In discussions with the FHSAA, FLN has learned unless the by-laws of the FHSAA and its members are changed, Florida schools will no longer be able to schedule MIAA schools.  Once the rule came to light, the FHSAA allowed already scheduled games to be played out of consideration for all involved.  Basically,  the MIAA does not qualify under FHSAA by-laws as a conference with which FHSAA governed teams may compete. The series started in the days when lacrosse was not governed by the FHSAA and continued after the conversion to varsity. Everyone involved has enjoyed the games played and the relationships which have evolved.  These are some wonderful people. Sometime around the turn of the century, Jake Reed brought his McDonogh Eagles to play Jeff Goldberg’s St. Andrew’s Scots in what became the first in a long series of games between Florida schools and schools from the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).  McDonogh won that initial contest, but St. Andrew’s notched wins against McDonogh, Archbishop Spaulding and Boys’ Latin in the years since.  The nation’s number one ranked Boys’ Latin impressed on its visit to Florida in the last week.  This year, the MIAA has won all of the games against Florida teams (with, by our research, one to go tonight at 7:00 at St. Andrew’s).  Both Florida boys and girls can compete.  St. Thomas hosted McDonogh, Lake Highland Prep lost by one in a thriller to the fourth ranked (in the U.S.) Eagles in Vero Beach a few days ago and the Vero Beach girls came up on the short end to the number one ranked McDonogh girls in what was one of the best games in the country this year.  Benjamin traveled to Baltimore, competing against Calvert Hall and Severn.  Check out the team photo in Redskins’ stadium: FLN is saddened by this news, and senior writer Lee Roggenburg will continue with more information in the days ahead.  We urge the voting members of the FHSAA to consider changing this by-law so that our state can continue to witness these great match-ups.