Help for a Young Sheridan Athelete

[CATalyst]

Please see the letter below from Paul Oberhauser of Somerset, Ohio. His grandson is being prevented from playing HS sports due to not having a parent living in Ohio. Paul's daughter Sarah Oberhauser was killed in a car accident in Jan 2002. (See article http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/0 ... ed_in.html) Sarah's sister Janelle and her husband Darrell have gaurdianship of Drew, but since his father lives in another state and Sarah is deceased, the state still won't consider his case.

Please consider writing a letter of support -- especially if you knew Sarah or the Oberhauser family. Sarah would have done this for any one of us! Thank you very much!!!!
From Paul Oberhauser/Summerset, Ohio: I've attached a letter concerning the problems Drew has encountered with the Ohio High School Athletic Assn. We would greatly appreciate it if you could call, write or email Senator Schaffer and your State Representative and/or State Senator about it. If you know of anyone in Trimble School area who might remember Drew's mother, Sarah Oberhauser, we would greatly appreciate their support too. Thank you.

(Paul's letter from here down):

9530 Black Horse Rd. NW
Somerset, OH 43783

November 1, 2008

Dear
I am writing to you on behalf of my grandson, Drew VanWinkle. Drew is 14 yrs. old and
currently enrolled as a freshman at Sheridan High School in Thornville, Ohio. My daughter,
Janelle, her husband and I were appointed Drew’s legal guardians by the Union Circuit Court in
Union County, Indiana. Drew’s mother (my daughter Sarah) was killed in an auto collision in
January 2002. Drew’s biological father lives in W. College Corner, Indiana and agreed through
the Court to give up custody of Drew earlier this year.
Drew now lives with us on our farm near Somerset, Ohio. He is enrolled in Sheridan High
School and participated in conditioning for football during the summer. However, before the
season began, we learned that because Drew’s biological father lives in Indiana, Drew would
not be eligible to participate in any interscholastic sport. Bylaw 4-6-3 of the Ohio High School
Athletic Assn. requires that at least one parent live in Ohio. Changes of custody or legal
guardianship do not satisfy the bylaw. It is our understanding that this bylaw is in direct
contradiction with the Ohio Revised Code which equates legal guardian with parent. As a
result, Drew had to sit out the entire football season. Without some change or exception to
the bylaw, Drew will be sidelined all through his high school education.
This would be difficult for any high school student to accept. In a rural area like Perry County
where High School sports are integral to the High School experience, it is especially difficult.
Additionally, Drew has been a Type I diabetic for nine years. He has struggled to control this
life threatening disease. Physical activity is very important to his long-term health and
survival. When Drew came to live with us, his A1C (a 3 month indicator of blood sugar level)
was over 12 (target A1C is 6.5 to 7). By the end of the summer with better diet and insulin
control plus farm chores and football conditioning, Drew’s A1C was down to 8.2. His
endocrinologist acknowledges that physical activity is vital to Drew’s overall health. But he
remains stymied by OHSAA.
Although Drew and his legal guardians live in Ohio and he is legally enrolled in school in Perry
County, he is not allowed to participate in interscholastic sports. OSHAA insisted that his case
was unique and that an exception could not be made. Then we heard about another student
in Fairfield County, who is a senior living with his Aunt and Uncle and also prohibited from
participation in sports. We can’t help but believe that there are many other students across
the state excluded from normal high school experiences by this bylaw. Worst of all is the
thought that this bylaw discriminates against children who are most vulnerable. They have
either lost their parents and/or lost the support of their immediate families. We do not
understand why OSHAA would want to marginalize these children. The legal guardians and
schools are these kids’ lifelines and OSHAA is shoving them all aside.
Every effort to approach the Ohio High School Athletic Assn. on our part has failed. We have
retained an attorney and have sued the OSHAA but this could be a long, protracted effort
which might never benefit Drew. State Senator Tim Schaffer (SD#31) has taken up the cause of
Drew and the boy in Fairfield County and has tried to bring pressure on OSHAA to change this
discriminatory bylaw. He has said that if OSHAA does not address the problem, he will
introduce legislation to force OSHAA to fix the bylaw. Any support which you could lend to
Senator Schaffer would be greatly appreciated. His office phone is 614-466-5838. His email
address is: [email protected] . His mailing address: Senate Building, Rm#142, First
Floor; Columbus, OH 43215. A call, email or letter would let him know that others are
concerned over this discriminatory practice. If you could contact your State Senator or
Representative and make him aware of this problem, it would be a double benefit as it would
build support for Senator Schaffer’s bill if he has to go that route and it would place more
pressure on OSHAA.

Thank you so much for your help.
Sincerely yours,
Paul W. Oberhauser

[g w mclintock]

I remember Sarah. She was an outstanding player at Sheridan and Miami University.

It sounds to me like her son should be allowed to play and in a situation like this OSHAA should make an exception.

I for one will be sending the Senator an email.

[GAHS7462]

ttt

[duke]

Email has been sent. Good luck and hope Senator Shaffer's efforts are timely.

[soccerfix]

How many foreign exchange students parents live in the state?

[g w mclintock]

How many foreign exchange students parents live in the state?

Very good point...

[gilchs]

Something is not making sense. If someone has gaurdianship this makes them the legal gaurdian and where they reside is the child's residence. Are we missing a piece of this puzzle. Parents in state give up guardianship to non family memebers and this gives their child a right to play in Ohio.

[WitnessProtection]

I think exchange students' parents grant guardianship of their kids (if they are minors) to the host parents for the time the exchange kids are in the U.S. I could be wrong, but I believe that's how it works. Anybody on here ever host an exchange student that could shed light on this?
I agree with gilchs that there seems to be a piece of the puzzle missing in this case.

[GAHS7462]

I think exchange students' parents grant guardianship of their kids (if they are minors) to the host parents for the time the exchange kids are in the U.S. I could be wrong, but I believe that's how it works. Anybody on here ever host an exchange student that could shed light on this?
I agree with gilchs that there seems to be a piece of the puzzle missing in this case.

My thoughts also. What piece of the puzzle are we missing.

[76ers]

email sent

[g w mclintock]

For information purposes, here is the bylaw mentioned by Paul in his letter:

4-6-3 A student whose parents reside outside the state of Ohio but within the United States will
be ineligible for interscholastic athletics in a member school. (See Bylaw 4-8-1 for eligibility
requirements for students whose parents live outside the United States).
NOTE: A biological or adoptive parent must reside in Ohio. A change of custody/
guardianship does not satisfy the requirement of this bylaw.

[Yossarian]

e-mail sent, good luck!

[g w mclintock]

bump

[CATalyst]

Thank you all for your willingness to help and sending the emails. I will pass along your thoughtfulness to the family.

G W McLintock - What does "bump" mean?

[gilchs]

But a student inside ohio borders can be given a chance. It would seem to me that the idea of a transfer ( recruiting) come more within the borders of Ohio than outside transfers of gaurdianship/ adoption. This really is not fair and should be appealed at all levels.

[g w mclintock]

Thank you all for your willingness to help and sending the emails. I will pass along your thoughtfulness to the family.

G W McLintock - What does "bump" mean?

"Bump" to the top of the page.

[ohbuckeye2]

Thank you all for your willingness to help and sending the emails. I will pass along your thoughtfulness to the family.

G W McLintock - What does "bump" mean?

It puts the thread back to the top of the page.