Palmerton Area School District sought an emergency preliminary injunction this week against the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association that would have allowed a senior wrestler to participate in the postseason despite a missed waiver deadline.

School district attorney Christine Cattani of Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams LLP filed the motion Tuesday behalf of the wrestler, who was only identified by initials, arguing that the missed deadline was due to an internal administrative error and not the fault of the student.

Carbon County Judge Joseph Matika is listed as the presiding judge in the matter. Officials in his chamber said Thursday morning that the district planned to withdraw the motion.

"We strongly believe in our student-athletes," Superintendent Angela Friebolin said. "We fought through and exhausted the appeals process. In doing so, we discovered that this matter would not be viable in the Carbon County Court of Common Pleas."

The District XI individual wrestling tournament kicks off Friday at Freedom High School.

According to court filings, the student transferred to Palmerton High School from North Carolina in November 2024 and participated on the school’s wrestling team during the regular season. The student had previously received a completed and properly executed PIAA Athletic Transfer Waiver Request Form, which was approved, permitting participation in the regular season.

However, under PIAA rules, a separate waiver is required for postseason eligibility.

Due to what the district called “operational changes in the District’s Athletic Department,” the required postseason waiver was not filed on time. That resulted in the PIAA prohibiting the student from competing in the postseason.

District XI Chairman Bob Hartman said the postseason waiver was due Jan. 1, but was not submitted until Jan. 28.

According to a resignation agreement approved by Palmerton in January, its athletic director, Kyle Porembo, was placed on administrative leave on Dec. 4. He has remained on leave and will continue to be paid through the date of his resignation, March 31, according to the agreement.

Superintendent Angela Friebolin, according to the injunction motion, appealed up the chain of command within PIAA, arguing that the error was an administrative oversight.

“But for this untimely filed waiver, the student would be permitted to wrestle in the postseason,” the motion states.

PIAA’s Executive Director, Robert Lombardi, ultimately rejected the district’s request, maintaining that waiver deadlines were final.

Palmerton’s legal argument centers around the claim that the student was unfairly penalized for its own administrative mistake and that the PIAA’s refusal to make an exception was “arbitrary and capricious.”

The motion cited Pennsylvania’s legal standard for preliminary injunctions, which requires showing immediate and irreparable harm, the need to restore the status quo, and a clear right to relief.

“The district made several valid attempts to appeal PIAA’s decision, including advocacy from the local State Representative; PIAA denied each appeal,” the motion argues.

In addition to the district’s advocacy, state Rep. Doyle Heffley also intervened, court documents state, requesting PIAA reconsider its position. However, PIAA maintained that the waiver deadline must be strictly enforced.

PIAA attorney Dana Chilson, representing the organization, argued that waiver deadlines exist to maintain competitive integrity and fairness.

“There are no exceptions to untimely filed waivers,” Chilson stated in court filings.

The injunction noted that the student will participate in the spring track and field season with a properly executed waiver.