I-Team: Armwood High School set to announce whether it will challenge FHSAA findings

Hillsborough County School officials are set to announce Tuesday whether they intend to challenge a Florida High School Athletic Association investigation which will likely cost Armwood High School its Division 6A state championship.

 

It was an I-Team investigation which prompted the probe. 

 

Last fall, ABC Action News uncovered evidence that senior Jack Lightsey and his family falsified documents to enroll at the school and that the family failed to make a “full and complete” from their Orlando home to the Armwood school district in violation of FHSAA rules.

 

The ensuing FHSAA investigation uncovered at least five players on Armwood undefeated championship team didn’t legally live in the school district.

 

Armwood had 10-business days to respond to the to the FHSAA findings. 

 

Since the state athletic association issued its report, Armwood Principal Michael Ippolito has conducted his own review of the situation.  Armwood faces heavy fines and would be forced to forfeit its state championship if the findings are upheld.

 

According to the FHSAA investigation, parents of the five students falsified paperwork and provided false statement to an investigator.  The report also claims Head Coach Sean Callahan met with the parents of Lightsey before he transferred to Armwood which would violate FHSAA rules.  In another case, the report alleges Callahan knew a student practicing with the team didn’t live in the school district.