Ohio Supreme Court dismisses OHSAA lawsuit over Massillon players

MASSILLON, Ohio (WOIO) - The Ohio Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit from the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) challenging an appeals court’s authority in the eligibility dispute over Massillon Washington football players Brayton and Brydon Feister, according to a case announcement.

The decision keeps in place an appellate court order allowing the brothers to play the remainder of the season while their case moves forward.

OHSAA went to the Ohio Supreme Court in late October to block the Fifth District Court of Appeals from hearing the Feister family’s appeal and enforcing its emergency order.

PREVIOUS: Feister brothers case reaches Ohio Supreme Court

The Fifth District Court of Appeals granted an emergency order Oct. 16 allowing both brothers to play the remainder of the 2026 season.

PREVIOUS: Court order allows Feister brothers to keep playing for Massillon Washington

Court records show the Supreme Court dismissed OHSAA’s lawsuit, finding the association had not established that the appeals court clearly lacked jurisdiction.

The Feister family was allowed to intervene in the Supreme Court case.

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner agreed with the dismissal but questioned the Fifth District’s decision to grant the brothers an injunction after the trial court denied one.

The ruling doesn’t determine whether the brothers are eligible to play but allows separate appeals court proceedings to continue.

Meanwhile, the Feister family reported to the Massillon Police Department that they are being harassed by an unknown individual. Police said the investigation remains ongoing.

Previous developments

The Fifth District Court of Appeals granted an emergency preliminary injunction Oct. 16 allowing brothers Brayton and Brydon Feister to participate in Massillon Washington High School varsity football games for the remainder of the 2026 season.

Court records show the order applies separately and independently to each brother, Brayton and Brydon Feister.

The order bars the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) from restraining or preventing the brothers from participating in any Massillon Washington High School varsity football games, according to court records.

A judge denied the brothers’ request to keep playing under a temporary court order and ended that order last week.

PREVIOUS: Judge rules Feister brothers ineligible in Stark County court

Stark County court records show that the judge said the brothers, Brayton and Brydon Feister, didn’t follow state transfer rules, so they will be benched for the rest of the season.

19 News reported Oct. 6 that the OHSAA says one Massillon Washington transfer has been cleared to play, two brothers have been denied, and three cases remain pending, according to its Oct. 2 court filing in Stark County.

PREVIOUS: OHSAA denies Feister brothers, clears one Massillon football transfer

The filing responds to a September 25 lawsuit from six Tigers football players seeking to block OHSAA’s transfer rule from sidelining them after Game 6.

OHSAA says the Feister brothers, formerly of Archbishop Hoban, were denied September 28.

According to court records, the family bought a Massillon home April 29 but applied July 29.

OHSAA says evidence showed “the desire to transfer compelled the move,” citing March wrestling unsportsmanlike-conduct discipline at Hoban and contacts with multiple other schools before the move.

The brothers were offered an expedited October 2 appeal and did not pursue it, OHSAA says.

One transfer from Euclid moved May 1, applied Aug. 21, and has been approved. Three others, from St. Vincent-St. Mary and Nordonia, who moved June 1 and July 31, remain pending after applying Aug. 21, Aug. 25 and Sept. 15.

OHSAA urges Judge Hartnett to deny an injunction, arguing suits came before decisions, remedies weren’t exhausted, courts must defer to member-adopted rules, athletics is a privilege not a right, and an order would harm 815 member schools, opponents, and playoff rankings.