FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2008


FHSAA penalizes West Oaks Academy for violations in football, boys basketball programs

GAINESVILLE – The Florida High School Athletic Association has penalized West Oaks Academy of Orlando for violations in its football and boys basketball programs. The two separate cases involve violations of FHSAA eligibility rules. Because the school already is on restrictive probation for a prior eligibility violation in its boys basketball program, West Oaks also has been cited as having an athletic program operating without administrative control.

Penalties for the most recent violations include written reprimand, mandatory forfeiture of all contests in which ineligible student-athletes participated, four years of restrictive probation in all sports and fines totaling $26,550.

The first case involves an ineligible student-athlete ("Student-Athlete A") who was permitted to represent West Oaks in three varsity football games during the 2007 season. "Student-Athlete A" was ineligible because:

(a) He was not a student at West Oaks;

(b) His four-year limit of high school eligibility ended at the conclusion of last school year;

(c) He participated under another student-athlete's name wearing that student-athlete's jersey number; and

(d) His name was not included in the school's annual eligibility list filed with the FHSAA Office.

The second case involves two student-athletes("Student-Athletes B and C") in the West Oaks boys basketball program.

"Student-Athlete B" was ineligible because:

(a) He attended two other schools during the current school year before finally enrolling at West Oaks; and

(b) He participated in 19 games during the first semester even though he did not have the mandatory 2.0 cumulative grade-point average.

"Student-Athlete C", although eligible, participated in 19 games before his name was reported to the FHSAA Office on the school's annual eligibility list.

In determining the penalties, the FHSAA Office considered the seriousness of the violations and the fact that the school already was on probation for prior violations. In his letter of findings to the school dated Jan. 18, 2008, FHSAA Executive Director John A. Stewart wrote: "The serious probationary status and the large fines are due to the egregiousness of the violations and the violation of the current probationary status." Stewart also wrote: "(West Oak Academy's) athletic program is determined to be an athletic program without administrative oversight." The penalties are as follows:

1. Reprimand.

2. West Oak's entire athletic program is placed on restrictive probation for the remainder for the 2007-08 school year and continuing through the conclusion of the 2010-11 school year. Restrictive probation is a period of warning during which the school's athletic program is restricted in some manner and further violations committed by the school could result in more severe penalties than would normally be imposed. The restrictions imposed on West Oaks are:
• No teams in any sport will be allowed to participate in FHSAA state championship series competitions;
• No teams in any sport will be allowed to participate in preseason classics or jamborees (all teams will be limited to regular season contests only);
• No teams in any sport will be allowed to participate against out-of-state teams during regular season contests or tournaments; and
• The school's principal and athletic director will be required to attend the FHSAA Compliance Seminar in each year of the probationary period.

3. The school is fined $26,550 as follows:
• $2,500 for each of the three football games in which "Student-Athlete A" participated even though he did not attend West Oaks ($7,500 total);
• $1,500 for each of the three football games in which "Student-Athlete A" participated under a name other than his own ($4,500 total);
• $2,500 for each of the three football games in which "Student-Athlete A" participated even though his limit of eligibility had expired ($7,500 total);
• $50 for each of the three football games in which "Student-Athlete A" participated without his name being reported to the FHSAA Office on the school's annual eligibility report ($150 total);
• $2,500 for the participation of Student-Athlete B in 19 boys basketball games as an ineligible transfer student;
• $2,500 for the participation of Student-Athlete B in 19 boys basketball games as an academically ineligible student;
• $50 for each of the 19 boys basketball games in which Student-Athlete B participated without his name being reported to the FHSAA Office on the school's annual eligibility report ($950 total); and
• $50 for each of the 19 boys basketball games in which Student-Athlete C participated without his name being reported to the FHSAA Office on the school's annual eligibility report ($950 total).

4. The school is required to forfeit the three football games in which Student-Athlete A participated and the 19 boys basketball games in which Student-Athlete C participated.

5. Student-Athlete A loses his amateur status for a period of one year.

6. Student-Athlete C remains ineligible, both as a transfer student and academically, until proper FHSAA procedures have been followed to regain his eligibility.

FHSAA bylaws ensure the school's right to appeal the findings of the Executive Director, as well as the penalties imposed. West Oaks already has filed its notice of appeal. The school's hearing before the FHSAA Board of Directors has been scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008 at the Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building in Gainesville.

» click here to download the public report (18 ppg., PDF, 907 K)

About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida.  It has a membership of more than 700 middle and senior high schools. More information is available at www.fhsaa.org.

Contacts:
Jack Watford
Associate Executive Director
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org