After the South Carolina High School Sports League Appellate Panel ruled that fines won’t be enforced to region teams that forfeit games against Gray Collegiate Academy in any sport, Gray Collegiate has announced a meeting to address those concerns.

In a press release on Sept. 7 from the desk of Gray Collegiate principal Brian Newsome, the school announced a meeting scheduled for Tuesday Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the new basketball gym. 

The press release provided background information on the recent SCHSL rulings and addresses the speculation of teams opting to forfeit their region games against them because of the perceived competitive imbalance.

The release goes on to state their belief that the region opponents who forfeit those games are in violation of a recent state budget proviso.

“State Budget Proviso 1.50 mandates that the League guarantees that public charter schools are afforded the same rights and privileges that are enjoyed by all other members of the League. If that guarantee is not met, State Budget Proviso 1.50 prohibits public school districts and schools from sending funds to the League for any purpose. Most or all League member schools (other than GCA) have the right and privilege of playing a full region schedule during the 2023-2024 school year in all sports in which their student-athletes participate. As of now, based on the initial decisions of several schools in Region 4, AA, it appears that GCA and its student-athletes will be denied that same right and privilege during the 2023-2024 school year,” the release states.

 “As expressly recognized by the League in its Constitution, there are many benefits to student-athletes participating in interscholastic athletic competition, including but not limited to enriching each student’s educational experience, learning good sportsmanship, citizenship, and teamwork, promoting a healthy lifestyle, fostering involvement with a diverse student population, and competing for college scholarship funds. We believe that the denial of such important rights and privileges to GCA and its student athletes breaches the League’s Constitution, violates State Budget Proviso 1.50, and irreparably harms GCA and its student-athletes. To date, the League has taken no action to guarantee that these significant rights and privileges will be afforded to GCA and its student-athletes during the 2023-2024 school year. Please know that GCA strives to continue being a collaborative, friendly, law-abiding member of the League.”

Gray Collegiate plans to address further questions and how to move forward at this meeting.

“We would like to invite all student-athletes and their families to an informational meeting on GCA's current position, the proactive steps we've taken to support our athletes, and our next steps moving forward. This is a time when we need all of our athletes and families to bond together to support the mission and vision of our school.” 

Gray Collegiate is scheduled to play Camden Sept. 8 and if all of their region opponents elect to forfeit their scheduled games, it will be the War Eagles’ last game of the regular season, meaning they won’t play again until November.