FHSAA rules Hillsborough’s Hosey ineligible

Posted Mar 24, 2010 by Bill Ward

Updated Mar 24, 2010 at 01:16 PM

Hillsborough senior sprinter James Hosey, who owns the county’s second-fastest time in the 100-meter dash and was part of a Terriers 4x100 relay that last weekend turned in the state’s No. 4 mark, has been ruled ineligible by the Florida High School Activities Association.

Hosey transferred from East Bay to Hillsborough earlier this month but the FHSAA stated he was not eligible to compete for the Terriers because he “had an opportunity to remain at the previous school.” As a result, the FHSAA said Hosey’s transfer to Hillsborough does not meet the association’s definition of a “full and complete move.”

Hosey’s mother, Dafney Hosey, said Wednesday her son switched to Hillsborough when it became difficult for her to drive him each day from Tampa to East Bay in Gibsonton. She said she and her family had been living with a relative in East Bay’s district at the start of the school year but had since moved due to financial reasons. Since they have relocated to Tampa, Dafney Hosey said her son remaining at East Bay was not an option and that she plans to appeal the FHSAA’s decision. She added that James will remain at Hillsborough, along with his younger brother, who also transferred to the school.

At last weekend’s USF/Steinbrenner Invitational, Hosey finished third in the 100-meter dash finals in 10.99 seconds and ran the third leg of Hillsborough’s 4x100 relay that won in 41.95 seconds, the state’s fourth-best mark of the season and tops for all schools in Class 3A. When the school realized Hosey had not yet filled out the necessary eligibility paperwork with the FHSAA, the points he scored at the meet, including those earned on the relay, were vacated. Even without those 16 points, the Terriers still earned first place in the boys standings.

While the Hosey family plans to appeal the ruling, Hillsborugh boys track coach Joe Sipp said his squad will attempt to move forward.

“As a team, we’re still strong and we’ll be fine,” Sipp said. “I just feel bad for James. It’s his senior year and now he can’t run. We as coaches are suppose to be in this for the kids and it seems to me there are some coaches who aren’t.”

Photo: Hillsborough’s James Hosey takes the baton from teammate Carlton Walton on the third leg of the 4x100-meter relay at Saturday’s USF/Steinbrenner Invitational. The Terriers won the race in 41.95 seconds, the state’s fastest time for Class 3A schools. Photo by Scott Purks.