Central Regional Will Not Host The Meet Of Champions In 2017

Central Regional High School in Bayville will not host the NJSIAA Track and Field Meet of Champions next year, Superintendent of Schools Triantofillos Parlapanides said in the letter to NJSIAA officials, according to app.com

Central Regional and Toms River East had three players each booted from the Sept. 9 game. Although Central had requested an appeal of the decision several times and asked for a review of the video, NJSIAA officials have stood firm. Central won the game 42-0.

Central had a new track installed two years ago at its Joseph J. Boyd Memorial Field. The district hosted the Meet of Champions for the first time in 2016.

But NJSIAA Assistant Director Bill Bruno has already advertised for schools that are interested in hosting the 2017 meet.

Both schools are ineligible for the playoffs or an NJSIAA Regional Crossover game (games for schools who do not qualify for the playoffs). Parlapanides told the Asbury Park Press earlier this week that his school wrote six letters to the NJSIAA, including ones from himself, the school’s attorney, the Board of Education, athletic director John Scran and head football coach Justin Fumando, asking the association to hear an appeal.

Game officials reported the fight to the NJSIAA. The ejected players were then banned in the next game.

Central, which was 2-0 at the time of the Sept. 9 game, would have had a chance to qualify for the South Group IV playoffs and earn a playoff berth for the third straight season before the NJSIAA ruling.

"We all make mistakes but the adults need to communicate and do things right," Parlapanides said recently. "It is not right to the 40 or 50 players from East and Central that worked hard all summer not to be able to play in the States. You only get one Senior year! There is no time machine."

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Image: Patch file photo