Tulsa - The Sand Springs Sandites will miss the playoffs after having to forfeit a district victory over Claremore because of the use of an ineligible player.

The school district sent out a release today, saying the player in question moved to Sand Springs with a custodial parent last December and enrolled in January.

"Since the student was a legal resident of the school district who had made a bona fide move to Sand Springs and was living with a biological parent, the administration of Charles Page High School determined it was not necessary to file for a Hardship Waiver," the release indicates.

But, OSSAA rules state that since the student's move to Sand Springs involved a divorce, his athletic eligibility remained in the school district where eligibility was established and participation in athletics elsewhere would require a hardship waiver.

Sand Springs won the October 23rd game 28-to-24. By virtue of the forfeit, Sand Springs' record moves to 4-and-5 overall and 2-and-4 in District 6A-3.

"The administration of the Sand Springs Public Schools and of Charles Page High School deeply regret the situation, in particular the loss of victory that our students worked so hard to win on the field of play," administrators said. "The loss is particularly painful for our players to understand."

Officials say the player was not recruited, didn't receive preferential treatment and remains academically eligible as a student at Charles Page High School.

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