Judge Rules Feister Brothers Ineligible for Massillon Football

A Stark County judge on October 9 denied Brayton and Brydon Feister's request to continue playing for Massillon Washington after the Ohio High School Athletic Association ruled the brothers ineligible for the remainder of the 2026 football season. The decision followed a court challenge over transfer eligibility rules involving six Massillon players.

According to the Canton Repository, visiting Judge Andrew Logan rejected the Feisters' request for an injunction and dissolved a temporary restraining order that had allowed them to play. The ruling leaves senior Brayton and junior Brydon unable to compete for the Tigers this season.

The Feisters' attorney, Lee Plakas, filed an appeal with the 5th District Court of Appeals in Canton seeking immediate restoration of their eligibility. The appeal was filed after Logan's decision in Stark County.

"Our ask is that the call on the field needs to be reviewed," said Lee Plakas, attorney for the Feister family and other Massillon players.

The appeals court gave the Ohio High School Athletic Association until October 15 to respond to the emergency injunction request, with a tentative hearing scheduled for October 22 in Muskingum County, according to the Canton Repository.

The dispute centered on whether the family's move to Massillon qualified for a bona fide residence exception under OHSAA transfer rules. The association said the move was made after a decision to transfer schools, while the family disputed that reasoning.

"The move did not compel the transfer; rather, the desire to transfer compelled the move," the Ohio High School Athletic Association stated in its court filing.

The OHSAA cited disciplinary issues at Archbishop Hoban and contacts with multiple schools before the move as part of its reasoning. The association also referenced "unsportsmanlike conduct" in its eligibility decision.

"The court is sympathetic to the student-athletes involved," wrote Judge Andrew Logan in his ruling.

Logan also explained that eligibility decisions must follow established rules applied across member schools. He noted Massillon is part of the OHSAA system, which includes 815 member schools and about 400,000 student-athletes.

"But, as another court observed, this court must set aside emotion, and is bound by the law," wrote Judge Andrew Logan.

The judge said transfer rules are intended to maintain fairness in competition. He accepted the OHSAA's position that the family's relocation followed a desire to transfer the players.

"protect fair competition," wrote Judge Andrew Logan when describing the purpose of eligibility rules.

"Member schools are repeatedly instructed to submit exception applications promptly and with complete documentation," wrote Judge Andrew Logan in his ruling.

The judge added that some applications were submitted after seasons had already begun, including cases involved in the Massillon dispute.

"Many applications, including those at issue here, nonetheless submitted months ... after the sports season has begun," wrote Judge Andrew Logan.

OHSAA attorney Joseph Fraley defended the ruling, saying the organization must apply its transfer standards consistently. The Canton Repository reported that Fraley called the decision well supported.

"The rules have to apply to every school and every student equally," said Joseph Fraley, OHSAA attorney.

"extraordinarily well-reasoned," said Joseph Fraley, OHSAA attorney, describing Judge Logan's decision.

Brayton Feister, a senior linebacker and running back, transferred from Archbishop Hoban and committed to Oregon during the offseason. Brydon Feister, a junior defensive end, has scholarship offers from several major college programs, including Ohio State and Oregon, according to cleveland.com.

Three other Massillon transfers, Micah Walker, Gary Yeager and Dey'Veair Adams, remained eligible under extended temporary court orders while awaiting further action. Da'Shaun Williams had already been cleared for the rest of the season, according to reports from cleveland.com and Cleveland 19 News.