Boy barred from girls' field hockey By RICHARD CARELLI Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON The Supreme Court yesterday turned down the appeal of a Pennsylvania boy who says he was barred unfairly from playing on the girls' field hockey team at his high school. The court, without comment, turned away a challenge to a school district policy that barred John Williams, a senior at Liberty High in Bethlehem, from the girls' team. Williams' appeal said the policy violated his equal-protection rights because it bars him from Playing on girls' teams even though girls` are allowed to play on boys' teams. Williams, 17 and described in court papers as having "a passion for field hockey," sued over the no-boys-allowed policy when he was a freshman. His school has no field hockey team for boys. He did not get to play in his freshman or sophomore years, but a federal trial judge last year ruled that Williams had a right to participate. As a result, he played on the girls' team as it compiled a 4-11-4 record. But the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals set aside the trial judge's ruling in July, saying the judge should determine whether "boys are likely to dominate the school's athletic program if admitted to the girls' teams." The July ruling left school offi cials free to keep Williams off the Liberty field hockey team. Justice David H. Souter turned down an emergency request in September that was aimed at let ting Williams play until the full Supreme Court studied his appeal. Liberty High's field hockey sea son ended Oct. 20 eight days before Williams' formal appeal reached the high court. FIND CUT where to HANG CUT NieWeeketid Page Every faddy SPRING W Committee App, Available in 2 Due Jan. 24 Wheatley: 'You're only young once' Michigan standout to put aside millions to make a run for the Heisman By HARRY ATKINS AP Sports Writer ANN ARBOR, Mich. Tyrone Wheatley decided his youth and his college educa tion weren't for sale. Wheatley, one of the greatest running backs in Michigan history, said Monday he would return for his senior season instead of entering the NFL draft. "You're only young once," Wheatley said at a packed news conference which coach Gary Moeller and several of his team mates alsd attended. "I didn't want to go through life saying I wish I'd had my col lege life." Wheatley went into the 1993 season as one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. But a shoulder injury kept him out of two games, and he finished eighth in the Heisman balloting. In his three years at Michigan, Wheatley has 3,034 yards rushing,-a school-record 35 rushing touchdowns and 240 points. He also has four touchdowns receiving and another on a kickoff return for a total of 40 TDs the most ever by a Michigan running back. He is 1,359 yards shy of Jamie Morris' school rushing record of 4,393 and four points away from Anthony Carter's career record of 244 for a non-kicker at Michigan. Wheatley often plays his best in big games. He scored three touchdowns in the 1993 Rose Bowl and scored twice in the 1994 Hall of Fame Bowl, winning the most valuable player award in both games. "We always expect the unexpected from him, and this is one of those cases," said Moeller, who didn't learn of Wheatley's decision until early Monday. "It's good for a lot of reasons, and it's not just the touchdowns. He's a good person to have around. "Yes, we want him back. But we want him back because he's the right kind of guy. It takes a special person to do special things." Moeller said Wheatley's surprising decision sends a clear and strong message to young people. "Life is money," Moeller said. "But if "I want to leave here with a degree. I don't want to have to come back to get one." Tyrone Wheatley Michigan tailback somebody asked who would like to go back and live their college life again, I bet a lot of people would raise their hand." Wheatley said it was exactly that kind of thinking that prompted him to stay in school. "I want to leave here with a degree," Wheatley said. "I don't want to have to come back to get one." But what happens if he suffers a career ending injury before getting a crack at those NFL millions? "I gave it some thought," Wheatley said. "But in order to play a sport like this, you can't think about that. If I was worried about that, I wouldn't have played this sport. I'd have concentrated on track and gone after an Olympic berth." Wheatley was a track standout in high school, winning state titles in the long jump, 100 meters and 110-meter high hur dles in 1991. He ran indoor track for the Wolverines last season. "It's been a long decision, a tough deci sion," Wheatley said. "I weighed the pros and cons. I came to the conclusion you've got to do what's best for you. "I didn't do it for my mother. I didn't do it for my grandmother. I did it for me. People tell me I'm different. I didn't do it to be different. I just do what's right for me." He said he felt another year at Michigan might make him even more valuable in the NFL, where he would have been a certain top 10 pick. "A lot of people talk about money, play ing in the NFL," he said. "But the money's going to be there for me next year. I want to stay here, try to win the Heisman Tro phy. That's for me here. I want to go out a winner." TUSSEY MOUNTAIN b *Monday & Tuesday - College Student , "2 for 1" Lift Tickets; both students L, must have valid I.D. , • *Thursday Nights - "Adults Only" mry`r Group rates for all skiers 21 years of age and older!!! Nightly Food & Drink Features in the SKIMONT Lounge! Michigan's Tyrone Wheatley finds daylight against Penn State in October. Wheatley opted yesterday to not turn pro and stay in school for his senior season. SPRING EAK BRECKENRIDGE/KEYSTONE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATINt & RESERVATIONS ar74l-1 1 1 ' Cs '11.7 . 114 0 DY VES RING B R EW Mg SOUTH PADRE ISLAND DAYTONA BEACH PANAMA CITY BEACH STEAMBOAT LAS VEGAS VAIL/BEAVER CREEK ORLANDO/DISNEY WORLD MUSTANG ISLAND HILTON HEAD ISLAND * PER PERSON DEPENDING ON DESTINATION / BREAK DATES / LENGTH OF STAY. pan Phot(
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers