Run Ella Run: Lawmakers send letter to VHSL backing Council High School track athlete on sidelines

Five lawmakers from Southwest Virginia have sent a letter to VHSL top brass including Executive Director Billy Haun, asking them to lift the suspension of Council High School junior and track athlete Ella Rasnake.

Virginia’s governing body of school sports levied a one-year ban on Rasnake because she suited up for private school neighbor’s Mountain Mission in Grundy during basketball season while still attending Council due to her high school not having enough players to field a team this winter.

The VHSL ruling will cause Rasnake to miss her senior seasons in both sports. A top 3 finisher in last year’s state track finals in the 800 meters, the sanctioning move has kept Rasnake on the sideline this spring.

(IMAGE: Rasnake Family / T. Rasnake)