CLEVELAND — Less than 24 hours after the OHSAA removed Cleveland Glenville from the football playoffs, a judge has put the Tarblooders back in — at least for tonight.
A Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judge granted a temporary restraining order Friday afternoon, Oct. 30, allowing Glenville to play its Division III, Region 9 first-round game against Hunting Valley University School tonight as previously scheduled.
Attorneys Michael Nelson Sr., James Hardiman and Stanley Jackson filed the motion Friday on behalf of student-athletes at Ginn Academy. Judge Andrew Santoli granted it, ruling:
“Plaintiffs’ motion for a temporary restraining order, filed on 10/30/2026, is granted. The football game between Glenville High School and University School is to proceed as previously scheduled.”
The ruling reverses — for now — the OHSAA’s announcement Thursday, Oct. 29, removing Glenville, the No. 5 seed in Region 9 at 8-2, from the postseason amid an ongoing investigation into the Cleveland Metropolitan School District inaccurately assigning student participation opportunities to Glenville.
The investigation centers on students who attend Ginn Academy, a non-member magnet school that does not offer sports and is under the control of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Under OHSAA rules, Ginn Academy students can only participate in athletics at the Cleveland Metro school closest to their residence. OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said Thursday the association’s audit confirmed “many players on Glenville’s football team should have been playing at other schools this season.”
Glenville won the Division IV football state championship in 2022, 2023 and 2025 before moving up to Division III this season, and was aiming for a fourth state title in five years. The Tarblooders finished the 2025 season 12-3, beating Shelby 45-7 in the Division IV state final.
The temporary restraining order covers tonight’s game. It does not resolve the OHSAA’s underlying investigation, and no timetable has been set for the full scope of that investigation or additional penalties. The winner of tonight’s Glenville–University School game advances to face No. 4 seed Salem in a second-round game Friday, Nov. 6.
