OHSAA bans Ironton from state playoffs, places Fighting Tigers on probation through 2028
By: Gridiron Glory Staff
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IRONTON, Ohio (WOUB) – The Ironton Fighting Tigers are banned from the 2025 Ohio High School Athletic Association State Playoffs and will be placed on probation through the 2027-28 school year.
Additionally, three coaches on staff are barred from coaching in the OHSAA playoffs next season.
The Ironton Board of Education released a statement late Friday night, which said that they have “received notification from the OHSAA of their determination that District coaching staff engaged in recruiting violations in 2018, 2019, and 2025, and that OHSAA’s sanctions will include suspension of Ironton High School from participation in this year’s playoffs.”
The decision comes after an extensive investigation of Ironton High School in regard to playing student-athletes who are in violation of the OHSAA’s transfer and recruiting bylaws.
One of those transfers this season is Kylan Grace, a senior running back, who came in from Hurricane High School in West Virginia to Ironton this May. Grace was ranked as the No. 1 running back in the state of West Virginia by Prep Redzone as a junior and ran for 180 yards and five touchdowns on 22 carries for the Fighting Tigers this season.
He comes from a very athletic background, as his father, John, was a two-time All-Mid-American Conference linebacker at Marshall University and the 2005 Canadian Football League Defensive Player of the Year.
According to OHSAA Bylaw 4-7, student-athletes who transfer after their ninth-grade year are required to sit out of all postseason athletic events for a calendar year immediately following the transfer if they have played sports. Additionally, they must sit out for half of the regular season that year. The restrictions are lifted exactly a year following the transfer.
However, exceptions can be made to the transfer bylaws, and Ironton head coach and athletic director Trevon Pendleton applied for Exception 1, which says that if both parents move from one public school district anywhere to another public school district in Ohio, and the move is seen as a “bona fide legal change of residence,” then the ineligibility period is waived entirely.
According to Kylan’s parents, John and Kimberly Grace, they moved from their 5,400-square-foot home in Milton, West Virginia, to an apartment complex in Ironton for “better opportunities for work, education, and overall quality of life,” according to court documents. They said their home in Milton, which they still own, is rented out by their adult son for $800 a month. That son, Julion, is a sophomore track and field athlete at the University of Charleston.
The move, however, was seen as illegitimate by the OHSAA, as both John and Kimberly remain employed in the Milton area. In an email sent on Oct. 13 by Associate Executive Director Kristin Ronai, the OHSAA was “not convinced that this alleged move compelled Kylan’s transfer and instead believes that desire to transfer him to Ironton High School is what compelled the move to Ironton to avoid a period of ineligibility.”
Another Ironton transfer senior’s family signed a lease agreement at the same apartment building, owned by R & R Real Estate Investment, the same day as the Grace family, on May 1.
On Oct. 8, the Graces filed a request in Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas to let their son play despite OHSAA’s ruling, and a magistrate granted a temporary restraining order against OHSAA on Oct. 15.
Earlier Friday morning, OHSAA filed a motion to dismiss the case altogether, arguing the Graces did not have the proper grounds to request a temporary restraining order in the first place. Additionally, OHSAA asked that Ironton City Schools be added as a defendant, since they must act in accordance with OHSAA rules.
Ironton was also found to violate Bylaw 4-9, which prohibits the recruitment of prospective student-athletes for athletic purposes.
The ruling of the OHSAA has sent shockwaves through the community of Ironton, with many people voicing their opinions loudly.
“If you got a problem with the program and you can prove it, I’ll stand behind you,” said Steven Taylor, an alumnus and fan of Ironton. “But not against the kids. The kids didn’t do nothing, and you’re wanting to take away from these kids and their right to play ball? That ain’t right.”
Several Ironton football players stood on the doorsteps of the Ironton City Schools building Friday morning chanting “Let’s play football!” while parents and fans cheered and chanted along in support in a post that has been circulated on social media.
Ironton went on to defeat the Portsmouth Trojans Friday night 55-13. Grace was one of several Fighting Tigers to make it to the end zone in what will be the final game in Tanks Memorial Stadium this season.
The OHSAA is scheduled to make a formal announcement regarding the situation Saturday morning.