LTHS Girls Won't Miss Prom After All (2024)

Schools

Parents were upset with the scheduling conflict. Some had blamed York High School.

Posted Thu, May 23, 2024 at 11:02 am CT|Updated Thu, May 23, 2024 at 1:35 pm CT

But shortly after this story was published late Thursday morning, Lyons Township's game against York High School was delayed until 9 a.m. Saturday at Hinsdale Central High School.

Originally, the game was set for 6:30 p.m. at Central, with prom starting an hour and a half later at Chicago's Field Museum.

"We appreciate the collaborative effort between York High School, Hinsdale Central High School, and the (Illinois High School Association) to make this change," Lyons Township spokeswoman Mary Lin Muscolino said in an email to Patch. "We are excited for our students to be able to play in this game and attend prom."

Earlier, parents expressed their frustrations, while the schools said they were trying to resolve the situation.

The parents asked for the game to be earlier Friday or during the weekend.

One of the parents, Suzi Wirtz, said both York and the Illinois High School Association were denying requests to change the time.

"The IHSA should have some blame for scheduling a game when a possible contender has a once-in-a-lifetime event scheduled," Wirtz said in an email to Patch. "York has blame in that it refuses to work with a time change or date change."

Christine Lebar said in an email, "It’s disheartening to see the lack of flexibility from York High School in refusing to adjust the sectional game schedule, especially when it affects the participation of 11 dedicated seniors – similar to their amount of seniors."

But Tonya Daniels, a spokeswoman for Elmhurst School District 205, said Thursday morning it was wrong to say that the decision is solely York's.

"We have been in regular contact with IHSA, Hinsdale Central and Lyons Township staff for days in an effort to come to a solution that fits the needs of everyone," Daniels said in an email.

She said the association must confirm referees are available and that Hinsdale Central must ensure staff are on hand.

"(O)n top of that it is the start of a holiday weekend and everyone has families that are going out of town," Daniels said.

On Thursday morning, Joe Trost, a sports journalist, tweeted criticism of York, saying the school was refusing to change the time.