Issaiah Chappell of Sunapee ruled eligible to play for Sunapee
2016-01-16
Issaiah Chappell has been ruled immediately eligible to play for Sunapee
By the NHsportspage Staff
SUNAPEE - The NHIAA revealed yesterday that it had reversed its original decision to deny Issaiah Chappell eligibility for the remainder of the 2015-16 season, and will allow the prep-school transfer to immediately join the Sunapee boys basketball team.
The state's leading scorer from a season ago re-enrolled at Sunapee Middle High School on Dec. 21, days after completing an academic semester at Bradford Christian Academy in Haverhill, Mass. Chappell - who announced in August he would be leaving Sunapee in favor of the preparatory school - cited both a cultural shock, and the health of a family member in deciding to return home.
Chappell's initial request for eligibility was denied by NHIAA Executive Director Jeff Collins on Dec. 28, prompting an appeal of the decision two days later by members of the Sunapee administration. That appeal led to a face-to-face meeting with Chappell, school administrators and members of the eligibility committee on Jan. 12, and despite hope of a decision within 24 hours, it wasn't until yesterday that his reinstatement was implemented.
A member of Chappell's family reacted to the news in a text message to nhsportspage.com last night.
"There were, and still are, hardships occurring that gave us no choice but to bring him home," the family member wrote. " We are so thankful that the NHIAA recognized those hardships and didn't penalize Issaiah for things completely out of his control."
The reversal comes with plenty of opposition, though, mostly among coaches within Division IV. One of those coaches, Newmarket's Jamie Hayes, will get to see Chappell and Sunapee in person tonight.
"No one has an issue with Issaiah," said Hayes, whose team will travel to face the Lakers tonight at 7 p.m. "It's about rules that were in place and are not being enforced."
Those rules, located in Section 4 of the NHIAA Handbook, state that a student transferring to an NHIAA member school can't be added to a roster after the opening of a season. The rules also state that a student transferring back to their local school from a non-member school - or prep school - is required to be enrolled for a full year to establish athletic eligibility.
As a senior, enforcement of either rule would have ridden Chappell a chance to play in a fourth and final season. But as argued by Chappell and his family, it was hardships - including an inability to adjust to living in a town of 60,000-plus residents after growing up in a town of just 3,000 - that led to his to return the school in which he played his first-three high school seasons.
"Was he there for tryouts on the first day or was he not even enrolled at Sunapee?" Hayes asked. "While Issaiah was playing against college-level kids all fall ... the other Division IV kids were playing soccer. How is that not an unfair advantage?"
Chappell did endure frequent practices at BCA, but saw limited game action as a disciplinary issue resulted in a brief suspension from the team. It is not known whether that suspension played into the NHIAA's initial denial of eligibility.
Sunapee (4-1) has shocked many with its success this season without Chappell on its roster, as the team hasn't lost since its season opener against Woodsville, and currently ranks fifth among Division IV teams. Senior Matt Tenney - son of head coach Ed Tenney - is a big reason why, as his 24.2 points per game ranks first in the division and seventh in the state overall.
Chappell - a two-time all-state honoree and 1,000-point scorer - is now free to return to the team he led to a runner-up season just two years ago, and according to his family, is looking forward to once again dawning green and white.
"Issaiah is so happy to be home with his family, friends and school," a family member wrote. "We are so fortunate to have so many supportive people in our lives."