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Ipswich lacrosse players dispute school's account after cigar photo leads to playoff forfeit
Ipswich lacrosse players dispute school's account after cigar photo leads to playoff forfeit
WCVB logo. Updated: 5:21 AM EDT Jun 11, 2026
Editorial Standards ⓘ
Tim Nazzaro
Digital Content Editor
Peter Eliopoulos
Reporter
IPSWICH, Mass. — Ipswich High School boys lacrosse players are setting the record straight a day after the team forfeited its state semifinal game against Cohasset High School. ... On Tuesday, Ipswich Public Schools posted on its website that the reason the boys team forfeited its playoff game was "due to the shortage of available players." The district did not provide any additional details.
According to players and parents, the forfeiture stemmed from a photo that appeared to show several Ipswich High School lacrosse players smoking cigars after graduation. ... Ipswich Superintendent Brian J. Blake suspended the student-athletes in the photo for violating the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's rules against tobacco use.
Hearst Owned
Parents of the student-athletes told NewsCenter 5 on Wednesday that there was no tobacco in the cigars, and that they were made with chamomile and green tea leaves. ... "Immediately went to the school, to the principal and said, 'Hey, look it, I have all the receipts, all the stuff I bought this is what we did,' and he said, 'It's nothing,'" said Drew Wile, a parent of one of the players.
Christian Wile said he and his dad brought one of the cigars as evidence for the principal. .. "We found one of the cigars and brought it to Mr. [Jonathan] Mitchell, and it had all of the tea leaves or whatever was in it, and he shook my dad's hand, looked him in the eyes, and said, 'Your boys can play,'" Christian said. ... Players said just hours before the bus was set to depart for their 6 p.m. playoff game, Blake stepped in, upholding the players suspensions. ... With the players suspensions, Ipswich did not have enough athletes to field a team.
{snip}
WCVB logo. Updated: 5:21 AM EDT Jun 11, 2026
Editorial Standards ⓘ
Tim Nazzaro
Digital Content Editor
Peter Eliopoulos
Reporter
IPSWICH, Mass. — Ipswich High School boys lacrosse players are setting the record straight a day after the team forfeited its state semifinal game against Cohasset High School. ... On Tuesday, Ipswich Public Schools posted on its website that the reason the boys team forfeited its playoff game was "due to the shortage of available players." The district did not provide any additional details.
According to players and parents, the forfeiture stemmed from a photo that appeared to show several Ipswich High School lacrosse players smoking cigars after graduation. ... Ipswich Superintendent Brian J. Blake suspended the student-athletes in the photo for violating the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's rules against tobacco use.
Hearst Owned
Parents of the student-athletes told NewsCenter 5 on Wednesday that there was no tobacco in the cigars, and that they were made with chamomile and green tea leaves. ... "Immediately went to the school, to the principal and said, 'Hey, look it, I have all the receipts, all the stuff I bought this is what we did,' and he said, 'It's nothing,'" said Drew Wile, a parent of one of the players.
Christian Wile said he and his dad brought one of the cigars as evidence for the principal. .. "We found one of the cigars and brought it to Mr. [Jonathan] Mitchell, and it had all of the tea leaves or whatever was in it, and he shook my dad's hand, looked him in the eyes, and said, 'Your boys can play,'" Christian said. ... Players said just hours before the bus was set to depart for their 6 p.m. playoff game, Blake stepped in, upholding the players suspensions. ... With the players suspensions, Ipswich did not have enough athletes to field a team.
{snip}
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