(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A federal court has, for now, ruled in favor of a Montini Catholic High School wrestler, who accused the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) of discrimination in a lawsuit filed after the organization's decision to rule him ineligible for his senior year.
In December 2023, the IHSA issued a decision to not allow Montini Catholic senior Harrison Konder — who was born deaf — to compete on the school’s wrestling team.
According to the lawsuit, Konder has wrestled since he was 5 years old and previously competed on the wrestling team at Downers Grove North High School, where he attended school for his freshman, sophomore and junior years. He placed in the IHSA State wrestling tournament each of those years.
For his senior year, though, Konder transferred to Montini Catholic due to academic struggles at Downers Grove North. Since transferring, Konder has thrived academically, and Jacie Zolna, an attorney representing the family, called the IHSA’s decision to bar him from wrestling “inexplicable and cruel.”
In the lawsuit, which claimed residency requirements were met after the transfer, the IHSA was accused of discriminating against Konder because of his disability.
“Harrison has faced adversity and obstacles his whole life,” said Zolna. “He should not be punished for pursuing the best educational environment for his disability.”
The suit called for a temporary restraining order that would allow Konder to compete on the wrestling team, and on Thursday afternoon, the U.S. District Court of Northern Illinois granted Konder the injunction they seeked.
Zolna told WBBM Konder would be able to compete with the Montini Catholic wrestling team as early as Thursday night.
A spokesperson for IHSA said the organization could not comment at this time due to ongoing litigation.
Listen to our new podcast Looped In: Chicago
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram