Published: March 17, 2009 07:21 am      

Russell places seventh

LOUISVILLE — The embattled Russell High School academic team fared well in the two of the state Governor’s Cup events for which it was eligible.

Russell placed third in quick recall, behind Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, which would go on to win the overall state title, and Johnson Central High School.

Russell, behind fill-in coach James Arthur, also brought home a fifth-place finish in future problem-solving.

Russell’s performances in those two events were enough to give the school a seventh-place finish in the overall standings with 16 points.

Governor’s Cup state finals, began on Sunday and wrapped up Monday. Lewis County’s Cory Collins was second in English composition.

Russell also was eligible to compete in composition, but none of its students placed.

The Kentucky Association for Academic Competition, which sponsors Governor’s Cup, ruled that Russell students could not earn points competing in the individual events because of a cheating scandal that also resulted in the organization banning Russell academic coach Matt Knupp, a member of the KAAC Hall of Fame, indefinitely.

The KAAC found Knupp broke the rules when prior to last month’s regional Governor’s Cup meet, Russell wrongfully invoked a rule that allows for postponement of a match because of bad weather. The move kept most of the Russell team, those who were to take written assessments, from participating.

Knupp’s actions immediately came under suspicion because there was no bad weather in the forecast and because it was widely know that one of the members of the Russell team was out of town that day on a college visit.

The KAAC’s ban forbids Knupp from attending Governor’s Cup events in any capacity, including as a spectator.

In the middle school division of the state finals, Russell Middle was seventh overall, West Carter Middle was 32nd and George M. Verity Middle was 35th.

Russell Middle was sixth in future problem-solving; West Middle was ninth.

In the individual events, Russell Middle’s Claire Lyon was first in arts and humanities and Russell’s Sarah Howard was 11th in composition. Verity’s Stephen Corbitt placed seventh in social studies and West Middle’s Megan Burge was eighth in language arts.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.