Undefeated lacrosse team's championship dreams end in controversy after players punished over fake cigars
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The championship quest of an unbeaten Massachusetts high school lacrosse team came to an unexpected halt this week. Ipswich High School was forced to forfeit its state semifinal match after school authorities declared nine of its players ineligible.

This decision has ignited a storm of controversy, as the players maintain that they did not breach the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association’s tobacco policy. They argue that the cigars they smoked during a graduation celebration contained no tobacco.

On Tuesday, Ipswich had to forfeit their MIAA Division 4 semifinal game against Cohasset High School due to insufficient eligible players.

According to a report by Boston.com, senior Christian Gianakakis and his teammates engaged in a graduation tradition on Sunday, smoking homemade cigars that Gianakakis claims were free of tobacco. He explained that his father crafted these cigars after an online order for fake cigars failed to arrive in time for the festivities.

The situation took a turn when a photograph of the students was brought to the attention of school officials, who, according to the report, assumed the cigars were genuine.

The controversy escalated after a photo of the students was reported to school officials, who believed the cigars were real, according to the report.

Gianakakis told Boston.com that he and several teammates later recovered one of the cigars and presented it to school administrators as evidence that it did not contain tobacco. He also told the outlet that Principal Jonathan Mitchell initially informed him and his father that the players would be allowed to participate in Tuesday’s semifinal before the decision was reversed roughly four hours before game time.

“It felt like a punch in the face. It was like we were being called liars,” Gianakakis told Boston.com.

Ipswich High School said in a statement that the team and coaching staff decided to forfeit because of a shortage of available players.

“Ipswich High School was very excited to have its boys lacrosse team advance to the Division 4 State Semifinals that was scheduled for Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.,” the school said in a statement on its website. “The team and coaching staff decided that due to the shortage of available players that it was in the best interest of the team to forfeit the game. We congratulate all of our players and coaches on a great season and for advancing to the Final Four.”

MIAA Executive Director Bob Baldwin told WEEI that the organization was aware of the situation but did not participate in determining whether the students could play.

Close-up of lacrosse scoop and ball on the field

A lacrosse stick and ball rest on a field. Ipswich High School forfeited its MIAA Division 4 state semifinal after nine players were ruled ineligible following a graduation celebration. (iStock)

“We did not rule in that. We were just made aware of it,” Baldwin said. “It’s a local decision; we did not get involved at all in that decision.”

Baldwin pointed to MIAA rules governing alcohol, tobacco and controlled substances, noting that such investigations are typically handled at the local level.

The MIAA handbook states that when a principal determines a student-athlete has violated rules governing alcohol, tobacco or controlled substances, the student loses eligibility for the next consecutive contests totaling 25% of that sport’s season.

The circumstances surrounding the eligibility decision remain unclear. According to Boston.com’s reporting, Gianakakis believes the final determination was made by Superintendent Brian Blake.

News Agency reached out to Superintendent Brian Blake, Principal Jonathan Mitchell and Athletic Director Tom Gallagher for comment.

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