Prairie Seeds Academy Disqualified from State Soccer Tournament‏

According to the Minnesota State High School League Prairie Seeds Academy disqualified from state soccer tournament.

Use of an ineligible player during the entire 2012 soccer season has led the Minnesota State High
School League to disqualify Prairie Seeds Academy from the State Class A Boys’ Soccer Tournament.
 

During its investigation of an altercation that broke out following the Section 5A championship
soccer match between Prairie Seeds Academy of Brooklyn Park and Totino-Grace of Fridley, the League
received information that questioned the eligibility of a Prairie Seeds Academy player that was involved in
the post-game altercation.
 

Records showed that the student attended a different school during the 2011-12 school year and
transferred to Prairie Seeds Academy this fall. A Student Transfer Online Form was never initiated by
Prairie Seeds Academy. Thus, the student was never eligible to participate in varsity soccer, and per
League Bylaw 304—Ineligible Player, the game and honors shall be forfeited.
 

Prairie Seeds Academy defeated Totino-Grace 2-1 on Oct. 18 to advance to this week’s
quarterfinals. Prairie Seeds Academy was seeded No. 2 by the qualifying team coaches and Marshall
School of Duluth was randomly selected to face them this Friday, Oct. 26. Due to the disqualification,
Marshall School will advance to next week’s semifinal at the Metrodome. Totino-Grace will not replace
Prairie Seeds Academy because of the uncertainty of which team may have advanced earlier in the section
tournament had Prairie Seeds Academy not played.
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“The Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors and League staff are extremely
disappointed by the action of individuals immediately following, and connected directly to, the Oct. 18,
2012, Section 5A Championship Soccer Game held at Maple Grove High School,” said League Executive
Director Dave Stead. “Such behavior is not condoned and should never be a part of any high school game
or school activity.”
 

The constitution of the League provides that “… member school(s) will abide by and enforce the
Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, Bylaws and Regulations of the League.” Both Prairie Seeds
Academy and Totino-Grace have submitted 2012-2013 Resolution for Membership forms to the League
office. —MORE—
 

The constitution of the League further provides that the League Board of Directors:
 

“… has general supervision over all interscholastic contests between members of the League and
shall make arrangements for and have full charge of all state tournaments and state interscholastic meets.
 

“It shall also exercise authority over all eligibility problems and cases which are not specifically
provided for.
 

“It shall have control of all sub region, region and section contests, but each region committee is
charged with their immediate management.
 

“It shall provide penalties for violations of the bylaws of the League when they are not specific in
the Constitution and/or Activity Bylaws.
 

“It shall interpret all bylaws and provisions set forth in this Constitution, the Activity Bylaws and
other bylaws and regulations of the League. The Board may delegate this responsibility to the executive
director for periods between meetings.”
 

On Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, members of the League staff and the coaches and administrative
representatives from Prairie Seeds Academy and Totino-Grace High School met in the League office to
review and discuss the facts surrounding the altercation that occurred in the vicinity of the Totino-Grace
team bench with no time remaining on the clock at the conclusion of the Oct. 18, 2012, Section 5A
Championship Soccer Game.
 

Following a thorough, frame-by-frame review of video that was provided to the League by
Channel 12 of Northwest Community Television, Brooklyn Park, League staff and the coaches and
administrative representatives from both schools agreed that six players from each school had been
involved in the altercation in varying degrees.
 

Five players were determined to have thrown punches at or kicked players or coaches from the
opposing team, and five players were determined to have been involved to a lesser degree. It was also
agreed that two players identified in the video were not involved in the altercation.
 

League staff then reviewed the powers and duties of the League Board of Directors, the most
current League Official Handbook and the current NFHS Soccer Rules Book. Then League staff consulted
individually with members of the League Board of Directors Executive Committee, which authorized the
League executive director to take the following action:
 

Five players will be ineligible for a minimum period of four weeks;
 

Five other players will be ineligible for one game;
 

Two players will have no penalty.
 

In addition, the full League Board of Directors will review the entire incident when they meet in
regular session on Dec. 6, 2012. Additional action may be taken at that time as determined by the Board.
The League has no further comment.
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