Two-sport star is in violation of MIAA rules
Freshman Justina Langone has been a two-sport varsity star for Latin Academy this winter.
She's a swimmer and she is a goaltender on the hockey team. The problem, according to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association rulebook, is she's doing both sports at once.
Langone said she received a call yesterday from principal Maria Garcia-Aaronson informing her that playing two sports in the same season is a violation of MIAA rules. Now Langone's swimming and hockey teams might have to forfeit their seasons.
"It felt like my world went down the drain," said the 15-year-old Langone. "Nobody ever told me it would be an issue."
Rule 46 in the MIAA handbook states: "A student-athlete shall participate in only one MIAA interscholastic sport in any defined MIAA sport season."
The penalty reads: "[The student-athlete] will be ineligible for that season, and all contests in which he/she participated in both sports must be forfeited."
Langone said Garcia-Aaronson will inform her today if the penalty will be enacted. Langone said the principal told her she was suspended from both teams.
Langone was notified of the violation a day after she helped her swimming team win its 17th consecutive Boston City Championship, at Madison Park Tuesday. She swam to a second-place finish in the 100-meter backstroke, then packed up her bags and was driven by her father to Northeastern's Matthews Arena, where she had a hockey game that night. Latin Academy lost, 4-0, and is 3 points from a state tournament berth. An article written in Wednesday's Globe detailed Langone's busy day.
Latin Academy would be deprived of both its swimming crown and hockey tournament hopes if the penalty is carried out.
"I don't want my daughter to be blackballed," said Debbie Langone.
MIAA spokesman Paul Wetzel said principals, athletic directors, and coaches of member schools are required to know the rules and regulations of the 122-page rulebook. He could not confirm whether a final decision will be reached today, saying, "It's up to the principal to conduct an investigation and determine what the facts are."
Efforts to reach Garcia-Aaronson were unsuccessful.
Latin Academy swimming coach Mark Thomas, girls' hockey coach Mark McLaughlin, and athletic coordinator Richard Bailey said they were unaware Langone had broken a rule. Thomas and Bailey said they knew there was a rule prohibiting playing two contact sports in the same season, but because Langone is a swimmer, they thought she was in the clear.
Thomas found out Langone was playing hockey halfway through the season but didn't think anything of it: "Years ago, I had other kids do track and swimming [at the same time.]"
"I feel bad all over . . . I didn't try to hide anything, [but] I need to read that blue book a little closer," Thomas said.
"I had no clue [about the rule]," said McLaughlin, who said he told his players before the season they could only play one sport.
Earlier this season, Langone qualified for the 50-meter freestyle in Sunday's individual swimming sectionals to be held at MIT. The hockey team is scheduled to play Canton tomorrow. Langone isn't planning on going to either event.
Another unclear issue is whether Langone's swimming teammate, Rachel McGrath, who also qualified for the sectionals, will be able to swim Sunday.
"I don't know what will happen," Thomas said.
Langone hopes more attention will be paid to Rule 46: "Hopefully it makes other students aware of it," she said. "I just had no idea."
After she received the bad news, Langone, who also plays softball, rides horses, and does karate, was on the way out the door to work out with her brother at the nearby YMCA. She said she needed to let off some steam.
