William Floyd HS Track Star Sues After NYS Declares Her Ineligible to Compete in State Championships
Zariel Macchia a senior and track star at William Floyd High School, has filed a lawsuit against the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) after it had declared her ineligible to compete in this weekend’s state indoor track and field championships on Staten Island due to an alleged violation of the "College Rule."
The "College Rule" Macchia is accused or violating - also known as Rule 7 of the NYSPHSAA's rulebook - decrees that, during a sport's season, high school athletes are forbidden to “participate in practice or competition with or against any individual or team representing a college.”
The NYSPHSAA maintains that Macchia broke this rule when she competed in the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational; the organization subsequently ruled her ineligible for the state championship on February 18.
The teen athlete filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, and was in court in Riverhead on Wednesday attempting to have a temporary restraining order placed on the NYSPHSAA's decision to allow her to compete in Staten Island this weekend. Part of Macchia's argument is that she was not made aware of the rule, and that she believed that there would be no problem with her competing in the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational since she ran an independent and unaffiliated with her school.
Macchia was scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday; in addition to being granted the ability to compete again,. she's also hoping to set a precedent that could establish an appeals process that other student-athletes could avail themselves of in similar situations in the future.
Macchia has won six state championships to date and is considered a potential Olympic hopeful.