I-TEAM: State Representative wants end rules banning sports related high school transfers

A State Representative from Lakeland says the way to solve the problem of students illegally transferring for sports related reasons is to do away with the rules.

When the Florida High School Athletic Association ruled last month three students playing for the Lakeland High School "Dreadnoughts" were "ineligible" because they and their parents falsified their home addresses so they could play for the football powerhouse, it angered a lot of people.

It's the job of the FHSAA to enforce rules requiring students to actually live in the school district where they attend class.

But now, angry local residents are resulting in an angry State Representative.

Lakeland Republican Kelli Stargel is filing legislation that will all together get rid of rules requiring student athletes to live in their school district.

 "I did get angry.  I got upset for the kids who had no involvement in this situation," says Stargel.

"If the parent initiated it and the parent wanted to have their child involved in this school then provided the school district approved the transfer it's done there is no more FHSAA involvement," Stargel says.

But the Florida High School Athletic Association believes Stargel’s bill will turn the high school sports scene into the Wild West with schools creating all star teams of the very best players.

The FHSAA is already investigating Armwood High School after the I-Team uncovered the parents of senior Jack Lightsey may have falsified documents claiming a Seffner apartment as their legal address when in fact the couple's continues to own a homesteaded home in Orlando where they are registered to vote.

As Armwood won the state's 6A championship, the state probe expanded over questions about the residency of several other Armwood players.

Roger Dearing is Executive Director of the FHSAA and says "We're about making sure everyone has a fair and equitable chance to participate in athletics but they do it the right way.  Honestly depending on where you live, grades and so forth."

Dearing says he and his organization will push forward with the Armwood and other investigations despite what he describes as "push back" from members of the state legislature.

As for Armwood, its principal is quoted as saying he's not going to comment on the investigation until it's over.