A Pikeville student, already facing the hardship of losing his home to devastating flooding, has encountered further setbacks in his athletic journey.
According to a now-viral social media post of Shannon Wright, after relocating to Pikeville, the teen sought to transfer schools and participate in football, but his original school, Shelby Valley High, reportedly delayed his KHSAA eligibility paperwork.
Halftime From Shelby Valley High School:
— Pikeville Junior High Football (@PanthersJH) August 27, 2024
PIKEVILLE – 36
SHELBY VALLEY MIDDLE – 6 #HailPikeville pic.twitter.com/E1WGlvQfED
Shannon Wright expressed his disappointment and wrote:
“A kid loses his home due to flooding, relocates to Pikeville, and seeks to transfer and participate in football. His original school cant stop if but delays his KHSAA paperwork out of spite. Really?Very Disappointing”
Shannon Wright
Similarly, Jason Justice, a resident of Pikeville, Kentucky, also reshared Shannon’s post and described Shelby High’s move as “Classless” and a “low” act that unnecessarily hurt a child.
“Classes human to hurt a child out of spite. Lowest of low in my book no dignity,” wrote Justice.
Community Members React with Outrage to Shelby Valley High School Delaying Student’s KHSAA Paperwork
The Pikeville, Kentucky, community members quickly responded with outrage regarding Shelby Valley High School’s subpar administration.
Crissy Nick Compton, a former Pikeville College student, shared her own experience, recounting how her daughter had to sit out an entire softball season at Pikeville for similar delays, yet eventually became eligible and helped her team secur a regional tournament win.
Thank you Dr. Varney & Pikeville Fire Department for assisting our football team with our Emergency Action Plan rehearsals.
— Pikeville HS Panther Athletics (@PikevilleSports) July 17, 2023
All of our teams are scheduled to practice this in the next couple weeks. We appreciate our community and all they do to protect & prepare our athletes. pic.twitter.com/rce6K7Tqce
Other parents, including Taylora Justice Newsone and Shameka Jackson, stressed that students who have already endured hardships, like losing a home, should not face unnecessary obstacles and that schools should prioritize the welfare of the student over bureaucratic issues.
Similarly, several commenters called for accountability. Stephanie Stevie Hopkins Bentley urged people to expose the coach and school responsible, while Jennifer Lindon condemned the adult bullying, insisting the students should be allowed to focus on their academics and athletics without interference.
One noted that delays happen frequently across schools, calling the practice ‘Pathetic,’ and added that the KHSAA often prioritizes rules over what’s best for the students.
The situation has sparked widespread disappointment and calls for action, with parents encouraging filing complaints with the school board, involving the media if necessary, and ensuring that future student-athletes do not face similar challenges.
