James Monroe coach Rich Serbay reacts to the crowd chanting his name during last night's win over Courtland. MIKE MORONES/THE FREE LANCE-STAR Visit the Photo Place

UPDATE: JM loses appeal, season ends

JM is forced to forfeit football victories because of ineligible player

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Date published: 11/17/2009

BY TAFT COGHILL JR. AND ADAM HIMMELSBACH

Rich Serbay's 24 years as head coach of James Monroe High School's football team have provided him plenty of warm memories.

He's guided JM to four state titles, which is tied for the most for any coach in the history of the Fredericksburg area.

But right now, Serbay is distraught.

That's because the defending Group AA, Division 3 champion Yellow Jackets yesterday forfeited six of their victories this season--and a spot in the playoffs--because they used an ineligible player.

"It's the first time this has ever happened to me," said Serbay, who has also been the school's athletic director for the past 13 years. "I take pride in my job and obviously, I made a big mistake. It's going to hurt my team, my program and the community. I'm in pain."

Serbay's pain could be eased today if the Yellow Jackets win the appeal they filed with the Virginia High School League.

The VHSL's communications director, Mike McCall, said appeals are usually heard every two weeks and the most recent one was held last Tuesday.

The VHSL's executive committee decided to expedite JM's appeal because the Region I, Division 3 playoffs, which JM qualified for, begin on Friday. Serbay said he will take part in a conference call with the VHSL's executive committee today.

McCall said the appeals process is "strictly based on merit."

"It's a lot to consider," McCall said. "It's simply based on, 'Does it meet the requirement to uphold the appeal or deny the appeal?'"

James Monroe first-year Principal John Gordon said the player is ineligible because this is his fifth year of high school, and the VHSL doesn't permit students to participate in athletics beyond their eighth semester of high school. Gordon said the unidentified player wasn't a starter.

Gordon said Serbay checked with guidance counselor Paulette Haw-thorne this past weekend after receiving a call from someone in the community saying the player was ineligible.

Gordon said Hawthorne informed Serbay that the player began high school in the 2005-06 school year at Spotsylvania County's Massaponax High School. He then transferred to JM, went to the regional alternative school in Fredericksburg and returned to JM, where he's been a student the past two years.

THE FACTS: The JM player in question enrolled in the ninth grade at Spotsylvania's Massaponax High in the 2005-06 school year. The student is in his ninth semester of high school. THE RULE: The Virginia High School League's Policy Manual, Section 28-7-1 contains a semester rule. "The student shall not have been enrolled in the last four years of high school for a period of more than eight consecutive semesters, beginning with the semester in which he/she was enrolled for the first time in the ninth grade. The eight consecutive semesters shall be counted continuously from that point, regardless of whether or not he/she remains continuously enrolled in school." James Monroe High yesterday forfeited six of its seven wins this season because one of the team's players was ineligible. The school has appealed to the Virginia High School League. The VHSL will hear the appeal today because that decision will affect Friday's playoff schedule.

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Date published: 11/17/2009

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