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RIIL plans to issue punishments Tuesday for soccer fight |
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Monday, 16 November 2009 |
By BRENDAN McGAIR
Sports writer
PROVIDENCE – Expect closure to the Woonsocket-Tolman girls’ soccer skirmish today, noted Rhode Island Interscholastic League executive director Tom Mezzanotte.
The findings from the RIIL's Principals Committee on Athletics – in which Tolman High School principal Fred Silva is a member, though obviously he abstained when the verdicts were drawn up – will be delivered to school officials this morning. The Interscholastic League also plans to make a general statement.
“It will state that penalties were issued to those involved as a deterrent to any further incidents,” said Mezzanotte when reached at league headquarters Monday afternoon. “Of course the schools have the right to appeal the decisions, or they can go along with them.”
Mezzanotte would not elaborate as to the specifics of the punishments awaiting the student-athletes, nor does his office plan to reveal specific names.
The incident took place with roughly a minute remaining in Woonsocket's eventual 5-0 victory in the Division IV championship last Sunday at Rhode Island College. Two players bumped into each other, resulting in pushing and punches being exchanged along with hair pulling. Order was quickly restored, though the game was halted.
Mezzanotte, stationed on the sidelines at the time of the fight, cancelled the awards ceremony after the schools’ fans engaged in verbal jabs while attempting to exit the stands. The Tolman and Woonsocket players were not allowed to depart the grounds until the parking lot was cleared out.
On a personal note, Mezzanotte feels the incident has received far too much attention. The Associated Press jumped on the story the following day, as did ESPN.
“My feeling is that the girls were wrong, there’s no question,” said Mezzanotte. “However, the media exposure that they have been subjected to is totally unbelievable.”
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 November 2009 )
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