After Death of MHS Student, Wednesday's Football Game Against East Hartford Canceled

There will be no games played under the lights tonight between Manchester and East Hartford high schools.

After the death of Manchester High School student Wednesday morning in the school's pool, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference has decided to cancel the game.

In an e-mail statement sent Wednesday afternoon, CIAC officials wrote that "due to the accident which happened at Manchester High School this morning,
Manchester and East Hartford High Schools have determined that their varsity football game scheduled for tonight will not be able to be completed prior by Saturday."

For this reason, "the game has been declared a no-contest and will not have any bearing on the tournament rankings" per the rules of the CIAC football tournament. Neither team was poised to advance to the state tournament regardless of the game's outcome, according to Matthew Fischer, director of information services for the CIAC.

"The CIAC is sensitive to the situation at Manchester High School today and fully understands why this football game will not be played prior to the deadline for inclusion in the tournament rankings," CIAC Associate Executive Director Paul Hoey wrote in the statement.

"Everyone at the CIAC wishes to offer our heartfelt sympathy and support to the entire Manchester High School community at this difficult time," Hoey wrote.

A 14-year-old male ninth grader died Wednesday morning after being found at the bottom of the school's pool. The unidentified student was pulled from the water and life-saving techniques were employed before he was taken to Manchester Memorial Hospital.

School officials announced later that the student had died.