Foley Secures Temporary Restraining Order in Utah High School Football Case, Continues Pro Bono Legal Fight on Behalf of F-1 Visa Student Athletes

Foley & Lardner LLP has secured a temporary restraining order in a pro bono case representing international high school students against the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) that allows an Australian senior at Juan Diego Catholic High School in Utah to rejoin his varsity football team.

In a controversial move, the UHSAA issued a rule earlier this year prohibiting F-1 visa students from playing varsity sports unless their team agreed to forfeit all post-season and championship play. The UHSAA attempted to justify its rule by arguing that schools were concerned that “Utah students” were being “replaced” by foreign students. F-1 visas are non-immigrant visas that permit international students to study full-time at an accredited academic institution in the United States.

Foley attorneys David Jordan, Wesley Harward, Tanner Camp, Tyler Dever, and Charlie Morris in the firm’s Salt Lake City office accepted the case on a pro bono basis and filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of Zachary Szymakowski and other F-1 students excluded by the rule.

Szymakowski, selected to be Juan Diego’s starting punter again this year, was prohibited from playing varsity football due to the new rule. The Foley team moved for a temporary restraining order enjoining the UHSAA from enforcing the rule. On October 17, 2024, the Court granted the motion and issued an order allowing Szymakowski to play.

Foley looks forward to continuing to fight on behalf of our clients, and plans to file a motion for a preliminary injunction seeking relief from the discriminatory rule for all F-1 students.

Foley is committed to providing pro bono opportunities for our attorneys and quality legal services to those who most need our help. To learn more about Foley’s pro bono work, click here.