Heard Around the Track

 

April 18, 2002 - Angie Saterstad of Hershey has been reinstated to her team following a favorable ruling by a PIAA District III Rules Committee Hearing on Wednesday, 4/17 at Lower Dauphin HS. Hershey HS had been concerned that the transfer rule of athletes had been violated when Saterstad moved to the district last summer. The vote by the committee was 8-5, affirming that Saterstad had not moved into the District because of athletic purposes. Story in the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

April 9, 2002  

An elite PA runner has been locked out of her team's practices and meets as her school district confirms an investigation is under way by saying that 'no conclusion has been reached at any level regarding (her) eligibility.'

4/10/02 - Statement from Hershey Athletic Director Robert Shaffer: We do not allow anyone to compete with a team because of a failiure to follow team rules, regardless of their caliber. And there are some situlations that the PIAA will rule for us. All I can reveal at this time, because of sensitivity, is that if the PIAA rules that no violation occurred and the family is prepared to ahhere to disctrict policy, there is every reason to believe that will happen (her reinstatement to the team). Call me the 18th and I may be able to reveal more".

The athlete is Hershey distance star Angie Saterstad, a junior. Saterstad had competed for both Upper Dauphin and Line Mountain school districts during her first two years of high school. Her family moved to the Derry Township School District during August, 2001. Angie competed for the Hershey HS XC team last fall, and was the 2001 District 3 XC Champion (left). This winter, she was the owner of the fastest two-mile time (10:50.85,) and 3rd fastest 3000 time (10:10.13) in Pennsylvania.

According to a press release issued by her family last week, the school was apparently upset by Angie's desire to compete at a national indoor meet in New York, which prevented her from joining the team for the first week of practice. The family's impression was that she had been suspended for the outdoor T&F season.

Hershey T&F Coach Kevin Stover responded to a request for information from PennTrackXC with a 'no comment.' The first official statement from Hershey came this afternoon from Derry Township Assistant Superintendent Curtis Griffin. "No conclusion has been reached at any level regarding the eligibility of Angie Saterstad at this time. The policy of the district is to attempt to resolve all eligibility questions as promptly as possible in accordance with the wishes and information provided by the student's family in the best interests of the entire school community and consistent with the established rules and policies of the PIAA."

The outcome of this apparent investigaton has consequences which could directly affect Saterstad and her ability to attract interest, and therefore scholarships, from college track programs when she becomes eligible for official contact July 1, 2002. It has already prevented her from competing in the high school girls' 3000 at the upcoming Penn Relays. The Carnival does not allow high school age athletes to compete unattached. Angie's indoor times would have placed her ahead of three other PA athletes who are on the official start list. Competing in visible, high caliber events such as the Penn Relays is important to athletes who are trying to attract positive attention.

The clock is also ticking on her eligibility to compete in the PIAA State Championships at the end of May, because of the following PIAA rule: Outside Participation: If you participate as an individual or as a member of a team in a non-school athletic program, while enrolled at a school which has a team in that sport, you will be eligible for the playoffs in that sport only if you are in uniform and available to participate as a member of your school team for at least 75 percent of its regular season contests."

Stay tuned.