Lacrosse Team's Championship Hopes Dashed by Cigar Incident

WHO:

Fox News - Ipswich High School's lacrosse team, nine players, the principal, the superintendent.

WHAT:

Fox News - Ipswich High School's undefeated lacrosse team forfeited its state semifinal.

Boston.com News - Nine recently-graduated seniors were ruled ineligible to play in the state semifinal game due to a graduation cigar photo.

WHERE:

Fox News - Ipswich High School, located in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

WHY:

Boston.com News - The superintendent decided to bar the nine players from participating in the game despite reassurances from the principal.

HOW:

Fox News - The ineligibility was determined based on a photo involving fake cigars taken during a graduation celebration.

(UPDATED June 11, 2026 01:45 UTC)

Ipswich High School's undefeated lacrosse team in Massachusetts has forfeited its state semifinal game after nine recently-graduated seniors were ruled ineligible to play due to a photo involving fake cigars taken during a graduation celebration. The superintendent made the decision to bar these players from participating, despite reassurances from the principal. This situation has raised significant concerns among the school's community, as the team was poised to compete for a championship title.