Meeting was convened at 4:15 p.m. by Chairman Majikes.
ITEM 1 Chairman Majikes called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
Absent but accounted for: Danielle DePietro, Fred Barletta, Jay Starnes, Chris Thomas, and Chad Vinansky.
ITEM 2 A motion was made by Maureen Williams, seconded by Ben Tolerico, to approve the minutes of the February 15, 2017 meeting as submitted. All Ayes
ITEM 3 Pat Patte, District II Treasurer, reported that all checks are out for the District II Winter Championships with the exception of the workers checks for the Championship Basketball games played at the Mohegan Sun Arena. He is awaiting the final report from Arena officials and will send out the final checks when it is received.
ITEM 4 SPORTS REPORTS:
· Baseball (Frank Majikes): Frank Majikes reviewed the championship game schedule at PNC Field. With the increase to 6 classifications the Championship games will now be played on Sunday and Monday. There will be 3 games each day with the schedule to be announced shortly.
· Basketball (Frank Majikes): In reaction to an article in the Citizens Voice following the District Championships, Frank Majikes emphasized that the 6A subregional tournament is the avenue for advancement in the state tournament provided for our 6A teams. All of our 6A teams were entered into that subregional and had the opportunity to advance by winning the championship.
· Lacrosse (Mark Rinaldi): Mark Rinaldi led a discussion regarding our AAA Lacrosse teams and the crowning of a District II AAA Lacrosse Champion in both.. In Boys AAA we have one team (Delaware Valley) and in Girls AAA we have two teams (Delaware Valley & Hazleton Area). In both we are entered into a subregional tournament with District XI. After discussion a motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Mark Rinaldi, as follows: In AAA Girls, Hazleton Area and Delaware Valley will play each other for the right to be the District II representative in the subregional with the winner being named the District II Champion. In AAA Boys, Delaware Valley will have to win at least one game in the subregional in order to be the District II Champion, or the championship will remain vacant. All Ayes
· Softball (Pat Patte): Pat Patte explained that preparations have started for the 2017 District II Softball Championships. Following a meeting of the Softball Committee, the format will be released to the schools.
· Tennis (Bill Schoen & John Coyle): Mike Ognosky presented the format for the 2017 District II Boys Tennis Championships and reviewed it with the committee. A motion was made by Pat Patte, seconded by Mary Ruth Tanner, to approve the format. All Ayes.
The format will be sent out to the Athletic Directors and placed on the webpage.
· Volleyball (Maureen Williams): Maureen Williams presented the format for the 2017 District II Boys Volleyball Championships and reviewed it with the committee. A motion was made by Bill Schoen, seconded by Ben Tolerico, to approve the format. All Ayes. The format will be sent out to the Athletic Directors and placed on the webpage.
· Track & Field (Danielle DiPietro): Frank Majikes led a discussion on the potential elimination of the free entry for each school that is eligible in each event. Following discussion, it was agreed that no action on this issue would be taken at today’s meeting, but it would remain as an agenda item for a future meeting.
· Officials (Bill Schoen & Maureen Williams): Maureen & Bill announced that online testing is now available for certification as a sports’ official in various PIAA sports. Cost per test is $30. They also announced that we had two state championship crews at this year’s PIAA Boys & Girls Basketball Championships. John Leighton, Jack Bonczewski, and Jason Williams worked the Boys AA Championship; and, Ray Boynton, Stacey Williams, and Joe Zelinske worked the Girls AAA game. Congratulations!!
ITEM 5 At this point in the meeting, the District II Committee moved from their regular business in order to conduct an eligibility hearing regarding Kevin Lewis, Blue Ridge High School. Blue Ridge, on behalf of the student, is requesting a waiver for the Spring Sports’ Season for Kevin Lewis under Article VIII of the PIAA By-Laws, Period of Participation. The hearing began at 4:50 p.m. The hearing moved to private session at the request of both schools. Following the hearing and subsequent deliberation, the Committee returned to public session at 5:40 p.m.
A motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Maureen Williams, to grant a waiver of Article VIII of the PIAA By-Laws, Period of Participation, and providing immediate eligibility to Kevin Lewis. 11 Yes, 3 No
ITEM 6 The Committee acted upon the following requests for eligibility:
· A motion was made by Eric Emmerich, seconded by Mark Rinaldi, to approve the immediate eligibility of Isaac Clark, Montrose to Tunkhannock, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers, Residence, and Recruiting, principal to principal sign off, of the PIAA By-Laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Ron Collins, seconded by Pat Patte, to approve the immediate eligibility of Rebecca Cruciani, Wyoming Seminary to Holy Cross, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers, Residence, and Recruiting, principal to principal sign off, of the PIAA By-Laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by John Coyle, seconded by Bill King, to approve the immediate eligibility of Noah Galasky, Scranton Prep to Abington Heights, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers, Residence, and Recruiting, principal to principal sign off, of the PIAA By-Laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Chris Gegaris, seconded by Joe Farrell, to approve the immediate eligibility of Abigail McDaniel, Meyers to Wyoming Seminary, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers, Residence, and Recruiting, principal to principal sign off, of the PIAA By-Laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Mary Ruth Tanner, seconded by Maureen Williams, to approve the immediate eligibility of Diego Rojas, Dunmore to Riverside, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers, Residence, and Recruiting, principal to principal sign off, of the PIAA By-Laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Bill Schoen, seconded by John Coyle, to approve the immediate eligibility of Tmothy Szawlowski, John F. Kennedy High School in Long Island, N.Y. to Wallenpaupack, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers, Residence, and Recruiting, principal to principal sign off, of the PIAA By-Laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Eric Emmerich, seconded by Ron Collins, to approve the immediate eligibility of Amaya Trapeano, Holy Cross to Dunmore, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers, Residence, and Recruiting, principal to principal sign off, of the PIAA By-Laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Mark Rinaldi, seconded by Joe Farrell, to approve the immediate eligibility of Colin Walsh, Scranton to Holy Cross, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers, Residence, and Recruiting, principal to principal sign off, of the PIAA By-Laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Pat Patte, seconded by Chris Gegairs, to approve the immediate eligibility of Krystine Wolfe, Berwick to Wyoming Area, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers, Residence, and Recruiting, principal to principal sign off, of the PIAA By-Laws. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Pat Patte, seconded by John Haas, to approve the immediate eligibility of Corey Miller, Holy Cross to West Scranton, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers, Residence, and Recruiting, principal to principal sign off, of the PIAA By-Laws. All Ayes
ITEM 7 The Committee acted upon the following Foreign Exchange Student eligibility requests:
· A motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Mark Rinaldi, to approve the immediate eligibility of Mareire Eberth, Germany to Wallenpaupack, in accordance with Article VII of the PIAA By-Laws, Foreign Exchange Students. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Ben Tolerico, seconded by Mary Ruth Tanner, to approve the immediate eligibility of Emilia Nieto, Spain to Wallenpaupack, in accordance with Article VII of the PIAA By-Laws, Foreign Exchange Students. All Ayes
· A motion was made by John Coyle, seconded by Chris Gegaris, to approve the immediate eligibility of Pakapol Sangsukmonti, Thailand to Wallenpaupack, in accordance with Article VII of the PIAA By-Laws, Foreign Exchange Students. All Ayes
ITEM 8 Chairman Majikes informed the committee that a recent District II decision to deny a transfer of a student to Wyoming Seminary was reversed upon appeal by the PIAA State Committee.
ITEM 9 Chairman Majikes reviewed the recent actions taken at the March 22, 2017 PIAA Board of Directors meeting held at the State Basketball Championships in Hershey. Complete minutes of that meeting can be found on the District II Webpage at www.piaad2.org.
ITEM 10 Chairman Majikes reminded the Winter Sports’ Chairs that the PIAA Winter Sports’ Workshops are scheduled for Wednesday, April 5th at the PIAA State Offices.
ITEM 11 Mark Rinaldi asked that the District II Secretary communicate the April 7th deadline for the submission of the Spring Sports’ Eligibility Lists by each school’s Athletic Director. An email will be sent out on April 4th as a reminder.
ITEM 12 Chairman Majikes provided the committee with a letter from Jack Lyons, Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach at West Scranton, thanking the committee for providing such a great experience for our local teams at the Mohegan Sun Arena for the District Boys & Girls Basketball Championships.
ITEM 13 A motion was made by Bill Schoen, seconded by Bill King, approving a request for a cooperative sponsorship for Girls’ Lacrosse between Wilkes-Barre Coughlin and Wilkes-Barren Meyers for the 2016-17 season. All Ayes
ITEM 14 Reminder that the Annual Business Meeting is set for Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at Arcaro & Genel’s in Old Forge. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, April 18th at the Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technology Center in order to review plans for the Annual Business Meeting.
ITEM 15 Chairman Majikes shared with the Committee a letter from St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton thanking the Committee for their donation to the Center in memory of Suzanne Pusateri, wife of long time PIAA District II Board Member, Joseph Pusateri.
ITEM 16 Chairman Majikes reviewed the various Spring Sports’ Subregionals involving District II sports. We have subregionals with District XI in the following sports: AAA Boys Volleyball, A Baseball, AAA Boys & Girls Lacrosse, and A & AAAAA Softball. We have subregionals with District IV in the following sports: AAA Tennis, AAAAAA Softball, and AAAAAA Baseball.
ITEM 17 A motion was made by John Coyle, seconded by Ron Collins, to adjourn the meeting. All Ayes
Meeting was adjourned at 6:38 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mike Ognosky
Mike Ognosky
District II Secretary