Eric Dompierre, a 19-year-old Michigan student-athlete with Down syndrome, will be allowed to participate on his high school鈥檚 football and basketball teams, the Michigan High School Athletic Association announced today.
Dompierre exceeds the MHSAA鈥檚 traditional age limit, which bars students who turn 19 before Sept. 1 from participating in school sports. (He turned 19 this past January.) However, the MHSAA earlier this year which allows the age limit to be waived under extremely limited circumstances.
Before the rule change, the MHSAA鈥檚 age limit was the only rule not subject to waivers, according to the organization鈥檚 constitution.
Of the MHSAA鈥檚 1,535 member schools, 701 replied to a survey earlier this year asking about the potential rule change, with 94 percent in favor.
Student-athletes with disabilities are only eligible for a one-year waiver on the age limit if they鈥檝e been held back a grade before high school strictly because of a medically documented disability, and the student-athlete must still have the same disability at the time of the waiver request.
Dompierre is a rising senior at Ishpeming High School, who plays both football and basketball for the school. His family officially applied for a waiver earlier this summer.
Dean Dompierre, Eric鈥檚 father, that he learned of the decision today.
Before the MHSAA issued their decision this week, Dompierre was seen practicing with the football team, where he plays mostly special teams, .
I鈥檝e embedded a couple of pictures of Dompierre practicing within the post, but the Free Press has an , for those of you looking for more.
Photo: Eric Dompierre arrives on the field earlier this week for the first day of practice with the Ishpeming High School football team in Ishpeming, Mich. Dompierre, 19, started school late because of his Down syndrome genetic disorder. (Andre J. Jackson/Detroit Free Press/AP)