Parents in wealthy Massachusetts town livid after lacrosse players forced to forfeit season for taking graduation photo with FAKE cigars

By SOPHIA BAUM - FEMAIL REPORTER, INTERN Published: 22:04, 10 June 2026 | Updated: 22:22, 10 June 2026 A Massachusetts high school lacrosse team’s dream season went up in smoke after a graduation photo showing players posing with cigars led to a devastating playoff forfeit - though parents insist the cigars were fake. Ipswich High School was forced to withdraw from its Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association semifinal against Cohasset on Tuesday after players were ruled ineligible under a strict policy banning student-athlete tobacco use. Controversy erupted when school officials discovered a celebratory post-graduation photo featuring members of the boys’ lacrosse team smoking cigars, leading to nine graduating seniors being barred from the state semifinal. The circulated photo features eight boys posing with cigars in their mouths decked out in full academic regalia, which prompted officials to reprimand them. According to state rules, student athletes may not use or possess any tobacco products during their season. The bombshell decision forced Ipswich to forfeit its Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association semifinal clash against Cohasset after nine players were sidelined.  The school’s athletic department Facebook page posted a statement on Wednesday morning, explaining that it made the call to forfeit the matchup due to a lack of eligible bodies. The viral snap features eight boys posing with cigars in their mouths while sporting full academic regalia 'We congratulate all of our players and coaches on a great season and for advancing to the Final Four,' the statement said.  But furious parents insist the punishment was outrageously unfair - claiming the alleged 'cigars' were actually homemade props stuffed with tea, and had no trace of tobacco.  'The crime and the punishment are not even close to each other. There’s a judge and a jury and it’s evil right now,' Drew Wile, a father of one of the boys in the photo, told CBS.  Elsewhere, John Gianakakis revealed his son and a few of his teammates had asked him for help to find a way to participate in the post-graduation cigar without violating these rules. 'I said I can't get you real ones, but I just started rolling cigars. I can try to make some fake ones, if you guys just want to go down there and we can hang out,' Gianakakis recalled telling his son. The outraged parent claimed families provided receipts, explanations and even physical samples to school administrators in a desperate bid to prove their case. 'We found one, we put it in a baggy like Mr Mitchell asked, and I brought it to him, and I said here it is. That's when I brought him more evidence, the receipt that I found from when I bought the stuff earlier before all this happened. And I guess that just wasn't enough,' Gianakakis said. He added that the high school principal, Jonathan Mitchell, even contacted the cigar shop to confirm that they called - asking for fake cigars and how to make them. School officials defended the difficult decision, saying Ipswich no longer had enough eligible athletes to safely compete against Cohasset However, according to Giankakis, Ipswich High principal Mitchell initially indicated players had been cleared after reviewing the evidence. 'Mr Mitchell looked me in the eyes, sat me down and said, "John these kids are cleared to play",' he told the outlet. Yet much to parents dismay, the decision was dramatically revoked after intervention from district leadership, stunning students hours before the semifinal. By 10am Tuesday, the students were informed they were barred from play. The fallout devastated seniors, who believed they were still competing, with some players reportedly already on the bus before filing out after learning their season was over. Christian Gianakakis, the son of John Gianakakis, told Boston.com the news 'felt like a punch in the face, it was like we were being called liars.' He added, 'It's a wicked disappointment being it was my senior year and all this happened in such a short amount of time.' Elsewhere, Wile added, 'It's hard to believe that this has all happened to these poor kids. The double standard is there. If you happen to play an instrument or whatever, there's no repercussions, there. You can do it.' MIAA Executive Director Bob Baldwin said in an interview with WEII Wednesday that the organization was made aware of the photo and the report but chose not to get involved with any adjudication. The upcoming championship was of immense importance, and would have helped to cement the school's prior winning streak against their competitors (pictured: the school) 'It's a local decision,' Baldwin stated to the outlet.  The Daily Mail has reached out to the Ipswich High School athletic director for further comment.  Prior to the games cancellation, Ipswich had boasted a 14-4 record heading into the matchup with Cohasset and was likely to win the championship. As a result, Cohasset will now face Nantucket in the state final later this week. A similar ruling was made in 2014 after two Massachusetts seniors at Beverly High School were barred from their championship lacrosse game for smoking cigars as they celebrated their graduation. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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