Championship Dreams Dashed for Ipswich High School Lacrosse Team
This week, the hopes of an undefeated lacrosse team from Massachusetts came crashing down. School officials declared nine players ineligible, leading Ipswich High School to forfeit their state semifinal game.
The controversy originated from the players’ claim that the cigars they used at their graduation party contained no tobacco, which they argued did not breach the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association’s tobacco policy.
As a result, Ipswich withdrew from their Division 4 semifinal against Cohasset High School after it became clear they wouldn’t have enough eligible players to compete.
According to reports, senior Christian Gianakakis and some teammates celebrated at graduation with homemade cigars. Gianakakis mentioned that his father had rolled these cigars after the fake ones he ordered online failed to arrive on time.
The situation escalated when school authorities were alerted to images of the cigars, mistakenly thinking they were real. Gianakakis later retrieved one to show the administration that it contained no tobacco. To complicate matters, he recalled Principal Jonathan Mitchell initially stating that the players could participate in the game, only for that decision to change just hours before kickoff.
“I felt like I was punched in the face. I felt like I was being called a liar,” Gianakakis shared, expressing his disappointment.
The administration indicated that the team opted to withdraw due to insufficient eligible players. In their statement, Ipswich High School expressed pride in reaching the Division 4 state semifinals, scheduled for Tuesday, while also acknowledging the challenges faced.
MIAA Executive Director Bob Baldwin commented that while they were aware of the situation, they were not responsible for determining eligibility decisions. Baldwin highlighted that such matters are typically handled at the local level, per the MIAA’s policies on alcohol and tobacco.
The MIAA regulations stipulate that if a student-athlete violates the rules concerning these substances, they may be deemed ineligible for a portion of the upcoming season.
As for what led to the final eligibility ruling, there seems to be some ambiguity. Gianakakis suggested the last decision came from Superintendent Brian Blake.
Attempts to reach Blake, Principal Mitchell, and Athletic Director Tom Gallagher for further comments have been made.
