Court bars Cougars from football playoffs
A Kent County judge upheld the MHSAA's disqualification, ending Grand Rapids Catholic Central's 2026 tournament run after a ruling on player eligibility.
By Chioma Brooks ·
Grand Rapids Catholic Central will not play in the 2026 high school football playoffs, following a Monday afternoon ruling by Kent County Circuit Court Judge Paul Denenfeld. The judge sided with the Michigan High School Athletic Association, which had removed the Cougars from the Division 5 tournament for using an ineligible player. The decision ends the team's postseason campaign one day before their scheduled district final.
The legal dispute began on Thursday, Oct. 29, when the MHSAA disqualified the Cougars after an eligibility review. The issue centered on a player who transferred from Comstock Park to Catholic Central in January 2026. Although the MHSAA initially cleared the athlete in August, new video evidence surfaced on Oct. 26. The footage suggested the player's family had not made a "full and complete move" out of the Comstock Park school district, a requirement for immediate eligibility in the same sport.
Catholic Center senior Noah Zainea filed an injunction on Oct. 30. Judge Denenfeld granted a temporary restraining order, allowing the Cougars to play their Round 1 match against Comstock Park. Grand Rapids Catholic Central won that game 56-13. Both parties then returned to court for a show-cause hearing on Friday, where they presented their final arguments. Denenfeld stated he would deliver his decision by Monday afternoon.
The ruling affects the Cougars' record. They finished the regular season with a 7-2 mark as the top-ranked team in Division 5. However, the player participated in six of those regular-season games. If the MHSAA's initial disqualification had stood, the Cougars would have dropped to a 2-7 record, effectively eliminating them from playoff contention.
MHSAA Director of Communications Geoff Kimmerly issued a statement thanking the court for its prompt decision. He noted that the ruling confirms the integrity of the association's eligibility rules, which member schools expect to be enforced as written.
With the Cougars out, Berrien Springs receives a forfeit victory in the Division 5 district final. The Shamrocks, who hold a 10-1 record, will face West Catholic (9-2) in Saturday's regional final. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. on the Falcons' home field.
