Prep football: Judge’s ruling allows Woodland Christian High School’s season to continue
Woodland Christian High School’s football season lives on with a playoff game against visiting Gustine set to kickoff at 7 p.m. Thursday, capping a whirlwind week of uncertainly, confusion and anger.
The CIF Sac-Joaquin Section’s governing office on Tuesday ruled the small-school powerhouse was ineligible to continue its season because of a paperwork oversight tied to 11 freshmen players. That ruling was upheld by a CIF appeals committee Wednesday, but Yolo Superior Court Judge Samuel T. McAdam granted a temporary restraining order Thursday allowing the Cardinals to keep playing.
The case is far from over, however, as the CIF still considers all regular-season and any playoff games as forfeits because the paperwork was not filed in time. The issue is rooted in safety, the CIF argued, with 14-year-olds playing varsity football. McAdam said the next hearing on the case is next week.
The 11 freshmen players would have been immediately eligible at the start of the season had the waivers been signed by parents of those student-athletes and the school administration. Players that young are otherwise not allowed to compete in varsity football. Woodland Christian coach Mike Paschke said it was an honest oversight with no intent to deceive the section or opponents. Each of those players submitted proper paperwork over the past two weeks.
McAdam agreed with that stance in his ruling, which was viewed live online by The Sacramento Bee. A point of emphasis was if the 11 freshmen created an unfair advantage. McAdam said he did not think so. The CIF argued that bylaws stipulate proper paperwork must be filed and safety is paramount, and that allowing the temporary restraining order means other schools will seek similar court backing.
Woodland Christian self-reported its oversight to the CIF and followed up with emails to the section office explaining its argument. McAdam said it was a “paperwork failure,” but added the “irreparable harm” to Woodland Christian’s team, school and community was clear and a season forfeiture was excessive.
The CIF could not comment because this is a legal matter.
Woodland Christian players, cheerleaders, family, staffers and even the drumline watched the hearing online in the campus amphitheater.
“Everyone went nuts when we heard the verdict,” Paschke said excitedly. “Tons of tears of joy. I think it was a miracle to see a judge that fast. Winning this ruling today makes us believers. Just because we go to a Christian school doesn’t mean we’re all believers in things like this.”
Pascke said he learned of the appeals committee upholding the CIF’s ruling Wednesday night.
“We all went home, sad, thinking our season was over, and we thought we had a 1% chance to get a court date and maybe that much of a chance to win,” Paschke said. “I feel good for Gustine, too. Their team bus, fan bus, they were all coming. Could you imagine having to tell them to turn around and go home?”
This story was originally published November 10, 2022 at 3:46 PM.