Phoenix Xavier Prep’s Division I girls team tennis title Saturday over Chandler Hamilton came with criticism on social media.

XCP Gator Athletics posted its win, which prompted negative reaction with “stole” and “cheated” used in responses.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association on Friday night disqualified No. 1-ranked Scottsdale Desert Mountain after its semifinal win over Hamilton because of a lineup alteration.

Xavier and particularly coach Laurie Martin, was blamed.

“I have been coaching for 14 years and I hold myself to the highest standards and integrity,” Martin said. “For the record, I did not contact the AIA once. (Athletic Director) Sister Lynn (Winsor) turned it in. The AIA responded. They are our governing body.

“It’s a very unfortunate situation.”

Desert Mountain second-year coach Mark Schumaker, who was trying to lead the Wolves to a third straight team state title, has not commented to the media since his team was disqualified.

“I have a ton of respect for those girls (at Desert Mountain).  I’m a competitor and I want to play the best,” Martin said. “To see the hurtful things … It was the first time in 42 years I had to be escorted (by police) at state. I had Desert Mountain parents yelling at me, I’m a cheater. My legacy is  being drug through the mud.

“Whatever they (AIA) would have decided, I’m fine. I would have loved  to play them straight up.”

Jennifer Understahl, the mother of No. 1 singles player Josie Frazier — The Republic‘s Female Tennis Player of the Year last season — has been Desert Mountain’s voice since the disqualification.

She was outspoken against Martin, claiming she had been trying to get Desert Mountain disqualified.

“They’ve been trying to get Desert Mountain disqualified because they want to win,” Understahl said. “We have a really strong team. Day after day, we’ve been fighting them. it’s a weird technicality that has never been enforced before.”

Martin said that the AIA team tennis bylaw on the AIA website makes the lineup rule  clear:

Team Tournament Line-ups:
Each team who receives a berth into the team championship shall submit their line-up and alternate players through the Roster page on the School’s log-in page no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Line-up Process: From the school login page on www.aiaonline.org you must select rosters and list your team members. Once all members are listed, select and number your top six Varsity singles players in rank order ( #1 – #6 )start with your best player at #1. In addition select your top three doubles team players and number them in rank order ( #1 – #3 ). These line-ups can be changed throughout the regular season. At 12:00 noon on April 18, 2019 the line-ups will be frozen and this will become your state tournament line-up.

Once a team’s line-up is submitted:

Each team must play each round with the same line-up. Players must play singles
in order of ability. In the event of injury or illness, all singles players must move up
a position to replace the injured or ill player. (AIA bylaw; article 28.6.4)

* Doubles teams must play in order of ability as a team. A direct line substitution may
be made in the event of injury or illness.

If a team does not have enough players to fill all singles and doubles spots, they shall forfeit a match with the lowest position and moving upwards. High seed site athletic directors have the responsibility to hold both teams that play at their site to line up submitted to the AIA for the team tournament.

Martin helped get this AIA lineup bylaw put in 12 years ago, because she said she was appalled by how so many coaches were manipulating their lineups to create an unfair advantage during the state tournament.

“I feel bad for my girls,” Martin said. “This has been a good team of girls. They worked hard. I get a call late Friday night that we’re playing a different team. I had nothing to do with that. The rules are very clear. He entered it the right way last year. He’s a nice guy.

“I’m not here to throw him under the buss. I feel horrible. We have to follow by the rules.”

In an attempt at sportsmanship, Desert Mountain used an inferior lineup against No. 16 Phoenix Central in the first round on April 23, a 5-0 victory, then re-stacked its lineup for the rest of the tournament.

At the Division I final in Glendale, there were picketers and flyers passed out critical of the AIA’s decision to disqualify Desert Mountain.

“They needed to celebrate,” Martin said of her players. “They did it the right way. They’re trying to get my players to forfeit. My girls didn’t do anything wrong. These are good human beings. This isn’t worth ruining friendships over. Just say a mistake was made and move on.”

Sister Lynn Winsor stands by her coach.

“She has never done anything against tennis and the AIA,” Sister Lynn Winsor said. “She is integrity personified.

“Before the match, we talked about victory with honor. Our senior leaders did a fine job.”

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.

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