Hononegah forfeits Harlem win; placed on probation by IHSA for violation

[UPDATE] I’ve been told by a Hononegah administrator that Hononegah did not have to forfeit its first two wins because the IHSA determined that the ineligible player did not significantly impact the outcome of those two lopsided games, but he did have a major impact on the win against Harlem which was a much closer game, at least into the second half.

ROCKTON, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — Hononegah’s varsity football team is no longer undefeated. The Indians have been forced to forfeit their week three win over Harlem as a penalty for using an ineligible player.

Hononegah athletic director Andrew Walters made the announcement Tuesday evening in a new release. Walters said the school violated IHSA By-laws (see below) regarding transfer students. In addition to forfeiting one of its wins, Hononegah also has been placed on probation until the end of the 2024-25 school year.

The IHSA released the following statement last Friday: The school had begun, but not fully completed the appropriate eligibility paperwork related to a student-athlete’s transfer to Hononegah High School, making the student-athlete ineligible for the first three games of the season.”

Walters has been working with the IHSA to take the appropriate steps to correct the matter.

Walters stated the following in his news release: “As the Athletic Director, I take full responsibility for the oversight that led to this sanction. This athletic transfer’s timing and particular circumstances led to an oversight in my office’s protocols to ensure the student’s eligibility. I acknowledge this failure and assure our athlete and the community that we have taken immediate steps and will continue to be vigilant to ensure it does not happen again.”

In week three, Hononegah won at Harlem 38-14. Prior to that, Hononegah earned wins against Auburn and against Jefferson. Those wins still stand. Last week Hononegah defeated Guilford 35-0. That win stands. The player in question did not participate in that game. Hononegah’s record is now 3-1.

This Friday Hononegah will play at Freeport. The player in question will be eligible to play in that game now that the proper paperwork has been completed.

IHSA By-Laws that apply to this case are:
[Athletic Eligibility By-Laws]
IHSA By-Law 3.041 “In all transfer cases, both the principal of the school from which the student transfers and the school to which the student transfers must approve of the transfer and execute a form provided by the IHSA Office. This form is to be initiated and signed by the principal of the school to which the student transfers and provided to the principal of the school from which the students transfers for signature by that principal. The concurrence of the principals accepting a transfer shall not be determinative of eligibility or binding on the Executive Director and/or the Board of Directors who shall have the discretion to investigate the accuracy of such conclusion and to override the acceptance of a transfer if evidence of violation or avoidance of non-compliance with any by-law or recruiting in connection with the transfer is found. A student is not eligible to participate in an interscholastic contest until the transfer form, fully executed by both principals is on file in the office of the school to which the student transfers.”

[FORFEITURE OF CONTEST]
IHSA By-Law 6.021: The use of any ineligible participant in any scholastic contest will result in one or more of the following actions based upon the facts and findings:
(a) The ineligible participant may be suspended from further competition in that activity as
determined by the Executive Director.
(b) The specific sport during which the ineligible player was used will be placed on probation
for one calendar year.
(c) Forfeiture of the contest.

If the Executive Director or the Board of Directors determines that the facts, findings or other
information demonstrates that the ineligible student has provided the school false information upon which the student was certified to have been eligible, a penalty may be set aside or modified.

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