–PCA 10’
3rd Ordway –PCA 10’
4th Sherouse-Northview 9’
Weightlifting: Four Chiefs Advance To Sectional Meet
March 20, 2013
Four Northview Chiefs qualified Tuesday to advance toward the state weightlifting finals.
La’Mikal Kyles (183-pound class), Arkelle Elliott (199), Luke McDaniel (238) and Laderious Franklin (238) all placed Tuesday at the District 1 qualifier weightlifting meet at Baker. All four advance to sectional meet on April 1st at Panama City Arnold.
Kyles placed first in his class with a 515 pound total; Elliott was second in his class with a 565 total. McDaniel was second with a 525 total, and Franklin finished third with a 485 pound total.
Justin Kite finished fourth in the 219 pound class with a 450 total and is an alternate for the sectionals.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs complete in the District 1 qualifier weightlifting meet at Baker on Tuesday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Beat Holmes County; JV Jags Over NHS
March 20, 2013
The Northview Lady Chiefs picked up varsity and JV wins Tuesday over Holmes County, while the WFHS JV Jags defeated the JV Chiefs in baseball.
SOFTBALL
Northview 5, Holmes County 3
The Northview Lady Chiefs varsity softball team continued their undefeated season with another win Tuesday night in Bratt. The Lady Chiefs defeated Holmes County 5-3 in seven innings. With the win, Northview’s varsity softball team is now 9-0.
The varsity Chiefs will be in action again on Friday as they host Chipley at 5:00.
Northview 11, Holmes County 1 (JV)
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs softball team beast Holmes County 11-1 Tuesday afternoon in Bratt. The JV Chiefs softball team will be off until after Spring Break, with their next game April 1 in Flomaton.
BASEBALL
West Florida 10, Northview 7
The JV West Florida High School Jaguars beat the Northview Chiefs Tuesday evening at Northview.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Aggie Classic Day Two
March 20, 2013
Here’s a look at Aggie Classic scores from Tuesday followed by Wednesday’s schedule in the 22-team tournament.
Cardinal Pool
Edmond North (OK) 3, Navarre 1
Hueytown (AL) 8, Jay (OK) 1
Tahlequah (OK) 9, Overton 6
Tate 9, Washington (OK) 6
Escambia 13, Hume-Fogg (TN) 2
Washington 5, Grove (OK) 1
Grey Pool
McAdory (Ala.) 6, Claremore (OK) 1
Jacksonville Arlington Country Day 10, Westmoore (OK) 2
Pryor (OK) 8, West Florida 5
Goodpasture (TN) 6, Milton 1
Norman North (OK) 8, Greenwood (AR) 1
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
At Tate High
• Greenwood vs. Pryor, 4 p.m.
• Tate vs. Grove, 7 p.m.
At Escambia High
• Good Pasture vs. Westmoore, 4 p.m.
• Escambia vs. Tahlequah, 7 p.m.
At Washington High
• Jay vs. Washington, 4 p.m.
• Edmond North vs. Hueytown, 7 p.m.
At West Florida High
• Overton vs. Washington (OK), 4 p.m.
• McAdory vs. West Florida, 7 p.m.
At Pensacola State
• Norman North vs. Milton, 4 p.m.
• Arlington Co. Day vs. Claremore, 7 p.m.
At Woodham Middle
• Hume-Fogg vs. Navarre, 7 p.m.