By Marc Raimondi and Joseph Staszewski
Bishop Ford and Christ the King should forfeit their unplayed girls’ basketball games against Nazareth following Naz Coach Apache Paschall’s death, the CHSAA Eligibility and Infractions Committee recommended Friday.
The final ruling is set to be made by the principal’s committee Wednesday, the New York Post reported.
Christ the King Principal Peter Mannarino, who was e-mailed the ruling, said he didn’t agree with the recommendation but wanted to convey this was not the final decision.
“The committee can only make a recommendation,” Mannarino said. “The principals have to make a vote on it. I don’t know why this was thought of as the final outcome.”
Paschall died Jan. 3 of cardiac arrest after a four-month battle with skin cancer and the Ford administration believed playing its game with Nazareth Jan. 5 was too soon. Christ the King’s administration believed the same about its game with Naz Jan. 7, which also happened to be Nazareth’s homecoming. CK President Mike Michel said at the time he was given information that Paschall would be buried the day of that game.
Nazareth players, coaches and administration all wanted to play, saying it would be therapeutic for the players. Nazareth athletic director Rochelle Murphy then filed a grievance with CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens asking for forfeits. She declined comment on the committee until she reads the actual ruling.
Bishop Ford athletic director Pete Goyco said no explanation was given by the committee for its decision. He was unsure if they ruled solely on the fact that a game was not played or took into account the reasons why Ford and Christ the King chose not to play.
“We can’t understand it until it is really explained to us,” Goyco said. “Our attitude is to wait and see what really happens. We hope that when it comes down to it, [the principals] understand our position. We did it out of respect, being a Catholic school, with another Catholic school and a gentleman who not only impacted kids on their team, but kids on our team.”
Mannarino said he will protest the recommendation with his fellow principals.
“I’m going to state my case again that the reason why Christ the King did not play was because the information we had was that their coach was being buried that day,” Mannarino said. “Out of respect to the coach, we would not play.”
