At least four of the six Massillon Washington High School football players involved in an ongoing eligibility lawsuit against the Ohio High School Athletic Association will be able to take the field Friday, according to a new statement from the law firm representing the students and their families.
Plakas Mannos, the Canton-based law firm representing the players, issued a statement Wednesday, Oct. 7, reaffirming its commitment to challenging OHSAA’s transfer eligibility restrictions.
The announcement comes one day after a hearing in Stark County Common Pleas Court concerning whether the players should continue receiving protection from OHSAA’s eligibility decisions while their lawsuit proceeds.
Visiting Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County is presiding over the case.
Attorneys for both sides were expected to submit closing briefs by Thursday, Oct. 8, after which Logan will consider the arguments before issuing a decision on the requested preliminary injunction.
“The case is continuing, but currently at least four of the six high school students at the center of this case will be able to take the field with their team this Friday,” the law firm said.
The statement did not identify which four players are expected to participate Friday or clarify the eligibility status of the remaining two.
The six players involved in the lawsuit are Brayton and Brydon Feister, Da’Shun Williams, Gary Yeager, Micah Walker and Dey’Veair Adams.
The legal dispute began Sept. 25, when the players and their families filed suit challenging OHSAA’s transfer eligibility rules. A temporary restraining order subsequently allowed the students to continue participating while the court considered their claims.
OHSAA later denied transfer exception requests for the Feister brothers, who previously attended Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron.
The association acknowledged that the Feister family established a residence in Massillon but determined that the family’s desire to transfer schools preceded and motivated the move.
Under OHSAA’s transfer rules, the denial would make the brothers ineligible for the second half of the regular season and postseason unless court protection or another eligibility determination allows them to participate.
Attorneys representing the Feisters have challenged that interpretation, arguing that OHSAA is imposing an unwritten requirement concerning when families must make decisions about housing and education.
The lawsuit also involves three other players whose transfer exception applications remained pending in earlier court filings. OHSAA previously granted Williams full eligibility.
Following Tuesday’s hearing, attorneys for both sides were given until Thursday to submit additional written arguments. The court is expected to consider those filings before issuing a decision on the requested preliminary injunction.
A preliminary injunction could prevent OHSAA from enforcing disputed eligibility restrictions while the underlying lawsuit continues. Tuesday’s hearing did not necessarily require a final determination of the students’ eligibility.
In Wednesday’s statement, Plakas Mannos emphasized that the case extends beyond football and raises broader questions about parental decision-making.
“Because, at the end of the day, this case isn’t just about Massillon. It isn’t about a record, a rivalry, or a championship. It isn’t even just about football,” the firm said.
The statement identified all six players and said the dispute concerns who should determine where families live and which schools their children attend.
“It is about who gets to decide where a family lives and who decides what school is best for their children,” the firm said.
The law firm also questioned whether an athletic association should be permitted to challenge those decisions and impose athletic eligibility consequences on students.
OHSAA, meanwhile, has argued in court filings that its transfer rules are intended to maintain competitive balance and that courts should generally defer to decisions made by voluntary athletic associations.
The association has also maintained that the students should pursue available administrative appeals before seeking judicial intervention.
Plakas Mannos said its legal team, including managing member Lee Plakas, attorney W. Scott Gwin, paralegal Beth Burns and law clerk Gene Valentino, remains committed to representing the students.
“Our firm believes that parents should not be forced to choose between making the decisions they believe are best for their families and allowing their children to continue participating in the sports they love,” the firm said.
The attorneys said they will continue pursuing favorable eligibility decisions for all six students.
As of Wednesday’s statement, the firm indicated at least four players would be able to participate Friday, but the status of the remaining two was not specified.
A decision from visiting Judge Andrew Logan on the preliminary injunction remains pending. The ruling could determine whether OHSAA can enforce its disputed eligibility decisions while the lawsuit continues.
