CIF clears lineman T.A. Cunningham to participate in for Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos soccer will attain one of the leading defensive linemen in the country for its video game Friday versus Newport Harbor.

Immediately after a extensive again-and-forth battle that bundled a ask for for an emergency restraining get, junior T.A. Cunningham has been granted a hardship waiver by the CIF Southern Area and cleared to perform immediately after transferring from Ga.

Initially, the Southern Area blocked Cunningham’s eligibility on the grounds he did not meet the definition of a homeless college student, in accordance to a grievance submitted Sept. 13 by Cunningham’s attorney, Mike Caspino. Immediately after dropping that argument, the Southern Section opened an investigation to establish no matter whether what the business refers to as “undue influence” was utilized to sway Cunningham to Los Alamitos.

“We executed a extensive critique of the features in this circumstance, and all related CIF bylaws that utilize, as we do with all transfer programs that are submitted to our business,” the Southern Portion mentioned in a statement sent to The Times. “We followed all our required processes and timelines in finishing this evaluation.”

“Upon carrying out so, and after receiving new info that clarified problems associated to the preliminary denial, we created the resolve that the university student was qualified to enjoy at Los Alamitos High University as of September 26, 2022.”

Cunningham is a five-star prospect and the No. 1 defensive lineman in the course of 2024, in accordance to 247 Sports activities.

Los Alamitos mentor Ray Fenton confirmed Cunningham would enjoy Friday. Caspino informed the defensive lineman the news Monday early morning and said he could tell Cunningham experienced been crying, the law firm reported.

“He was ecstatic,” Caspino said. “He retained thanking God.”

The Sept. 13 complaint submitted by Capsino seeking to restore Cunningham’s eligibility argued the affect that brought him to Los Alamitos was not any one associated with the software but, somewhat, the company, Degrees Sports Team, which experienced promised name, impression and likeness deals for Cunningham and his spouse and children housing in California.

Caspino said he experienced “complete confidence” that Cunningham would be cleared at the end of the investigation.

Columnist Eric Sondheimer contributed to this report.