The Seacrest Country Day volleyball team is headed into the FHSAA volleyball playoffs seeking their fifth state title in a row. But for the moment, that’s being overshadowed by an investigation.
Earlier this month, the FHSAA received allegations the school recruited a player from out of state and provided housing to the athlete in question.
In documents reviewed by the Naples Daily News, the FHSAA redacted the name of the athlete but referred to her as “a senior student from Maine.” A review of the program’s roster, coupled with an email sent to the Naples Daily News on Aug. 26 from the player’s mother, confirms the player in question is starting libero Ava Daviault.
In a response to the allegations, Seacrest admitted to the FHSAA that the school facilitated the player’s attendance and housing. Daviault had previously played for the Maine Juniors, a club team for which second-year Seacrest coach Andy Wimmer was the director prior to his move to Seacrest.
“While we understand and take full responsibility for violating the letter of this policy, (the player’s) homestay was not arranged for the purposes of athletic recruiting, nor was it knowingly coordinated in violation of the policy,” Kory Gallagher, Seacrest’s co-acting Head of School, wrote the FHSAA in response to the allegations. “This violation represents overzealousness to being student-centered by an admissions department employee. It also represents a lack of appropriate internal controls and education.”
In the response letter, Gallagher confirmed Daviault was exploring a move from Maine and that her mother contacted Wimmer during the 2024-25 school year. After Wimmer suggested a handful of boarding schools in New England, the conversation shifted to Daviault attending Seacrest, and Wimmer referred them to the school’s admissions department.
As a result, Daviault’s family was in need of a homestay situation in Naples, connecting with then-Admissions Coordinator Michelle Toberman. According to Gallagher’s letter, after ultimately deciding not to enroll at Seacrest, the two parties reconnected in May regarding admissions and homestay, when the mother of a freshman on the volleyball team volunteered to have Daviault stay with her family.
“We do not believe she was aware that a student-athlete residing with another student-athlete’s family was a violation of FHSAA policy,” Gallagher said in the response letter, referring to Toberman, who’s no longer at the school.
Wimmer declined comment Monday afternoon regarding the investigation but did confirm that Daviault is no longer living with the family associated with the volleyball program, and her new living situation is in accordance with FHSAA policy.
No action, including potential fines and forfeitures, has been taken by the FHSAA at the time of publication. Seacrest (11-14) is the No. 1 seed in Class 1A-Region 3, and the No. 3 overall team in 1A.
As a result of the violation, Seacrest informed the FHSAA it had taken corrective steps. Daviault was held out of playing in the district tournament until suitable living accommodations that do not violate FHSAA policy are found. She is still able to practice with the team, as well as support them from the team bench in street clothes.
Wimmer was also suspended by the school for the district tournament, but that didn’t have much of an effect on Seacrest’s performance. The Stingrays had no trouble in his absence, sweeping Village School and Babcock to win their fifth consecutive district championship on Friday.
Daviault played in every regular-season match, posting 122 digs, 28 assists, 8 aces, and a kill across 60 sets played.
The Stingrays will begin their quest for a fifth consecutive state title on Tuesday, Oct. 21, taking on Bayshore Christian in the regional quarterfinals at home.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Four-time state champion Seacrest volleyball team admits to FHSAA violation after allegation
Reporting by Alex Martin, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
