GOSHEN – The members of the Middletown School District who were present at today’s court hearing to determine if the Middletown High School football team was going to be able to play in the Section 9 Class AA championship game withdrew their petition after learning that the judge was going to rule against the district. The withdrawal ends Middletown’s attempt to overturn a previous decision that forced the undefeated Middies football team to forfeit its Section 9 Class AA semifinal victory over Valley Central because of an ineligible player, and ends the team’s season.
Middletown was seeking to reclaim its spot in Saturday’s Section 9 Class AA championship game against rival Newburgh Free Academy (NFA), scheduled for noon at Monroe-Woodbury High.
“It sucks. It hurts,” Middletown star quarterback Jo Jo Royal said “There’s so much emotions going on inside my head. I feel so bad for the seniors. I got my hopes up when I told myself not to. And now it just feels like heartbreak all over again.”
Middletown Superintendent Amy Creeden sought court intervention after appeals to Section 9 and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) failed to reverse the forfeiture. The district filed an Article 78 proceeding in Orange County Supreme Court, challenging the decision to disqualify the Middies from advancing.
The case was heard by Supreme Court Justice Verris B. Shako on Friday, following Thursday proceedings in which no determination was made. The timing left the Middies’ championship hopes in limbo until one day before the scheduled game.
Middletown’s petition followed a 48-15 victory over Valley Central in the Nov. 6 semifinal. The eligibility issue surfaced over the weekend after NFA coaches contacted Valley Central’s coaching staff about a Middletown player they had not previously seen on game film.
Valley Central Athletic Director Theresa Uhelsky subsequently reported the infraction to Section 9, sources confirmed to Mid-Hudson News.
Middletown was forced to forfeit because the player had not been listed on the team’s roster for three regular-season games, as required by Section 9 rules. Valley Central will now play NFA for the Class AA title.
In its court filing, Middletown called the disqualification “arbitrary and capricious” and argued that the violation resulted from an administrative misunderstanding involving an adult, not the actions of the players.
The district maintained that the student served exclusively as a kickoff specialist, participating in eight kickoffs, and that his participation did not compromise competitive fairness or player safety.
Middletown completed its first undefeated regular season since 1965 before the forfeit. The district also faced a similar eligibility issue in 2019, when the Middies forfeited four games, including three division contests, and failed to qualify for the playoffs.
”It’s been a tough week,” Newburgh football coach Bill Bianco said. “At this point, our kids are focused on doing the best they can in the championship game.”
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