Residency concerns lead to Saline Area Schools forfeiting the first three games of the 2024 varsity football season.
A statement to varsity football families was shared on Oct. 1, explaining the situation. The SHS Varsity Football team had started the season 5-0 with a most recent win against Ann Arbor Huron of 48-0.
In the message, SAS Superintendent Steve Laatsch said, “Failure to establish residency pursuant to MHSAA guidelines and residency fraud are serious infractions. As a result of these infractions, our Saline HS Varsity Football team will unfortunately be forfeiting the first three games of the 2024 varsity football season.”
Here is the full message:
“Dear Varsity Football Families:
We have a great deal to be proud of at Saline Area Schools, with consistently top-ranked academic and athletic programs and facilities. Saline is currently ranked as the top High School for athletes in Michigan by Niche.com. Saline Area Schools also holds honesty and integrity in the highest regard, and celebrates ethical and responsible citizens as an important component of student learning. When residency concerns that potentially impacted athletic eligibility were brought to the attention of Athletic Director Mantha and me, we investigated, and in the interest of honesty and integrity, self-reported those concerns to the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA).
Failure to establish residency pursuant to MHSAA guidelines and residency fraud are serious infractions. As a result of these infractions, our Saline HS Varsity Football team will unfortunately be forfeiting the first three games of the 2024 varsity football season. The Athletic Department is responsible for enforcing MHSAA regulations. Athletic Director Mantha said, “These forfeitures, while extremely unfortunate, do not diminish the hard work and accomplishments of the student-athletes or coaches. As a first-year varsity coach and teacher at Saline Area Schools, Coach Short has continuously demonstrated that he leads with both empathy and integrity. It is important to clarify that Coach Short had no involvement in the circumstances that led to these infractions. We fully support Coach as he continues to positively impact our student-athletes both on and off the field. In spite of setbacks, we are proud of the students who have demonstrated resilience and integrity throughout the season and look forward to their continued success.”
In light of these reports, Saline Area Schools’ Central Office and Athletic Department have held extensive discussions to revise our internal processes to prevent similar situations in the future. Greater safeguards with our Enrollment Office, Athletic Department, and compliance officer will help ensure this never happens again.
Mark Uyl, Executive Director of the MHSAA, said, “Saline has been a model MHSAA member school for many years. We appreciate and respect how this matter was handled, and Saline is handling this unfortunate situation by the rules and with the highest level of integrity.”
This unfortunate situation is not the fault of any individual student, the team, or the coaching staff. I apologize to our student-athletes and coaching staff who must bear the burden of these infractions and subsequent forfeitures. We want all our student-athletes to continue to have great success in the classroom and in their athletic pursuits.
Sincerely,
Stephen D. Laatsch, PhD
Superintendent
Saline Area Schools”
Saline Area Schools then held a school board meeting on Oct. 3 that gave the community an opportunity to ask and give their views of the situation. From that, the school board approved a motion, “to direct the Superintendent to contact MHSAA tomorrow to seek information on how the Board could appeal a decision.”
