EMHS Football Player Claims Dismissal Was Due to Injury

One year ago, Billy Andrle was named the Thorp Award winner as the best football player in Nassau County.

Now he is in a legal battle with the very school he had that honor with, according to a Newsday report.

He was a front-runner again for the same honor before he suffered a broken wrist during practice. Andrle said doctors told him playing this season would come with serious risks.

"If I could play tomorrow, I would," Andrle said. "But my mom doesn't want me to risk permanent injury and that makes sense."

Doctors were willing to put special padding on his wrist to help, but his parents were not comfortable with putting their son in harm's way.

"They were willing to build a player's cast to protect him," his mother Donna said. "But we weren't comfortable with that and there was no guarantee that he would not get hurt again."

Andrle made the decision to sit out the season, and that's when he said Coach Vincent Mascia told him to clean out his locker and go home.

"He told me to clean out my locker and don't come to practice anymore because you can find better things to do with your time," Andrle said. "I was crushed."

Andrle's Attorney Tom Liotti said he'd file a legal notice against East Meadow School officials. 

"He was not treated with the honor and respect that a top athlete deserves," Liotti said. "It's not the way you treat a star. This damages his reputation and prospects for college. They called him a quitter."

East Meadow School officials declined a request for comment.

What do you think of Andrle's situation? Should he have been allowed to remain with the team? Tell us in the comments section below.