Word had filtered throughout the high school community for some time that Bishop Fenwick was in some hot water with the MIAA.

Friday afternoon, the MIAA delivered some serious heat when they sent out a press release stating that the Bishop Fenwick athletic programs would be ineligible for postseason play throughout the 2023-2024 season for violating Rule 87 of the MIAA Rule Book, which deals with primarily with waivers.

In the release, the MIAA stated that Bishop Fenwick made both written and factual statements in November of 2022 and again in 2023 to the Eligibility Appeals Board. The school later was asked to appear before the Board of Directors at a meeting on May 17.

The Board determined at that time Bishop Fenwick’s failure to comply with the MIAA rules and its pattern of conduct was serious, egregious and repeated to warrant discipline as spelled out in Rule 87.6.4 of the MIAA Rule Book. The Board then voted unanimously in favor of applying Rule 87.6.4.1 which calls for the suspension of school personnel from attendance at MIAA Tournaments and delivered the news to Bishop Fenwick.

Shortly after the MIAA release, the Herald obtained a letter sent by Bishop Fenwick Chairman of the Board of Trustees Neil Harrington to members of the school community. In the letter, Harrington acknowledged mistakes were made in a fifth-year waiver application for a student-athlete but insisted they were honest errors.

The letter went on to defend the school, saying no administrator ever sought out to deceive the MIAA in any way. Harrington went on to add that the school complied with the organization’s decision to deny the student-athlete the waiver.

Bishop Fenwick will be holding a community meeting on Monday, July 24 at 6 p.m. in the auditorium to answer questions and address concerns that students and parents may have.