The clock ticked closer to the promised 11:00 am release of the final field hockey power rankings and playoff bracket seedings.
Gloucester, ranked 24th in the previous power ranking, beat Swampscott 3-0 to solidify a spot in the playoffs. The team awaited the final power ranking to be released Tuesday morning to get a glimpse into their first-round opponent. But instead of seeing the bracket for the upcoming tournament, they were hit with a screenshotted letter from the MIAA at 11:05 am.
“It is always our intent to communicate and post state tournament brackets in a timely manner,” the MIAA committee said in the letter. “We are writing to inform you that the 11:00 a.m. (Field Hockey) and the 1:00 p.m. (Volleyball) scheduled release of state tournament brackets will be delayed.”
Prompted by an injunction filed by Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District, the final playoff brackets and seedings are pushed back by at least a day. Per the Boston Globe, Minnechaug Regional High and Monson High School failed to comply with MIAA scheduling rules.
The MIAA claims that the two districts, including others in the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference (PVIAC), failed to submit a correct schedule before September 13. While the schools sent a copy of the schedule before the submission deadline, they failed to include “to be announced” games from the Western Mass Tournament.
The districts brought the case to court, claiming that the MIAA didn’t allow them to fix the inaccurate submissions. The MIAA ruled that their WMT games were to be considered forfeits, despite ultimately messing up the power ranking.
The schools cited how the MIAA was lenient towards football schedules with the same mistake as their own. Following the Monday court hearing, the MIAA stated that the schools knew that the PVIAC games would not count towards their record, but participated in them anyway.
“On numerous occasions, said school district admitted to failing to comply with MIAA protocols,” the letter said. “It is wrong that these potential ramifications would have an adverse effect on the vast majority of member schools across the state that did follow the prescribed process. That is why we are seeking further resolution on this matter.”
In a quote to the Boston Globe, the MIAA claims that the school districts included in the lawsuit are attempting “to completely upend separate statewide tournaments in no less than four sports, involving nearly all 385 member schools, the scheduling of hundreds of state tournament contests games and affecting thousands of student-athletes, all of which are slated to begin this week.”
If the MIAA’s claims can be upheld by the judge, the final power rankings and brackets will be released by tomorrow. However, an appeal from either side to the two possible rulings would further delay the release.
Minnechaug has a field hockey team that competes in Division 2. In the last field hockey power ranking, they were ranked 20th with a record of 7-8-3. Monson does not field a team.
The ruling of this case will result in a toss-up for the brackets, as teams may be knocked out of playoff contention if the school districts prevail.
“The order, as currently written, will have ramifications on the seeding process and the clear and accurate release of the state tournament brackets, affecting the seeds for multiple teams across multiple divisions in both sports. We have continually stated that we will advocate on behalf of the whole and not the one.”
The MIAA claims that the “brackets will be released once this matter has been resolved.” While they cited that the goal is to get the brackets out by tomorrow at 11 am (Field Hockey) and 1 pm (Volleyball), it’s hard to tell if a decision will be made by that time. There are claims that courts were closed Tuesday afternoon in the school district, so the MIAA and districts couldn’t meet until Wednesday morning.
“We will provide you with an update Wednesday morning,” The MIAA closed the letter. “The integrity, clarity, and accuracy of our brackets must take priority at this time.”
In the MIAA tournament, the top 32 ranked teams automatically make it into the tournament, despite their final record. Teams ranked at or below 33 qualify for a play-in game if their record is .500+.
The Gloucester Fishermen sit at a .500 record at 9-8-1. While it’s unlikely they’ll drop below 32, they’ll qualify no matter what the final decision of the hearing will be.
“It was disappointing for a few of us because we are just so eager to play in the tournament,” Captain Keagan Jewell said of the matter. “It gave us a chance to look at it from a different perspective and what our goals are. For many [of the girls], it [will be] the first time they will play in the tournament [for] the varsity field hockey team. [This] gave them a chance to acknowledge what is truly at stake for every other team. No one knew what was going to come of [this year]. It’s agreed that there is nothing to lose but putting your best foot forward.”
Tomorrow’s update will be posted on the MIAA website, along with their social media pages. Gloucester Fishermen Athletics will also update when it’s announced.
