Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Mistake costs Mitchell tourney slot

By JOHN C. COTEY

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 21, 2000

NEW PORT RICHEY -- The first district tournament for the promising Mitchell High volleyball program, and perhaps its first appearance in the state playoffs, will have to wait.

The Mustangs, expected to be one of the favorites in the Class 3A, District 6 tournament starting Tuesday, has been ruled ineligible to participate by the Florida High School Activities Association due to a scheduling blunder.

FHSAA rules say schools must play every other school in the district twice, and complete those matches by Oct. 14. But Mitchell played Wildwood on Oct. 16 to complete both schools' district schedules, two days after the deadline.

As a result, both schools were told they will not be allowed to compete in the 3A-6 tourney, and their appeals were denied.

"I have to tell the girls today," said first-year Mitchell coach Joe Dixon on Friday. "I'm dreading it."

Dixon did not make up the original schedule because he was not hired until Aug. 7.

Wildwood Athletic Director Susan Beiersdorfer said she sent the scheduling contract to Mitchell on May 26 and it was returned July 31, signed by Mustang Athletic Director Ian Mooney and Assistant Principal Jim Michaels.

The original schedule had matches scheduled with Wildwood Oct. 16 and 19, though both were played the 16th in a doubleheader.

"We were in the process of trying to change those but (Dixon) went down to the district meeting (held at Wildwood) and was told it would be okay," said Mitchell Athletic Director Ian Mooney. "So he was misled. Unfortunately that doesn't take you out of the blame. Being a first-year coach, those kinds of things happen.

"I kind of dropped the ball on that issue as well. I didn't follow up."

Dixon said he was assured at the district meeting that the scheduling dilemma would only mean, at worst, that the Mustangs and Wildwood be seeded last in the district. But that was under the old rule, before the FHSAA changed it requiring each team play the other twice to be eligible.

"At the district meeting (Dixon) mentioned he wanted to re-schedule to with us, but that he couldn't (find a date)," Beiersdorfer said. "Some of the other coaches said that's fine, go ahead and play it (as scheduled) then. I just thought they would not be able to count those games. It was my mistake and my coach's mistake."

Beiersdorfer said her volleyball coach, Pat Hicks, was not at the meeting, and the decision was made by two assistant coaches.

"Stupidly, I didn't force the issue," she said. Dixon felt the same way.

"I didn't know the consequences," he said. "I should have been a little more aggressive. But I was the new coach on the block. I came into this (meeting) and didn't want to create any waves. Everyone had their schedule pretty well set."

Mitchell finishes its first season with a 12-13 record, including 6-4 in the district.

South Sumter, Wesley Chapel, Crystal River and Citrus are seeded Nos. 1-4 respectively, each now needing just one win to qualify for the state playoffs.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

Gary Shelton