Immokalee to learn fate for sports program

Immokalee High will learn Wednesday what punishment it will receive from the Florida High School Athletic Association after three overage students were allowed to participate in Immokalee athletic contests.

FHSAA associate commissioner of compliance Sonny Hester will send a letter of consequences to Immokalee on Wednesday via certified mail and fax, detailing the punishment for using three adults between the ages of 20 and 30 on the school soccer and football teams. One athlete, 30-year-old Blandel Jean, played on both the football team as a backup kicker and was a long-time standout on the soccer team.

Hester said Tuesday the FHSAA could have sent either a letter of consequences or a letter asking for more information. The association felt it already had enough information to make a ruling. A copy of the letter also will be sent to Collier County School District assistant superintendent Eric Williams, who had been in correspondence with the FHSAA throughout the investigation.

The violations, which led to the resignation of Immokalee High principal Manny Touron to resign as volunteer assistant soccer coach, could cost the Indians their 2005 and 2006 district soccer titles and their 2005 district football title. The teams could forfeit all games in which ineligible players participated.