PSAL Vetoes Patriots Claim

The Public Schools Athletic League confirmed Tuesday that it refused to accept a protest Francis Lewis swimming coach Jeff Scherr tried to lodge in the wake of the Patriots loss in swimming last Wednesday to Long Island City.
The complaint revolved around Francisco Jimenez, a sophomore who transferred to LIC last summer from Brandeis High in Manhattan. In the Bulldogs 54-40 victory, the final meet of the regular season for both teams, Jimenez competed in his first PSAL events after receiving on January 17 approval of his appeal to the league to waive the requirement that he sit out a year.
"It was found that the kid was not ineligible, which negates any protest," said Paul Barchitta, a PSAL coordinator. "There was a hearing held January 17 on behalf of that student, and the decision made by the hearing officer was that he would be able to swim."
The Bulldogs (10-0) and Patriots (9-1) both entered Wednesdays dual meet at LIC with undefeated marks. Jimenez won two individual events and also swam legs in two relays, earning 8 points by himself and helping LIC gain 9 more in relays.
Only one school from Queens qualifies for the eight-team playoff field. With its victory over Francis Lewis, the boroughs playoff representative each of the past five years, LIC earned the lone spot this season.
"I knew Francis Lewis would appeal, and I knew nothing would come of it," said Bulldogs coach Alex Bravo. "All the information for this kid is on file."
Scherr said Monday he received that afternoon a two-sentence memo by fax from Bob Kolonkowski, the PSALs swimming commissioner, stating that Jimenez had been ruled eligible. But Scherr added he would raise further objections on ethical grounds, complaining that he could not properly arrange his lineup because he had no information on Jimenez, a club swimmer with the Flushing Flyers.
The arrangement of swimmers in events is considered by many coaches as the key to earning enough points to win a meet.
"Its really not sour grapes here," Scherr said. "This is a matter of whats ethically correct and what is good sportsmanship. Where is the PSAL on this that a kid can walk in and compete in the final meet of the season? It stinks. Its like legal disclosure at a trial. Youre obligated to reveal new information. This was hidden."
Bravo said a delay in the decision on Jiminezs eligibility resulted from the PSALs misplacement of a fax he sent to the league on December 16 that contained information about the appeal. He said he resubmitted the information on January 2 or 3 and received approval on January 17.
The Bulldogs last meet before its showdown with Francis Lewis took place January 16 at home against John Adams.
"Unethical? [Scherr] wants to talk about ethics?" said Bravo, a third-year coach who graduated from Jamaica High in 1990. "He broke rules last year by not posting his swimmers times on the leagues Web site. Who is he kidding?You have to learn to win as a coach, and you have to learn to lose as a coach, and he doesnt do either with any grace."