Numerous infractions involving 45 student-athletes who competed while ineligible and a dozen junior varsity and varsity sports were revealed in an investigation into Reidsville High School athletics, resulting in a series of sanctions against the respective programs, Rockingham County Schools reported on Monday.
The investigation, launched in April, began when Reidsville High School administrators discovered potential participation of ineligible athletes and found instances of students who did not have up-to-date physical examinations and/or other required medical participation forms. Administrators contacted Rockingham County Schools' central administration and the NCHSAA to self-report the potential violations, according to the RCS statement.
Sports in violation of NCHSAA rules were: JV baseball, JV football, girls varsity basketball, girls JV basketball, boys JV basketball, wrestling, girls and boys tennis, swimming, boys and girls track and field and volleyball. Neither the Reidsville boys varsity basketball team, which won state titles in 2024 and 2025, nor the varsity football team, were affected.
Both Reidsville High School and Rockingham County Schools said they accept and support the NCHSAA ruling and will not appeal the decision.
RCS Superintendent John O. Stover III placed Reidsville's Athletics Director Joe Walker on leave pending investigation. Walker subsequently resigned.
The central administration, working with the high school, contracted retired Guilford County Athletics Administrator Leigh Hebbard to conduct a comprehensive review of all athletic participation forms to determine compliance with NCHSAA athletic participation requirements.
Hebbard found that athletes across multiple sports were allowed to participate in athletic contests without having up-to-date physicals on file. In some cases, forms could not be located, and in other cases, the physical on file had expired. Administrators from both the RHS and RCS took the information Hebbard compiled and worked with each of the athletes and their families who were flagged to determine if they met guidelines and used this information to create a list of students who competed but were ineligible. This information was sent to the NCHSAA on July 15.
On Aug. 6, the NCHSAA informed Reidsville that each head coach for the teams was reprimanded, placed on probation for the 2025-2026 season and suspended from the first contest of the 2025-2026 season. Additionally, Reidsville must forfeit each game or contest where ineligible athletes participated or dressed out.
"These violations of NCHSAA rules, designed to keep our student athletes safe, reinforced the importance of ongoing monitoring and the power of random audits to uncover potential problems," Stover said in a statement. "I apologize to the athletes and families who were allowed to participate without up-to-date physicals. I am confident the measures we have put in place for all schools moving forward will ensure a similar incident won't occur again."
"This experience has sharpened our athletic program. A positive shift in communication and collaboration is evident amongst our coaches, athletes, families, and our new athletic director," Reidsville Principal Erica Blackwell said in the statement provided by the school system.
In late July, Blackwell announced she had accepted a new job with the Alamance Burlington School System as executive director of secondary schools.
James.Sands@greensboro.com
336-349-4331 x6141
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