Greenville: SCHSL overturns JL Mann tennis forfeit

The South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) has made a decision to overturn J.L. Mann’s boys tennis team’s forfeit in the playoffs. The team will be allowed to continue, but their coach will not be present at the matches moving forward.

Background of the Incident

The SCHSL initially ruled that Mann would have to forfeit their match against Dorman in the Class AAAAA Upper State semifinals due to improper documentation regarding lineup ladders from earlier in the season. This decision came after a complaint made by Dorman following their 6-0 loss to Mann.

After an appeal by Mann, the SCHSL executive committee reviewed the case and determined that it was an error by Patriots coach John Armstrong, but not an intentional attempt to gain a competitive advantage.

Coach’s Absence in Future Matches

While J.L. Mann is allowed to continue in the playoffs, the SCHSL has stated that their coach, John Armstrong, will not be permitted to be present at the rescheduled Upper State championship game against T.L. Hanna or the state final. This decision means that Mann will have to navigate the remainder of the playoffs without their coach on site.

Principal’s Testimony

Mann principal Bear Gibson defended the team’s actions during the hearing, stating, “I mean no disrespect to the Dorman tennis team, but this match was not close. J.L. Mann is the two-time defending state champion. We do not need to manipulate a ladder to win.”

Self-Correction of Violation

It was revealed that Mann played without their No. 1 singles player against Dorman because the team had changed some regular season matches to pro sets, a decision made due to injuries within the team. Armstrong explained that the opposing coaches had accepted this format change.

Gibson clarified, “What was handed down was that we could either forfeit our No. 1 player or play up. We didn’t want to start the match with a forfeit, so we moved everybody up, which we are allowed to do. It was a self-correction to make sure we were no longer in violation of the rules.”

SCHSL President’s Statement

SCHSL president Jerome Singleton addressed the issue, emphasizing that the forfeit against Dorman was related to the lack of proper documentation rather than any intent to gain a competitive advantage. He stated, “The rule is pretty clear. If (proper documentation) is not supplied, you don’t have it, then the team forfeits.”

Documentation Dispute

Coach Armstrong insisted that he had documentation for all matches throughout the season and had offered it when requested. Gibson supported this claim, stating, “I was there when the coaches exchanged lineup information. Dorman’s coach asked to see our ladder. We showed him our playoff ladder. He snapped a picture with his phone.”

Gibson further added, “The Dorman coach didn’t ask to see anything else. I had no idea he wanted the initial ladder from the beginning of the season. I assumed he wanted the ladder for the game he was playing.”

Conclusion

Despite the initial forfeit ruling, J.L. Mann’s boys tennis team will be able to continue in the playoffs. The team will face challenges in the upcoming matches without their coach present on-site. The Class AAAAA Upper State championship and state finals are yet to be rescheduled, leaving Mann to prepare for their next opponents in the absence of their coach.