Meeting was convened at 4:15 p.m. by Chairman Majikes
ITEM 1 Chairman Majikes called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m. He began by welcoming the newest two members to the District II Committee, Tim Hopkins, Principal of Dunmore High School; and, Brian Durkin, Athletic Director of Forest City High School.
Absent, but accounted for: Chad Vinansky
ITEM 2 A motion was made by Fred Barletta, seconded by Ben Tolerico, to approve the minutes of the August 21, 2017 meeting. All Ayes
ITEM 3 Pat Patte, District II Treasurer, presented the Treasurer’s Report as of September 20, 2017. As of that date the district has a balance of $276,599.25. Our total Certificates of Deposit are $12,725.294. The District also has a Money Market Account totaling $66,760.05, and Checking Account totaling $197,114.18. The total current balance currently stands at $276,599.52.
A motion was made by Maureen Williams, seconded by Jay Starnes, to approve the Treasurer’s Report as presented. All Ayes
ITEM 4SPORTS REPORTS
.
· Baseball (Frank Majikes): Frank Majikes provided the group with an update on the scheduling of the District II Championships at PNC Field. As reported last meeting, the Rail Riders are scheduled to play at home on Memorial Day in 2018. The stadium management is working with Frank on alternative dates and scheduling.
· Basketball (Frank Majikes): Frank Majikes reported that all is set with the Mohegan Sun Arena for the scheduling of the 2018 District II Basketball Championships.
· Cheerleading (Chris Gegaris): Cheerleading Chairperson Chris Gegaris informed the committee that the date for this year’s District Competitive Cheer Championships is Sunday, December 3rd. He is encouraging all District II Schools to send a squad to the competition. Squads will have the opportunity to compete under exhibition status. He commented that a number of schools participated in that manner in their first year of competition in order to acclimate themselves to the Championship Competition format.
· Cross Country (Bill King): Cross Country Chairperson Bill King reviewed the Cross Country Championship format with the Committee. A motion was made by Mary Ruth Tanner, seconded by Ron Collins, to approve the format as reviewed. All Ayes. The format will be distributed to the Athletic Directors and placed on the webpage. A reminder that this year’s site is once again Lakeland High School.
· Field Hockey (Chris Gegaris): Field Hockey Chairperson Chris Gegaris presented the format for this year’s Field Hockey Championships. A motion was made by Pat Patte, seconded by Mary Ruth Tanner, to approve the format as discussed. All Ayes. It will be posted on the webpage and sent to the Athletic Directors.
· Football (Mike Ognosky): Football Chairperson Mike Ognosky updated the committee on the status of the regular season following the fourth weekend of competition. It appears that the race for playoff spots will be very competitive as the season moves forward.
· Soccer (Brian Durkin): New Soccer Chairperson Brian Durkin led a discussion regarding areas of concern following last year’s championships, in particular, the scheduling of championship venues. In last year’s format the higher seed served as the home team throughout the tournament, including the championship games. The officers will work with Brian in the next few days in developing the dates for this year’s tournament. They will then be released to the schools. Following discussion, a motion was made by Bill Schoen, seconded by Ron Collins, to have the format remain consistent with the first year of the two year cycle in 2017 and to have it released to the schools following the establishment of this year’s dates. All Ayes.
· Girls Tennis (John Coyle): John Coyle informed the committee that all is set for the upcoming Girls’ Championships. The format was approved last meeting and has been distributed to the member schools.
· Girls’ Volleyball (Maureen Williams): Maureen Williams presented the format for the District Volleyball Girls’ Championships. A motion was made by Eric Emmerich, seconded by Dave Novrocki, to approve the format as presented. All Ayes. It will be distributed to the Athletic Directors and posted on the website.
· Wrestling (Jay Starnes): Jay has an upcoming meeting with the new leadership at the Kingston Armory in preparation for this year’s Wrestling Individual Championships.
· Awards (Bill Schoen): The medals have all been made and are ready for the various sports’ chairpersons for pick up at Honor Awards. Anyone needing assistance in that process should contact Bill Schoen.
· Athletic Directors (Fred Barletta & Brian Durkin): Chairman Majikes reminded the Athletic Director Representatives to caution their Athletic Directors to carefully review the eligibility of each student-athlete (grades & attendance) as we move into the 2017-2018 season. There have already been instances where schools have allowed ineligible students to participate in contests. That has resulted in a number of forfeits being awarded.
ITEM 5 The following eligibility requests were acted upon by the District II
Committee:
· A motion was made by Fred Barletta, seconded by Chris Gegaris, to approve the immediate eligibility of Shane Allen, Western Wayne to North Pocono, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made Pat Patte, seconded by John Haas, to approve the immediate eligibility of Taaj Quaadir Blan, from Glen Mills to Riverside, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Ron Collins, seconded by Dave Novrocki, to approve the immediate eligibility of Julia Rae Daily, Scranton Prep to Wyoming Seminary, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Brian Durkin, seconded by Tim Hopkins, to approve the immediate eligibility of Alexis Dalesandro, Hazleton Area to MMI, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Maureen Williams, seconded by Fred Barletta, to approve the immediate eligibility of Christopher D’Andrea, Myrtle Beach to Wallenpaupack, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by John Coyle, seconded by Eric Emmerich, to approve the immediate eligibility of Gregorio Delevon, Hanover Area to Coughlin, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Chris Gegaris, seconded by John Haas, to approve the immediate eligibility of Bree Edwards, Honesdale to Scranton Prep, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Dave Novrocki, seconded by Maureen Williams, to approve the immediate eligibility of Nolee-Aha Grabowski, Montessori to North Pocono, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Maureen Williams, seconded by Pat Patte, to approve the immediate eligibility of Tyler Grabowski, Montessori to North Pocono, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Fred Barletta, seconded by Chris Gegaris, to approve the immediate eligibility of Dylan Gray, Colver HS to Wallenpaupack, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by John Haas, seconded by Dave Novrocki to approve the immediate eligibility of Emma Hivner, Abington Heights to Lackawanna Trail, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Pat Patte, seconded by Maureen Williams, to approve the immediate eligibility of Owen Hivner, Lackawanna Trail to Abington Heights, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Maureen Williams, to approve the immediate eligibility of Cynthia Klaiss, Wyoming Area to Wallenpaupack, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by John Haas, seconded by Chris Gegaris, to approve the immediate eligibility of Jade Krause, Valley View to Holy Cross, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Tim Hopkins, seconded by Ron Collins, to approve the immediate eligibility of Mackenzie LeBeux, Bulloch Academy to Holy Redeemer, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off, pending the completion of the appropriate paperwork. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Eric Emmerich, seconded by Ben Tolerico, to approve the immediate eligibility of Andrew Lehman, Crestwood to Wyoming Seminary, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Chris Gegaris, seconded by Pat Patte, to approve the immediate eligibility of Joshua Lynch, Scranton Prep to Lakeland, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Ben Tolerico, seconded by Mary Ruth Tanner, to approve the immediate eligibility of Homanic Lyons, GAR to Coughlin, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Fred Barletta, seconded by Dave Novrocki, to approve the immediate eligibility of Taylor Marecki, Forest City to Carbondale, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by John Haas, seconded by Maureen Williams, to approve the immediate eligibility of Damon Martin, Mid Valley to Abington Heights, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Ron Collins, seconded by Eric Emmerich, to approve the immediate eligibility of Nicholas Matthews, Wyoming Seminary to Tunkhannock, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Chris Gegaris, seconded by Pat Patte, to approve the immediate eligibility of Kaitlyn McClintock, Goshen to Wallenpaupack, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by John Haas, seconded by Maureen Williams, to approve the immediate eligibility of Brooke McElheny, Western Wayne to Wallenpaupack, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Dave Novrocki, seconded by John Haas, to approve the immediate eligibility of Adam Murphy, Scranton to Riverside, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Eric Emmerich, seconded by Chris Gegaris, to approve the immediate eligibility of Mason Murray, Pittston Area to Riverside, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Tim Hopkins, seconded by Mary Ruth Tanner, to approve the immediate eligibility of Glenda Olivares, Meyers to Holy Redeemer, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Mary Ruth Tanner, seconded by Brian Durkin, to approve the immediate eligibility of Daniel Pacchioli, Immanuel School to MMI, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Eric Emmerich, to approve the immediate eligibility of Harrison Pearis, Scranton Prep to Wyoming Seminary, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Ron Collins, seconded by Bill Schoen, to approve the immediate eligibility of Christopher Pinkowski, Hanover Area to Holy Redeemer, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Mary Ruth Tanner, seconded by Brian Durkin, to approve the immediate eligibility of Klana Price, Wyoming Seminary to Lake-Lehman, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Bill King, seconded by Eric Emmerich, to approve the immediate eligibility of Abuss Rabo, GAR to Meyers, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Ron Collins, seconded by Mary Ruth Tanner, to approve the immediate eligibility of Elijah Rivers, Wyoming Valley West to Meyers, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Fred Barletta, seconded by Maureen Williams, to approve the immediate eligibility of Elena Rollison-Martinez, Scranton to Abington Heights, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Pat Patte, seconded by Chris Gegaris, to approve the immediate eligibility of Marco Rollison-Martinez, Scranton to Abington Heights, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Bill Schoen, seconded by Eric Emmerich, to approve the immediate eligibility of Dawson Sensenig, Garden Spot to Dallas, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Joseph Farrell, seconded by Ben Tolerico, to approve the immediate eligibility of Sally Smith, Tunkhannock to Wyoming Area, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Brian Durkin, seconded by Pat Patte, to approve the immediate eligibility of Gabriel Springer, Meyers to Wallenpaupack, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Dave Novrocki, seconded by John Haas, to approve the immediate eligibility of Daniel Stine, Western Wayne to North Pocono, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Bill Schoen, seconded by Eric Emmerich, to approve the immediate eligibility of Pat Zarola, Dallas to Holy Redeemer, in accordance with Article VI, Transfers and Residence, principal to principal sign off. All Ayes
ITEM 6 The following Foreign Exchange eligibility requests were acted upon by the District II Committee:
· A motion was made by Tim Hopkins, seconded by Brian Durkin, to approve the immediate eligibility of Mauricio Contu Barreda, Mexico to Wyoming Valley West, in accordance with Article VII, Foreign Exchange Students. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Bill Schoen, seconded by Joseph Farrell, to approve the immediate eligibility of Nicholas Chaulet, France to Tunkhannock, in accordance with Article VII, Foreign Exchange Students. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Maureen Williams, seconded by Pat Patte, to approve the immediate eligibility of Victoria Harnisch, Brazil to Wallenpaupack, in accordance with Article VII, Foreign Exchange Students. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Ron Collins, seconded by Bill King, to approve the immediate eligibility of Alba Trillo Izauierso, Spain to Wyoming Valley West, in accordance with Article VII, Foreign Exchange Students. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Dave Novrocki, seconded by John Haas, to approve the immediate eligibility of Malin Aaron Kussi, Mexico to North Pocono, in accordance with Article VII, Foreign Exchange Students. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Bill Schoen, seconded by Ron Colllins, to approve the immediate eligibility of Martina Paredas, Argentina to Lake-Lehman, in accordance with Article VII, Foreign Exchange Students. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Mary Ruth Tanner, seconded by Tim Hopkins, to approve the immediate eligibility of Guilherme Pinto, Brazil to Wyoming Valley West, in accordance with Article VII, Foreign Exchange Students. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Brian Durkin, seconded by Eric Emmerich, to approve the immediate eligibility of Giacolo Rossi, Italy to Wyoming Valley West, in accordance with Article VII, Foreign Exchange Students. All Ayes
· A motion was made by Bill Schoen, seconded by Bill King, to approve the immediate eligibility of Vittorio Sica, Italy to Tunkhannock, in accordance with Article VII, Foreign Exchange Students. All Ayes
ITEM 7 Chairman Majikes distributed to the committee a request from Wyoming Area regarding sideline personnel during football games. Wyoming Area provided their current policy to Frank and asked that the PIAA State Office review it. The PIAA Office reported that there was nothing in the Wyoming Area policy outside of any policies or procedures that the PIAA currently have in place. PIAA policy states that the Principal, Athletic Director, Coaches, Team Physician, Team Trainer, Players, Managers, Ball Holders, and Statisticians are the only persons permitted in the team box during district and inter-district football contests.
ITEM 8 Chairman Majikes presented to the committee information regarding the recent forfeiture of contests in District II because of the utilization of an ineligible player. Five (5) member schools have forfeited contests in the sports of Football, Golf, and Boys Soccer due to infractions regarding ineligible participation in PIAA contests. Chairman Majikes emphasized to member schools that they should carefully review end of the year grades and attendance of all student-athletes. That is especially true in the transition from the end of one year to the beginning of the next. Following discussion, a motion was made by Maureen Williams, seconded by Bill Schoen, commending the administrations of the schools for their self-reporting of the instances and the remedies they have put in place in order to ensure they will not reoccur.
ITEM 9 Chairman Majikes distributed the most recent ejection report provided by the PIAA State Office regarding early season contests. As of September 20, 2017 there have been 16 ejections (disqualifications) of PIAA District II athletes and/or coaches. All of the disqualifications were in the sport of Soccer and included 14 Varsity Boys Soccer player ejections; 1 Junior Varsity Boys player ejection; 1 Junior Varsity Boys Coach ejection; and, 1 Varsity Girls Soccer player ejection. Following discussion, the committee felt a much closer look into the soccer ejections must be undertaken.
ITEM 13 A motion was made by Bill Schoen, seconded by Maureen Williams, to adjourn the meeting. All Ayes
Meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
NEXT MEETING – WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017 – 4:15 PM –
SITE TO BE DETERMINED
Submitted by
Mike Ognosky
District II Secretary