CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – West Virginia’s governing body for high school sports is asking the state’s highest court to overturn a second, lower court ruling in hopes of clearing the way for high school football playoffs in the Mountain State.
The most recent petition seeks to overturn a Mason County court injunction, which had called for play-in games this weekend involving Capital, St. Albans and Point Pleasant from our area.
The Mason County injunction sought to restore Point Pleasant’s place in the AAA playoffs, after a Saturday injunction from Wood County changed playoff match-ups, the number of playoff points teams received and eliminated Point Pleasant among three other schools, all before the playoffs began.
The SSAC is asking the state Supreme Court of Appeals to overturn both injunctions.
Meanwhile, state Supreme Court Justice William R. Wooten has recused himself from considering the Wood County case.
The SSAC argues the Mason County injunction extends, but does not overturn, the Wood County ruling. It further argues by overturning the Wood County decision, Point Pleasant would be in the playoffs and there would no longer be a need for the Mason County ruling.
The SSAC has asked the Supreme Court for an expedited ruling in both cases.
Additionally, Chief Justice Tim Armstead has asked for any objections to his participation in either case, noting his relationship with a former SSAC board member and his nephew’s participation in high school football, albeit on a team that did not qualify for the playoffs.
Armstead writes he is of the opinion there is no basis for his disqualification, however, to avoid any issues he asked for any objections to be filed by noon Friday. No word on if any objections were filed.
The dispute dates back new classifications and some schools being reclassified just before the season started.
Wood County argues the new classifications did not respect game contracts more than a year old.
Larger schools say with out the Wood County ruling, some teams would lose home field advantage, a cost to the schools and local communities.
Meanwhile, there remains talk of two potential play-in games for Saturday involving Point Pleasant, Capital and St. Albans from our region.
However, everything will remain in limbo until the court acts.
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