Mount Carmel wrestler Liam Kelly's quest for another state title is back on track after a Cook County judge's ruling on Wednesday.
Circuit Court Judge Alison Conlon granted a request for an emergency temporary restraining order that will allow Kelly to compete in the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional, which begins Friday.
The ruling came after Kelly's father, Michael, filed suit against the IHSA, seeking to overturn the organization's decision not to allow Kelly to compete in the Morton Regional on Jan. 31.
"I'm mad at how the IHSA handled it," Michael Kelly told the Sun-Times. "Now justice is served. Now [Liam] can get back to wrestling."
Kelly, an Illinois recruit, won the Class 3A 157-pound title last season and has competed at 165 pounds this season. He has had a non-contagious skin condition — granuloma annulare — on his upper arms since his freshman year. A doctor had filled out the IHSA's Required Medical Form, which has allowed him to compete uninterrupted until Morton officials blocked him from wrestling in the regional.
Five days later, Kelly was allowed to wrestle for the Caravan at the Marmion Dual-Team Sectional and pinned his opponent at 190 pounds in 16 seconds.
The Caravan were eliminated from team competition with a 46-23 loss to Marmion, but now Kelly is back in the individual bracket. He won't be taking anyone's spot in the 165-pound bracket in Hinsdale Central, but will be added as a 13th competitor in what is usually a 12-wrestler bracket.
The top four finishers at each weight in the sectionals advance to the state finals at State Farm Center in Champaign on Feb. 19-21.
In her ruling, Conlon noted the IHSA did not explain why Morton officials wouldn't let Kelly compete, while other schools did.
Conlon also wrote "there is no health or safety risk" that would arise from him competing "as evidenced by the Required Medical Forms and the record."
Attorney Steve Glink, who represented Michael Kelly, told the Sun-Times: "I wish the IHSA had voluntarily corrected it, but I'm glad the judge did the right thing."
Mount Carmel athletic director Phil Segroves also applauded the ruling.
"We're grateful," he told the Sun-Times. "We feel this is going to end the right way. Liam should be wrestling. He's handled this ... with the utmost class."
“This was an unfortunate situation,” IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said in a statement. “While I feel for the student-athlete involved, it is my responsibility to ensure that IHSA rules, which are established by our member schools, are applied consistently and fairly at every step of the process. We believe those procedures were followed.
"We respect the ruling of the Circuit Court and will comply with the order but remain concerned about the impact litigation may have on the high school athletics in Illinois. I plan to work with our Board of Directors and legal counsel to review IHSA procedures and explore options to prevent similar circumstances from occurring in the future.”
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