COLUMBUS —The recent ruling by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) that the Eastern High School football program would have to forfeit wins in light of a residency issue involving a player has been reversed, according to Tim Stried, director of information services for the OHSAA.

In a conversation with Stried late Thursday afternoon, he informed The Daily Sentinel that recent sanctions against Eastern High School would not be enforced, citing the receipt of new information.

Stried stated that Commissioner Dr. Daniel Ross said additional information submitted on Thursday afternoon caused the student-athlete to be retrospectively eligible and that the Eagles’ wins would be reinstated.

The reinstatement of wins makes the Eagles 6-3 prior to this week’s contest against Southern.

This news came unexpectedly following a special Eastern Local Board of Education meeting held Wednesday night at which approximately 75 players, coaches, parents and fans weighed the possible outcomes of an appeal to the initial OHSAA ruling. After entering into executive session to discuss possible consequences, the board voted 4-0 in favor of moving forward with an appeal.

Superintendent Scot Gheen, in an effort to explain the situation to those in attendance, emphasized that no child or student-athlete was at fault.

While there was custody paperwork completed in the State of Florida, the same paperwork was not sufficient in Ohio according to Gheen. Since that time, a custody order has been put in place by Meigs County Juvenile Judge Scott Powell.

Board President Adam Will stated that the administration made every effort to correct that matter. He added that the OHSAA had overruled the order by Powell regarding custody.

While members of the board noted that the chances of winning such an appeal may not be good, they agreed to keep fighting.

However, OHSAA’s reversal of its original decision negates the need for appeal.

The OHSAA has indicated that further information will be made available to The Daily Sentinel on Friday. Check our website at www.mydailysentinel.com for updates to this and other local news stories.