***UPDATE 10/15/20 6:45 P.M.***
Bob Baker told WMBD News the family has decided not to pursue an emergency injunction, meaning Bryce will miss Friday’s meet. Monday’s appeal will take place at 11 A.M.
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***UPDATE 10/15/20 10:45 A.M.***
The IHSA has set the Baker family’s appeal for Monday. Bob Baker told WMBD News on Thursday the family has an attorney who is looking into an emergency injunction, which would enable Bryce to run until a court case is scheduled.
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BARTONVILLE, Ill. — The Illinois High School Association told a Limestone High School cross country runner Wednesday he won’t be allowed to compete in Friday’s conference meet at Detwiler Park because he took part in a Labor Day running event in East Peoria not sanctioned by IHSA.
When senior Bryce Baker’s father, Bob Baker, enlisted Bryce for ShaZam Racing’s “Crush Covid 3 Mile,” he didn’t realize he was breaking an IHSA rule.
However, Bryce’s high school coach Brian Glaza received an e-mail Wednesday from IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson and Assistant Executive Director Kraig Garber, saying the three-time letterman violated IHSA bylaw 3.101.
The bylaw in question “prohibits a student from participating on a non-school team or in non-school competition in the sport or any skill of a sport at the time the student is a member of a school team in that same sport.”
Glaza immediately forwarded the letter to Bryce’s mother, Amanda Baker, who then forwarded it to Bob Baker.
“I’m not a guy to show a lot of emotions, but it brought tears to my eyes, man,” Bob Baker said. “My kid’s busted his [butt] for the last 3.5 years, getting up at 6 A.M., running with teammates, running after school, putting up seven to 10 miles a day, six days a week.
“And now, I’ve got to look my son in the eyes and tell him hey, your dad screwed up and you can’t run the race.
“That’s messed up. Something he had no control over, whatsoever.”
Bryce’s mother sent an e-mail Wednesday afternoon to Anderson and Garber. Anderson responded.
“As the executive director of the IHSA, it is my position to establish the penalties for IHSA by-law violations,” the letter begins.
“Unfortunately, the lack of awareness of the by-law by Bryce or his school coach does not waive the application of the by-law.”
Bob Baker said his wife was going to submit a written request Wednesday night to Anderson, per protocol, for an appeals hearing, in hopes of getting the ruling overturned so Bryce can run Friday at the conference meet, and then in sectionals and regionals, should he qualify.
If the ruling were upheld, however, that would mean Bryce has run his final cross country race as a high school student.
Adam White, ShaZam founder, was also reportedly going to bat for Bryce, arguing to IHSA his event was not a competition, but rather just a time trial.
How the IHSA found out Bryce ran in the Labor Day event was a mystery, his father said.
But, Bob Baker added, he hoped his son isn’t being used as a pawn of retribution after the State of Illinois ruled there could be no fall sports state championships because of COVID.
“ShaZam is hosting a so-called state [championship] not sanctioned by the IHSA, and the event Bryce ran in is also a ShaZam racing event,” he explained.
“So, is there some type of bridge there, where they’re just trying to get back at ShaZam Racing, saying hey, you can’t do this?
“I hope not. I wouldn’t think so.”
Bryce was unavailable for comment in time for this story, but his father said the two had spoken about the situation via telephone when the news first broke.
“He was really upset, and Bryce is kind of like me, and doesn’t show a lot of emotions,” the elder male Baker said.
“In his own words, he was ‘[ticked] off.’”
WMBD News has reached out to Anderson for comment.
The full interview with Bob Baker:
