(10-27-23) In volleyball this fall Lemont finished the season with a 26-11 record and picked up the South Suburban Blue championship with a perfect 13-0 mark.

Lemont (H.S.) Sectional (17T)

  • 1. Lemont (H.S.)
  • 2. Maple Park (Kaneland)
  • 3. Burbank (St. Laurence)
  • 4. Darien (Hinsdale South)
  • 5. Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South)
  • 6. River Forest (Trinity)
  • 7. Lombard (Montini)
  • 8. Plano
  • 9. Chicago (Kennedy)
  • 10. Aurora (Illinois Math and Science Academy)
  • 11. Chicago (Hancock)
  • 12. Chicago (Little Village)
  • 13. Chicago (Lindblom)
  • 14. Chicago (Back of the Yards)
  • 15. Chicago (Noble/Mansueto)
  • 16. Chicago (Solorio Academy)
  • 17. Chicago (Englewood STEM)

Before Tuesday’s Class 3A regional semifinal match against Back of the Yards the game was declared to be a forfeit when it was discovered that Lemont had played 36 regular-season matches, one more then the allowed 35 according to the by-laws.

IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson issued a statement Wednesday:

“The season limitation by-law exists in every IHSA sport in order to provide competitive equity among the schools as they enter into competition in the IHSA State Series. As unfortunate as the result may be, these teams received a competitive advantage that no other team in the tournament received, and there is over 40 years of precedence dictating that violating this rule excludes a team from State Series participation. Neither myself, the IHSA staff, nor the IHSA Board of Directors derive any joy in delivering this decision, but we are tasked with upholding the rules our member schools put into place.”

Lemont High School girls volleyball team disqualified from state series by IHSA

ABC 7 Chicago You Tube Video

Chicago Back of the Yards – 3A Regional

Mon., Oct. 23
Match 1: Chicago (Back of the Yards) d. Chicago (Englewood STEM), 25-11, 25-12

Tue., Oct. 24
Match 2: Chicago (Back of the Yards) d. Lemont (H.S.), 25-0, 25-0 (FORFEIT)
Match 3: Chicago (Kennedy) d. Plano, 25-22, 26-24

Thu., Oct. 26
Match 4: Chicago (Kennedy) d. Chicago (Back of the Yards), 25-22, 25-11

IHSA rules allow for 35, including conference, nonconference and tournament matches.

A match to end the regular season against Chicago Christian pushed Lemont over the limit. Lemont will forfeit that match as well.

Lemont High School Statement —

October 24, 2023

On Tuesday, October 24, the Illinois High School Association declared Lemont High School’s girls’ volleyball team ineligible to compete in the 2023 IHSA State Series.

Lemont is in violation of the IHSA’s Contest Limitation by-law (5.323), which states, “No Girls Volleyball team representing a member school shall, in any one season, participate in more than thirty-five (35) matches exclusive of the IHSA State series.” Lemont played in 36 matches in advance of the 2023 IHSA State Series.

Lemont Athletics Director John Young made the following statement —

“I am heartbroken for our players, coaches and families. Understandably, they are very upset and they have every right to be.

“Our student-athletes did nothing wrong. I am very sorry our players are forced to pay for my mistake. This was an inadvertent scheduling oversight and not an intentional act made in an effort to subvert IHSA rules.”

Lemont’s schedule included 17 standalone matches and four tournaments. Due to the team’s success throughout the season, it played 19 matches within those four tournaments. Its season finale against Chicago Christian on October 18 pushed it past the allowable number of regular season matches.

When made aware of this violation of IHSA rules, school administrators offered several remediation options to the IHSA in an effort for Lemont’s student-athletes to be able to participate in the postseason. Unfortunately, none of what we offered was acceptable to IHSA administrators.

In addition to the volleyball team forfeiting its win over Chicago Christian and being ineligible for the IHSA State Series, Lemont High School is required to submit a written plan detailing corrective measures it will take to make sure the school is in compliance with IHSA by-law 5.323. Additionally, under IHSA by-law 6.010, Lemont High School is placed on probation for one year. However, this probationary status does not deprive the school of any of its privileges as an IHSA school.

Lemont posted a 27-9 record (before the Oct. 18 forfeit) during the regular season, and after posting a perfect 13-0 record in league play, won the program’s ninth straight South Suburban Conference title. It earned the top seed in the IHSA Class 3A Lemont Sectional, and was scheduled to open IHSA Regional play the same day it was ruled ineligible.

UPDATE – WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25
At 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25, the Illinois High School Association Board of Directors conducted an emergency appeal hearing to reconsider the IHSA’s declaration that the Lemont High School girls’ volleyball team is ineligible to participate in the IHSA State Series.

The IHSA Board of Directors listened to our appeal, posed some questions, and entered into a closed session for discussion. Unfortunately, our appeal was denied.

We are pursuing available legal options, and are making every effort possible to give our student-athletes the chance to compete in the IHSA State Series.

UPDATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27
After the Illinois High School Association Board of Directors denied Lemont High School’s appeal to reinstate eligibility for its girls’ volleyball team in the IHSA State Series, the school filed a verified complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County. This complaint was filed in an effort to seek an emergency temporary restraining order that would temporarily prevent the IHSA from ruling Lemont’s volleyball team ineligible for the 2023 IHSA State Series until such time as the court could hear and review further argument and evidence.

The Hon. Kate Moreland, Circuit Judge of the Chancery Division, was assigned the complaint and presided over the hearing on the afternoon of Thursday, October 26. After hearing from legal counsel representing both Lemont High School and its co-plaintiffs (volleyball player Madalynn Skwarek and her father, Michael Skwarek), as well as legal counsel representing the IHSA, Judge Moreland declined to grant the request for an emergency temporary restraining order. Unfortunately, Judge Moreland’s decision keeps the team’s postseason disqualification in place.

We respect the judge’s decision, but of course are disappointed in this outcome. We have pursued every reasonable option on behalf of our student-athletes to give them an opportunity to continue their season. We are truly sorry that despite these efforts, they will not be able to do so.

The school said it offered other options as a punishment for the violations that would allow the team to participate in the postseason. In addition, Lemont was placed on probation for one year, but will not be deprived of any privileges as an IHSA school.

A situation like this needs to be reconsidered for the future…playing one extra match during the season after playing an entire season. The IHSA statement said the punishment was because…these teams received a competitive advantage that no other team in the tournament received. Dear IHSA the majority of these kids will play way more games on travel teams? Advantage?

In this the situation the punishment does not fit the crime.and in this situation for Lemont broke the hearts of players, parents, fans and school administrators.

And these Seniors were deprived on playing in their last tournament…

ONE QUESTION…

The IHSA waited just before the match on Tuesday to make their decision. How was that information obtained? Why was it made in that time frame.

Volleyball should be fun…