Judge rules to remove Glenville High School football team from OHSAA football playoffs

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Thursday afternoon, the Eighth District Court of Appeals decided to remove the Glenville High School football team from the 2026 playoffs.

After days of awaiting a decision on Glenville’s eligibility, the judge sided with the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s (OHSAA) decision to remove the team from the playoffs amid an investigation.

With this ruling, University School, which was expected to be Glenville’s first opponent, will remain in the playoffs.

A release from OHSAA states that University School will advance to the playoffs at Salem Friday night.

“The OHSAA and our member schools are committed to the integrity and fairness of our tournaments,” said Doug Ute, OHSAA executive director. “While it is a difficult decision to remove students from a tournament, all member schools must abide by the rules and regulations that they have voted into place and that the OHSAA works to enforce.”

OHSAA said it will continue to work with Cleveland Metropolitan School District on participation opportunities for non-enrolled students within its district.

CMSD issued the following statement on today’s court decision:

University School provided the following statement:

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The Glenville Tarblooders were scheduled to play University School on Friday, Oct. 30, in the first round of the playoffs. That game was canceled Thursday, Oct. 29.

Also wrapped up in this drama is the Salem Senior High School football team.

The Salem Quakers are lined up to play the winner of Glenville and University School on Friday, Nov. 6.

Association officials canceled the game between Glenville and University School, saying an investigation revealed that Ginn Academy students were inaccurately assigned to Glenville for student participation opportunities.

Ginn Academy is a non-member magnet school that does not offer sports. Its students may participate in athletics at the Cleveland Metropolitan School District school closest to their home.

On Friday, Oct. 30, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Andrew Santoli granted a temporary restraining order, and the game was rescheduled to Saturday, Oct. 31.

According to Jon Benedict, communications officer for the school district, the Glenville players showed up for the game at noon on Oct. 31, but their opponent did not.

A University School official released this statement Saturday, Oct. 31:

“University School prepared and looked forward to competing in this year’s State Football Tournament in its match-up with Glenville, originally scheduled for the evening of Friday, October 30. We were disappointed to learn of the initial cancellation of the contest on Thursday, October 29 and, then, surprised to learn of the temporary restraining order leading the OHSAA to reschedule the game for the afternoon of Saturday, October 31. We will not compete in the now re-scheduled contest, respect the court’s prudence in deciding the ultimate outcome of the legal dispute, and will prepare to compete with Salem on Friday night if that is the resolution.”

This is the second time Glenville has been removed from the football playoffs. In 2018, the team was removed for the same violation, fined $5,000 and placed on probation until 2021.

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