A judge ruled in favor of Grand Rapids Catholic Central on Friday, Oct. 30, ordering the Michigan High School Athletic Association to reinstate the Cougars in the Division 5 football playoffs, according to a statement from the MHSAA.
“The MHSAA’s difficult decision to remove Grand Rapids Catholic Central from the football playoffs for having fielded an ineligible player this season was challenged today in state court, which entered an order directing Catholic Central’s first-round participation in the playoffs,” the state high school association said in a statement emailed to the Free Press.
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The Cougars were set to host Comstock Park (4-5) at 7 p.m. Friday, with the winner advancing to the district final next week to await the winner of Berrien Springs vs. Lakewood.
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On Thursday, the MHSAA announced it had removed Grand Rapids Catholic Central from the postseason for the use of an ineligible player over six games during the regular season, which forced the GRCC to forfeit five regular-season victories. With the forfeits, Grand Rapids Catholic Central no longer qualified for the state playoffs in the MHSAA’s playoff-point system.
In the statement, the MHSAA said it “was not provided an opportunity to participate in those legal proceedings and only learned of the court’s order late this afternoon.”
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The MHSAA would have presented new evidence, received in the past week, that explains its decision, the group added in its statement. According to Kent County court records, there is a show-cause hearing scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6 at 9 a.m.
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According to Catholic Central, the ineligible player enrolled in the school in January 2026, and the MHSAA sent a letter in August confirming their eligibility. In October, the MHSAA informed CC it had new information about the family’s former residence and renewed its investigation. CC held the player out of the final two games.
The MHSAA ruled, one day before the 2026 playoffs were set to begin, that the player did not satisfy the “full and complete” residence change as required by the state handbook.
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“While the MHSAA disagrees with the court’s order and handling of the matter, we respect the legal process and believe the courts will appreciate hearing from us on this important matter,” the group also said in its statement following Friday’s court decision.
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Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Judge orders MHSAA to reinstate Grand Rapids CC in football playoffs
