NCH football players cleared to play amid eligibility disputes

Several North College Hill High School football players who transferred from Robert A. Taft Information Technology High School have been allowed to resume playing this season after winning temporary court injunctions against the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). The players were ruled ineligible for the second half of the season under OHSAA transfer bylaws, which permits varsity football transfers to play only the first five games unless certain exceptions apply.

Among the players cleared to resume play are North College Hill seniors Josiah Pouncy and Eddie Holloway, both of whom are plaintiffs in separate lawsuits against the OHSAA. Pouncy was granted an injunction on October 2, allowing him to continue playing, while Holloway and seven other students – including five minors – were temporarily permitted to play in their games against Clark Montessori on October 9.

A hearing to extend the order for Holloway and the other players is scheduled for October 22. The OHSAA denied Pouncy's request for an exemption to play the full season, citing the move to NCH as being motivated by his desire to play under his former coach, Tyler Williams. However, Pouncy and his family argued that they moved to North College Hill due to safety concerns at Taft High School, where gun-related incidents had occurred.

The court documents also mention that Pouncy considered transferring to Elder High School but ultimately decided against it due to tuition costs. The OHSAA's decision to deny Pouncy's exemption was based on causation, concluding that his desire to transfer preceded and led to his family's move to North College Hill.