Latin Academy forfeits swimming championship

Justina Langone was told by her principal Thursday that because she was playing two sports (hockey and swimming) this winter at Latin Academy, both teams might have to forfeit their seasons. Playing two sports at once is a violation of Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association rules.

Yesterday, Latin Academy principal Maria Garcia-Aaronson announced that Langone was in violation of Rule 46 in the MIAA handbook and the school was penalized.

Eight coed swimming meets (including a first-place finish in the Boston City Championship) and four hockey games were forfeited, according to MIAA spokesman Paul Wetzel.

"If anything, I should be the one prosecuted, not my teammates," the 15-year-old Langone said. "They shouldn't have to pay for something I did."

"It's unfortunate," said Garcia-Aaronson. "It was never anyone's intention to break a rule."

Langone said she didn't know she had broken any the rules.

She needed to get out of the house Thursday, so she went to the West Roxbury YMCA with friends, shuffled her iPod to "Dangerous" by the Ying Yang Twins, and ran a few miles to get her mind off the situation. She got home in time to watch her favorite show, "Grey's Anatomy," and was stunned at a plot twist involving the title character.

"It was shocking," Langone said.

As shocking as what's happened the past few days?

"Ah, nothing compares to that," she said.

Hockey coach Mark McLaughlin said he did not know Langone was playing two sports at the same time. He said he knew athletes can't play two sports and said he told his players that before the season started.

Langone said she was never told by any of the hockey coaches she couldn't play two sports.

Swimming coach Mark Thomas knew Langone was playing hockey, but didn't think it was against the rules. He supported Langone, making sure she communicated with him to prevent scheduling conflicts.

"I wish the MIAA could be more understanding," Langone said. "It's not necessary at all."

"Our rules are clear," Wetzel said.

At the beginning of the season, according to Wetzel, each MIAA school must submit a roster form to the organization's offices. The form must be filled out by the coach, then passed to the athletic director, and finally to the principal. The principal must sign each form to confirm all players are academically eligible. In Langone's case, there was an oversight.

"Nobody noticed the same name on two teams," Wetzel said. Because it is ultimately the principal's duty to sign off on the forms, Wetzel said, "We hold the coaches a little less culpable."

Wetzel noted that the two-sport rule has been around for a "long, long time," but couldn't say when it was instituted. The rule protects students against injuries and allows them adequate time for academics, he said.

Langone said this semester has been "busy but manageable," and said she has around a B-minus average.

"Schoolwork always comes first," she said.

Langone won't be able to participate in tomorrow's invitational swimming sectionals at MIT, but said she will be in the stands cheering on teammate Rachel McGrath.

Without a sport to play after school, Langone said she will be spending a lot of time at the YMCA. She won't be without sports for too long -- softball tryouts are the second week of March.