OHSAA responds to injunctions, rule brothers ineligible for remainder of season, three are pending and one is approved

Gavel and gavel block with Lady Justice in the background. (Photo: David Talukdar/Getty Images)

CANTON, Ohio -- Six Massillon High School football players filed for and were granted an injunction after the OHSAA ruled them ineligible for the remainder of the 2026 season. 

They were expected to have a hearing on Tuesday, October 6, to determine if any met the 12 exceptions applied by the OHSAA bylaw 4-7-2, Exception 1. 

In a recent filing dated October 2 in Stark County Common Pleas Court, the OHSAA, in response to the injunctions, has deemed two of the players ineligible for the remainder of the season. 

One other player from Euclid High School was approved to play for the remainder of the season, and three others are still pending, according to court documents. 

The two players ruled ineligible were from Hoban High School and were offered an expedited appeal hearing on October 2 but did not respond or appeal the denial. They have not exhausted their administrative remedies, and their request for judicial intervention is premature. 

The email for the Oct. 2 expedited hearing was sent to Brian Pachis, Athletic Director for Massillon City Schools, from Kristin Ronai and mentioned that Alexis Holderman would assist him with scheduling. 

The parent of the brothers purchased a home on April 26, 2026, and enrollment paperwork was submitted the next day; however, their Exception 1 application was not filed until July 29, three months after the move. 

The OHSAA investigated, requested additional documentation, and ultimately denied the application on September 28; the evidence by the OHSAA "demonstrated that the move did not compel the transfer; rather, the desire to transfer compelled the move." 

The Euclid High School transfer moved to Massillon on May 1, 2026; his Exception 1 application was not submitted until August 21, and the OHSAA approved the application. 

The St. Vincent-St. Mary transfer moved to the Massillon School District on June 1, and the Exception 1 application was not submitted until August 21; this is still pending. 

The Nordonia High School transfer moved to Massillon on June 1, and the Exception 1 application was not submitted until August 25; this is still pending. 

The second transfer from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School transferred on July 31 but did not submit the Exception 1 application until September 15, 2026; this is still pending. 

The filing also stated that each of the applications was submitted between six weeks and nearly four months after the family's move. 

When the transfers filed the suit, the OHSAA had not decided on any of their exception request.

**Again, this is the OHSAA response to the plaintiffs' filing on September 25 for TPO or temporary injunction, which was granted by Chryssa Hartnett, the presiding judge**

THIS IS NOT THE FINAL RULING!