The Missouri State High School Activities Association awarded Valley Park the Class 1 District 1 championship after reviewing additional footage from an altercation between district champion St. Mary’s and its semifinal opponent Gateway Science Academy.
In the final minutes of St. Mary’s 3-0 district semifinal victory on Nov. 6, a physical altercation between two players escalated into a situation involving players from both teams. Four red cards were issued to St. Mary’s and two were issued to Gateway Science Academy.
In a letter issued to St. Mary’s soccer parents and posted on ‘X,’ St. Mary’s president Michael England said that athletic director Brock Chatman contacted MSHSAA the following day, sent along a video, and asked how the school needed to address the situation.
“Through several emails and phone calls between Brock and MSHSAA, we were told to suspend those who left the bench and joined the altercation, along with those who received red cards, which is what we did,” England wrote.
During its 4-0 district championship victory over Valley Park on Tuesday, Nov. 11, St. Mary’s played without the four players who received red cards and two additional players who left the bench and joined the altercation.
According to a press release issued Thursday by MSHSAA, a new, higher quality video was discovered Wednesday “…which provided clear evidence multiple players had left the bench and entered the field during the altercation. St. Mary’s South Side Catholic explained they believed the policy directed suspension only for players who ‘joined’ the altercation. The policy does not use that language.”
The St. Mary’s players who left the bench, entered the field, but did not join the altercation were participants in the district championship game against Valley Park.
The MSHSAA release continued, “…As a result, St. Mary’s Southside Catholic must forfeit its district championship victory. … Valley Park High School – the most recently defeated opponent – will advance to represent Class 1 District 1 in the Class 1 quarterfinal on Saturday, November 15.”
Valley Park (10-10), the defending Class 1 champion, will pay Metro (13-5) at Rockwood Summit High at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Class 1 District 1 quarterfinal.
In a post on ‘X,’ England called the decision to strip the soccer team of its district championship, “incredibly disappointing,” adding in his letter to parents:
“This has all happened so quickly and we are trying to handle it the best we can… Our young men, as they always are, remain our top priority and this will not change as we decide our response to this unfortunate situation.”