As a result of a school-related incident Friday morning October 6, Campus Magnet forfeited their varsity and jayvee football games Saturday against Jamaica and Information Technology.
The Math & Science Principal at the Cambria Heights school, Andrea Holt, who also oversees the sports programs there, made the call to the Public School Athletic League to cancel the games and also barred the team from practicing on school grounds over the holiday weekend.
Department of Education spokesperson Margie Feinberg confirmed the games were cancelled on Holt's request. Holt characterized the incident as “inappropriate behavior.” She cancelled the games to conduct a full investigation and “to make sure there were no other issues.”
The decision upset players and coaches, who found out late Friday afternoon of the forfeit before their scheduled practice. “They're very hurt by this, they are confused,” said Campus Magnet Coach Eric Barnett, adding he felt “devastated.”
“Everybody's miserable and depressed,” center Frank Cox said. “She held everybody accountable. I think she overreacted. She said she wanted to investigate.”
“She should investigate,” he continued, “not cancel the varsity football game and jayvee football game. This didn't even happen during football activities, it happened during the school. This woman overreacted, cancelled both games and our record is going to suffer for that.”
Parents were likewise upset. A dozen of them met with Holt Tuesday morning, October 10, when she informed them the two teams had been reinstated. Holt also has made inroads towards getting the game played. She contacted PSAL officials about rescheduled the match-up at a later date.
Depending on scheduling conflicts, the game could be made up, “if feasible,” PSAL football commissioner Alan Arbuse said.
On the field, William Bryant shutout Alfred E. Smith, 19-0; August Martin lost to Tilden, 26-12; Bayside dropped their fifth straight to Midwood, 22-8; Springfield Gardens was walloped by Wadleigh, 50-6; and John Adams was crushed by New Dorp, 42-0.
In the Catholic League, St. Francis Prep blanked Bishop Ford, 22-0, while Holy Cross lost to Iona Prep, 42-20, and Christ the King was blasted by Kellenberg, 26-6.
