Refusal Of Athlete's Acommodation Request Ultimately Benefits Player

Today's Palm Beach Post reports on a case with an unusual twist in which a high school athlete sought to obtain accommodation of her religious beliefs in the scheduling of state tournament competitions. Orthodox Jewish girl's basketball player, Bassie Orzechowitz, unsuccessfully petitioned the Florida High School Athletic Association to move its Queen of the Hill three-point competition a few hours later so she could compete after sundown on Saturday. (Palm Beach Post, 2/23). Failing to get accommodations, Orzechowitz decided not to compete. On Saturday--the day of the competition-- Orzechowitz developed stomach pains and, it turns out, needed an emergency appendectomy. Doctors said that had she competed, her appendix might have ruptured while she was on the court. Orzechowitz's mother attributed her daughter's observance of the Sabbath as saving her from a more serious health situation.