ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) — In its first playoff game following a Virginia High School League (VHSL)-imposed two-year postseason ban, which a judge temporarily blocked, the Hayfield Hawks defeated the Edison Eagles.
The game comes amid controversy — Hayfield has been scrutinized for alleged recruiting violations.
The violations involve first-year head coach Darryl Overton, who just took the job at Hayfield after a successful stint with Freedom-Woodbridge, and several recruits who followed him to the Alexandria school.
In a letter to community members, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Michelle Reid reiterated that every Hawk who has played this year has been deemed eligible. An FCPS internal investigation did not find alleged wrongdoing.
“Coaches, athletes, parents, and fans are frustrated by the circumstances that their teams are in now, because of the ambiguities within the VHSL’s rules and policies,” Reid wrote.
“God bless the judge,” said Hamdael Omar, who has a nephew on the team. “Nobody in this world could take away how hard these kids worked.”
In her letter, Reid promised an external review of student-athlete transfer and eligibility practices.
“I think all sports, all levels, all the schools should abide by the same rules. Not just Hayfield,” said Hayfield fan Rick Perry.
The frustration around the league came to a head when six other Fairfax County coaches threatened to forfeit their playoff games if Hayfield was allowed to play. None did.
Included in that list of coaches was Edison’s Chad Lewis. Edison lost in the first round of the playoffs to Hayfield.
“I don’t know that it’s fair to set teams up … with other teams that they’re supposedly evenly matched with, with a team who is like a college-level team,” said Maisi Julian, an Edison parent.
She added she feels as though she lost trust in FCPS.
“They said they had an independent investigation,” she said. “It didn’t seem independent to any of us.”
The Hawks, who were 9-1 entering the playoffs, are eyeing a state title.
Omar said this has been a distraction for the student-athletes.
“Everybody wants to see them down and they pushed through,” he said.
The next hearing in the court case is set for Dec. 4, just days before the state semifinal, should Hayfield advance.
