IHSAA panel says Hogg is elibile

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:18AM

It came a couple months later than they wanted, but mark it down as a win for the Hogg family against the IHSAA.

At least, for now.

Julie Hogg, a junior at Boone Grove High School who transferred in mid-December from Porter County Conference rival Hebron, was ruled ineligible to participate in sports for a full year while her freshman brother, Jonathon, was deemed eligible by the IHSAA.

The Hogg family moved from the Hebron school district to a house inside rival Boone Grove's boundary. The move was made because of Julie and Jonathon's dad, Lyndon, dealing with a type of cancer that needs frequent care, making it tough for him to tend to the family's 10-acre farm in Hebron.

The controversial decision was upheld by the IHSAA review committee. But on Wednesday morning, the nine-member Case Review Panel from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Office overturned that decision, making Julie eligible for the next high school sports season.

If a student seeks CRP review of a final decision, the panel will collect the record and review the decision during a meeting. CRP may decide to uphold, modify, or nullify the IHSAA decision based on the facts on the record and the application of the rule.

"The IHSAA Review Committee order is hereby nullified by a vote of 7-0 and Petitioner hereby receives full athletic eligibility from the date of this order, February 23, 2011," the CRP decision concluded.

It was signed by Matthew Tusing, chairman of Case Review Panel.

Julie Hogg competed in volleyball in the fall at Hebron and started the basketball season with the Hawks before the move. Jonathon Hogg competed in cross country and currently plays basketball for the Wolves as the postseason approaches.

"The Hogg family is pleased with the decision of the Case Review Panel," family attorney, Michael Jasaitis, said. "Julie looks forward to immediately resuming her participation in high school athletics."

The legal process cost Julie the rest of her basketball season, but she also competes in track and field.

The IHSAA will be allowed to appeal the decision if it chooses to.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.