Sports
Top Wharton Football Players' 2012 Season Questionable
The Wharton Wildcats team faces an uncertain 2012. But school officials have lifted the suspensions of Chase Litton and Rocky Enos from extracurricular activities until the cases play out in court.
The arrests and suspensions of sophomore Chase Litton and junior Rocky Enos earlier this year on felony charges related to recent break-ins was no doubt bad news for the Wharton High School Athletic Department.
But head football coach David Mitchell remains optimistic.
Find out what's happening in New Tampafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“It was a setback but you have to face adversity like that and move on,” he said.
Litton, the football team's star quarterback, passed for more than 2,000 yards last year and helped his team make the playoffs. Enos was the team's leading tackler (118 total).
Find out what's happening in New Tampafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The pair face charges of third-degree felony burglary of vehicles and dwellings, plus petty theft and theft charges, according to media reports. After being arrested, they were then suspended from extracurricular activities.
It is unknown whether the two will still be key elements to the 2012 team though the students are no longer suspended. That could change depending on how their cases play out in court, school officials said.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Litton, also a member of the basketball team, is now able to work out with the team and participate in spring activities. Litton's absence in Wharton basketball's disappointing regional quarterfinal loss to East Lake was felt. Mitchell confirmed that Enos is now working out with the football team, too.
The Wildcats football team is already participating in 7-on-7 competitions at Skyway. They will have a spring game on May 18 with either Tampa Bay Tech or King.
Principal Brad Woods said he had met with district representative Lanness Robinson, athletic director for Hillsborough County, and that the lifted suspensions did not conflict with any bylaws of the Florida High School Athletic Association.
"Now we're at the mercy of the courts to see how these two make their way through the justice system," Woods said.
Suspensions, even sentences, could come down in the future once the cases are tried. For now, they are just trying to get along as normally as possible.
Stay tuned to New Tampa Patch for updates on the situation.