BARTOW, FL -- Several parents gathered in a circle, held hands and prayed; just like at the beginning of a ball game. But Tuesday morning, they prepared for a big announcement outside the Polk County Courthouse.
The parents - some wearing Kathleen High School colors of red, white and black - through lawyer Joseph Brown, said they were filing an injunction in court against the Florida High School Athletics Association.
The week before, because of FHSAA rules, the school was forced to forfeit 6 games the football team won this season. The school itself had told FHSAA why: Because a student who played, wasn't supposed to because he was failing Algebra. The team, so far, is 8-0. A win this Friday, and if the games still counted, would result in the team clinching a shot at the division championship title.
Brown told reporters the senior student was making up for the F with a D. He also said three Bartow High School faculty members were guilty of looking up Kathleen High football players' personal records; the school's athletic director, head football coach, and a guidance counselor.
Bartow High School principal Ronald Pritchard told abcactionnews.com no one at his school, so far, has been disciplined nor lost their job over the accusations. He said he hoped to comment in the near future - but could not Tuesday, in the midst of an investigation.
Meanwhile, the parents are hoping they can win back their games - as they keep hoping their kids can play in the championship game, in a season that's been, so far, filled with victories.
FHSAA Executive Director Roger Dearing said he will be in Polk County Wednesday for the hearing.
