BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
Frankie Zuniga will be able to play his senior year at Edinburg Vela. Jacob Rosales will not.
Zuniga’s appeal was overturned at the state executive committee meeting Tuesday in Pflugerville, according to Zuniga’s father, Francisco Zuniga. Rosales’ appeal was denied.
“I wish they would have done a better job reviewing the evidence at the meeting here in Weslaco,” Francisco Zuniga said, referencing the district executive committee meeting last month. “It was a relief that this is over already. Now, Frankie can concentrate on his school and his senior year. … I’m just excited he will be able to play at all this year.”
Rosales intended to transfer from Sharyland Pioneer to Edinburg Vela. The quarterback and pitcher’s case was heard by District 31-6A’s executive committee on July 30, and the committee ruled that he would be ineligible to compete in athletics at Vela this year, because the committee deemed he was transferring for athletic reasons.
Zuniga intended to transfer from Edinburg North to Edinburg Vela.
Zuniga’s case was denied by the DEC on the same basis at the same meeting. However, the SEC overturned the DEC’s ruling in his case Tuesday.
“They had to prove that he transferred for athletic reasons, but there was no proof of that,” the elder Zuniga said. “They can’t just deny him because of a feeling or a rumor. They really didn’t even know what our circumstances were.”
Francisco Zuniga said he was frustrated because this ordeal has taken a toll on the family. He and Frankie Zuniga’s mother each had to take days off of work for both hearings. They had to spend time collecting every record they had, just to prove their innocence. Frankie has not been able to practice with his team, so through no fault of his own, Francisco said, he will be behind the rest of the team by a few days.
“They were even asking: ‘Why did he get denied over there?’” Francisco said. “‘Why is it being heard over here?’”
Rosales will be ineligible to compete in athletics at Vela this year. According to UIL rules, Rosales will still have eligibility at Pioneer.
“A student who has established varsity eligibility under this section at a member school but who subsequently enrolls in another member school and is found to have changed schools for athletic purposes remains eligible at the school, where eligibility was first established,” the UIL constitution and contest rules state.
Calls to the Rosales family were not returned by the time of publication.