Graduation cigar saga involving HS lacrosse team boils over as school officials, family attorney trade barbs
Ipswich Lacrosse Team Forfeits State Semifinal After Post‑Graduation Cigar Photos
IPSWICH, Mass. — The Ipswich High School boys lacrosse squad has withdrawn from its Massachusetts state semifinal after a disciplinary action was triggered by photographs that surfaced online showing six players lighting cigars following their graduation ceremony. The incident violated the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (MIAA) Chemical Health policy, which prohibits tobacco use by student‑athletes, and set off a chain of investigations, suspensions, and a controversial decision to forfeit the game.
How the Issue Came to Light
On Monday, June 8, a day after graduation, school officials learned that two images had been posted on a social‑media page belonging to a player’s parent. One picture, which had already been shared with the media, captured the athletes with cigars in hand. The second image, not released to the press, reportedly showed the cigars partially smoked, a cloud of smoke, and a torch‑type lighter being held by one of the teens. The photos were quickly taken down from the page, but not before they had attracted widespread attention.
School’s Response and Investigation
Superintendent Brian Blake and Principal Jonathan Mitchell issued a joint statement saying the district needed to ensure an “accurate account” of the events. According to the administrators, the MIAA Chemical Health policy—also embedded in the Ipswich Student‑Athlete Handbook—mandates strict enforcement. The school launched an investigation that included interviews with the players and their families, giving each side an opportunity to explain what had occurred.
During those interviews, one of the involved students told reporters that the cigars were not real tobacco. He claimed his father, John Gianakakis, had contacted a local cigar shop and requested “fake” cigars made from tea leaves so the group could follow a post‑graduation tradition without breaking the rules. The student said a receipt from a nearby grocery store, where the items were purchased, had been presented to school officials as evidence of the cigars’ non‑tobacco nature. The receipt, however, bore a smudged date and time.
Reevaluation and Disciplinary Action
When district administrators reviewed the evidence on June 9, they determined the cigars were in fact not “fake.” The second photograph showed smoke and a lighter, and the products appeared significantly shorter than in the first image. The administrators also noted that the receipt’s obscured details cast doubt on the authenticity claim. Based on the MIAA Chemical Health policy, the six players were suspended, prompting a cascade of reactions within the team.
Team Reaction and Forfeit Decision
Three players announced they would not play in solidarity with their suspended teammates, leaving the squad with just 11 participants. Lacrosse requires a minimum of ten players on the field at any time, but the team was already short‑handed due to the suspensions. Principal Mitchell, the athletic director, and the head coach held a meeting and allowed the players to vote on whether to continue. The vote was overwhelming in favor of forfeiting the semifinal, a decision the district honored.
One of the students described the moment on the team bus as a period of shock and confusion. “We were all in the dark about what was happening,” he said. He added that the final decision rested with Superintendent Blake.
Legal and Parental Response
John Gianakakis, the father of one of the players, hired an attorney to respond to the school’s actions. The attorney’s statement accused Blake of bias and retaliation, alleging that the superintendent had acted as “judge, jury, and executioner” with “lightning speed.” The lawyer pointed to an earlier incident earlier in the lacrosse season when a serious injury occurred amid complaints about missing safety equipment and the absence of an AED. According to the attorney, Blake had been slow to address those concerns but moved quickly against the players, suggesting a pattern of animosity.
The attorney also suggested that Principal Mitchell’s own son had been photographed celebrating his graduation with a cigar, labeling the situation as hypocritical. Mitchell, when asked for comment, replied, “I missed the part where he admits that he made up the whole story.”
In a follow‑up statement, the attorney said many of the claims made in the school’s response seemed “unsupported by the facts” and requested further proof. Gianakakis’s office asked for documentation to substantiate the administration’s findings. When reached for comment, Blake’s office reiterated the original statement.
School’s Stance
District officials emphasized that they understood the “disappointment, frustration, and emotions” surrounding the case. While acknowledging the heartbreaking nature of the decision, they stressed a commitment to applying the MIAA Chemical Health policy uniformly to all student‑athletes.
Broader Context
The forfeiture marks a dramatic end to a season that had seen the Ipswich lacrosse team go undefeated up to the semifinal round. The controversy has ignited debate not only about the enforcement of tobacco policies in high school sports but also about the broader issues of student safety, administrative transparency, and perceived retaliation within the district.
As the story continues to unfold, both the school and the families involved are preparing for further actions, including possible legal proceedings and potential policy reviews by the MIAA. Meanwhile, the Ipswich community remains divided over whether the punishment was proportionate to the offense or an overreach born of lingering grievances.
