Land O’ Lakes forced to forfeit 44 athletic contests

Posted Feb 15, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated Feb 15, 2012 at 07:42 PM

The Florida High School Athletic Association announced penalties and sanctions Wednesday to a story first reported by The Pasco Tribune involving illegal recruiting of two Land O’ Lakes student-athletes, who are siblings.

The FHSAA, in a letter to Principal Ric Mellin from executive director Roger Dearing, determined the student-athletes involved violated Bylaw 9.1.2.2 for “Falsification of Information” to enroll at Land O’ Lakes High.

In all, six bylaws and policies were involved.

Because Land O’ Lakes self-reported on Feb. 10, the fines levied were reduced from $80,000 to $3,200.

“At this point I will only confirm that we have self-reported an incident within our athletics program, but we are not willing to discuss the situation and will wait until the FHSAA provides us with a response,” Mellin said in an email Wednesday.

Later, by telephone, Mellin said he had seen a copy of the report and would not comment, pending a possible appeal.

One of student-athlete participated in 23 football games and five boys weightlifting meets last year. The other played junior varsity volleyball.

It is believed the student-athletes never moved and, with the help of a coach and Land O’ Lakes booster, obtained a false address within the Land O’ Lakes school boundaries.

The coach has been dismissed, although Mellin said is was not anyone from current football coach Brian Wachtel’s current staff. Wachtel took over for Matt Kitchie in 2010.

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