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Mio fifth year senior denied playing eligibility

Mio senior Haden Richard Moore on the sideline of a Thunderbolts' basketball game.

Mio, Mich. — Mio fifth year senior Haden Richard Moore has not missed a practice, event, or game all season. On Thursday, February 21st Haden was denied eligibility by MHSAA to play sports. Here is the rule that denied the fifth year senior:

“Students cannot be eligible in high school for more than eight semesters, or twelve trimesters and the seventh and eighth semesters or 10th, 11th and 12th trimesters must be consecutive. Students are allowed four first semesters and four second semesters or four first, four second and four third trimesters of enrollment and competition and cannot compete if they have graduated from high school.”

He did follow MHSAA’s rule that High school students become ineligible if they reach their 19th birthday before September 1st of a current school year. While students are eligible eight semesters to play sports, Haden did not take his chance as a freshman. As a Sophomore, he played football with the Alpena Wildcats. Then he moved to Mio where he played football and basketball junior and senior year, learning from his cousin Brennon Mills.

Prior to attending Mio Au-Sable High School, Haden went through severe life struggles such as losing his mother at a young age that led to mental health issues. He was then adopted by his grandmother and diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Athletics helped Haden change the course of his life and find the drive to be a part of something bigger. As a junior, he was the 7th or 8th man off the bench on a 9-man team, but for Haden the team is a place he finds comfort.

“I still practice hard against the boys to make sure they are playing somebody that any other team would have,” said Haden. “I go hard everyday to make sure they got better, and that’s what I’m going to keep doing come playoff time.”

After graduating from Mio, Haden will attend Central Michigan University in the fall to pursue a path in the medical field.