Injunction allows soccer player to continue to play
Skylor Rose can continue to play soccer for the Volcano Vista Hawks.
For now.
District Judge C. Shannon Bacon granted a preliminary injunction against the New Mexico Activities Association on Monday afternoon that will prevent the state’s governing body for athletics from keeping Rose, Volcano Vista’s talented junior forward, off the pitch.
“I’m excited that I get to continue to play,” Rose said after a two-hour hearing in downtown Albuquerque. “(But) I’m kind of annoyed that we have to go court.”
Rose had gained a temporary restraining order against the NMAA on Sept. 8, which in turn allowed him to compete in varsity games against Sandia Prep on Sept. 9 and St. Pius on Sept. 12. He had been playing on the Hawks’ JV.
But as the NMAA was not given notice of that hearing, Bacon said, she quickly quashed that TRO on Monday. Legally, however, this is far from over — for the NMAA or for Rose.
Rose attorney Todd Schwarz and NMAA counsel Mark Geiger were given a 5 p.m. deadline on Wednesday to submit paperwork on how they want to pro-
ceed, and how much time they’ll need to present a more in-depth case. Then Bacon said she would try and expedite another hearing as quickly as possible.
“We respect the judge’s decision and will comply with whatever she eventually decides,” said NMAA executive director Sally Marquez, who was not in court Monday.
Because the temporary restraining order was quashed, the NMAA, by rule, can forfeit Volcano Vista’s victory over Sandia Prep — where Rose played as an eighth-grader and freshman — and turn a draw against St. Pius into a loss. Asked if the NMAA would, in fact, do so, Marquez declined comment.
Based on Bacon’s preliminary injunction order, Rose will is OK to compete today against Hope Christian and in the District 1-6A opener Thursday against Rio Rancho without fear of wins being later overturned.
Rose missed the first six varsity games of the season after being ruled ineligible. He attended the Colorado Rapids Academy last fall and did not play varsity soccer. He returned to New Mexico last winter, enrolling at Rio Rancho High School. He enrolled at Volcano Vista in August.