Ipswich Officials Reject 6 Players' Fake-Cigar Claim as Team Vote Triggered Semifinal Forfeit
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 12
Ipswich Officials Reject 6 Players' Fake-Cigar Claim as Team Vote Triggered Semifinal Forfeit
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 12
Summary
Ipswich High officials said Friday the six lacrosse players were suspended after photos, a smudged receipt and later receipt verification undercut claims the post-graduation cigars contained tea rather than tobacco.
A second photo not previously shared showed cigars smoked down, visible smoke around one student and a torch lighter in another player's hand, the district said.
The school said principal Jonathan Mitchell later found the supermarket receipt for the purported fake cigars was generated 20 minutes after families were first told of the possible violation.
The district said the semifinal was forfeited after three players refused to play in solidarity, leaving 11 available; players then overwhelmingly voted to forfeit, though one student said superintendent Brian Blake made the final call.
A parent attorney accused Blake of bias and retaliation tied to an earlier lacrosse safety controversy, while the school said it was applying MIAA chemical-health rules consistently.