A high school runner’s decision to participate in a race to raise money for United Way has cost him his spot on the cross country team at Masuk High School in Monroe. Now student athletes are rallying behind their ineligible teammate, launching a petition in an effort to get him back on the team.
Colin Raymond, a sophomore at Masuk High School, ran in a town charity 5k on Sunday. When he came back to school, his coach told him the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference had stripped him of his eligibility for the rest of the season because he broke a rule by running the race.
The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference handbook states, “Participation in meets, games or tournaments is prohibited unless a member school, conference or group of member schools is the sponsor.”
“It is a ridiculous rule,” Raymond said. “I only thought I couldn’t run if there was money involved, like I couldn’t win money.”
His removal from the team came as a shock to his fellow runners, who have launched a change.org petition in an effort to get him reinstated. It received more than 600 signatures in 48 hours.
“I would like them to reconsider his ineligibility and possibly race in meets this season,” Ethan Bassett said, who started the petition.
In the meantime, Raymond is still allowed to practice with the team and will be eligible to compete again next year. His family says they have not yet decided whether or not they will appeal because they are not sure if a decision could be reached before the end of the season.
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NBC Connecticut reached out to the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, but as of Thursday night, had not heard back.
