BERLIN — The group that oversees high school sports in Connecticut is investigating accusations that a high school was moving students from other towns so they could be eligible to play football.
Berlin Superintendent David Erwin says the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference is reviewing the residency statuses of the Berlin High School football team. He says they want to be sure all the students playing are legitimate students living the town and they are lookign at Coach John Capodice.
The Redcoats are 6-1 this year.
Students are ineligible to play sports if they do not live in the municipality. Erwin says he hopes to have the issue resolved no later than Nov. 20.
New Britain Superintendent Kelt Cooper said in a statement that the district is cooperating with Berlin and the CIAC.
Coach Capodice’s lawyer released the following statement:
John Capodice is a life-long Berlin resident who has been instrumental in the success of students on and off the field for more than a decade.
He has dedicated his life to helping children from elementary age to high school and beyond.
He would never jeopardize the strong tradition of the Berlin Football program, its athletes, and its coaches…both current and past.
We have been in full cooperation with the CIAC investigation. However, we have not been provided the same courtesy from Berlin school administrators including Athletic Director Dan Scavone.
My services were retained because of the unfair due process my client has received from these administrators. We have no details from this investigation at all. This, despite many efforts to obtain the self-report.
We look forward to responding to the investigation, as soon as we know the details.
The Law Office of Viral L. Keshwala, Esquire
Attorney at Law
