[The Philadelphia Inquirer] New Jersey Sports
Thursday, November 21, 1996
A day after race hopes were lifted, Paul VI boys rebuffed by NJSIAA
By John McBride
INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT
The merry-go-round that has become the end of the Paul VI boys'
cross-country season resumed Tuesday when the NJSIAA ruled that the Eagles
may not run in Saturday's Meet of Champions at Holmdel Park.
Paul VI was barred from competing in the Parochial A state championships
last Saturday because meet director Walt Chesney said he had never received
the entry form. Eagles coach Jose Loyola said he had confirmed on the phone
Friday with Chesney that the proper documents had been received. But when
he arrived for the race, Loyola was told that there was no form and that
his team couldn't participate.
On Monday, according to school officials, Chesney said that if Loyola could
produce three notarized papers, including the entry form, the Eagles could
run in the Meet of Champions. The meet is supposed to include only the top
three teams and top 10 individuals not on those teams from each group
classification at the state championships.
Loyola, figuring he finally had received a settlement, went so far as to
fax in his lineup to officials for the meet.
A day later, Paul VI was in limbo -- again. NJSIAA executive director Boyd
Sands agreed with prohibiting the boys from running.
``They have not been able to document that they sent the form in on a
timely fashion,'' Sands said.
Loyola could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Loyola said that if the meet director hadn't told him that he had received
the entry, he would have driven the entry to Chesney, which, according to
Chesney, seven schools did Friday.
So unless Loyola can prove the school mailed its application, which is
almost impossible because there is no receipt for regular mail, the boys'
team is through this season.
To make matters even worse, Loyola will be in attendance Saturday with the
girls' team, because girls' coach Mike Lyons is getting married that day.
