The appellant seeks reversal of a decision that the IHSAA Board of Control made on September 21, 2020, finding that D.M. is ineligible to compete in varsity interscholastic athletics for ninety consecutive school days under the general provisions rule.

D.M. is an international student, not foreign exchange student. He is from Aruba where the school system ends at tenth grade. D.M.'s host family lives in Clinton, Iowa. The only private school available to him was Prince of Peace Catholic School. D.M. was set to transfer to Prince of Peace at the beginning of the fourth quarter of the 2019-20 school year. Prince of Peace did not allow the transfer due to the Pandemic. The appellant asked the Board to grant credit for the fourth quarter when D.M. was prepared to transfer.

In this specific case, the court had evidence the transfer was not just for school or athletic purposes but mandated by federal immigration law. D.M. transferred at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. He would have transferred earlier but for a Pandemic and a school that put his academics first. It is unreasonable to deny any exception under these circumstances

The September 21, 2020 decision of the Iowa High School Athletic Association that D.M. is ineligible to compete in varsity interscholastic athletic contests and competitions for ninety consecutive school days at Prince of Peace Catholic School is REVERSED.