A federal court has rejected the request from former Division II baseball athlete Trey Ciulla-Hall for a temporary restraining order that would have allowed him to compete this season with the Maryland Terps.
Ciulla-Hall, who spent his last four seasons at Stonehill College in Massachusetts, escalated his case to federal jurisdiction after the NCAA turned down Maryland’s appeal for a waiver, which would have permitted him to play this year.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Denise Casper delivered her decision, denying his motion. Ciulla-Hall detailed in his complaint that he participated in one game exceeding the designated limits in 2021 due to confusion surrounding the NCAA’s COVID-related competition relief for Divisions II and III.
His circumstances were further complicated that year by financial struggles, requiring him to return home to assist his siblings in caring for their ill mother.

“The Court understands Ciulla-Hall’s situation and acknowledges that denying his request for injunctive relief does not indicate any judgment on the merit of his claims,” Judge Casper stated. However, she emphasized that on the undeveloped particulars of the case and considering the emergency context that was not caused by the NCAA, it seemed like Ciulla-Hall’s delay in pursuit of injunctive relief affected the outcome, and he did not provide enough evidence to support his request.

This ruling occurred shortly after football player Nyzier Fourqurean was granted a preliminary injunction that would allow him to maintain eligibility and play for Wisconsin this fall.
Transferring to Wisconsin in 2023, Fourqurean contended that the two seasons he spent at Division II institution Grand Valley State at the outset of his college career should not count against his eligibility.

Judge William Conley, ruling in a federal court in Wisconsin, clarified that his decision was narrowly tailored to the unique aspects of Fourqurean’s situation. This ruling came just a day before the deadline for Fourqurean to withdraw from the NFL draft, heightening the urgency of his case.

On Friday, the NCAA responded by filing a notice of appeal regarding the decision made in Fourqurean’s case. “It is apparent that the NCAA is continuing to challenge my ability to compete,” he stated in a message shared on social media. “The appeal has put me in a difficult position because choosing to opt-out of the draft is a decision that cannot be delayed during the appeal process.
Despite the uncertainty, I have decided to trust the legal proceedings and Judge Conley’s verdict, opting out of the draft to focus on my football career at UW. I’m enthusiastic about what this season holds and hopeful to be on the field with my teammates throughout the year.”

Ciulla-Hall expressed a desire to play Division I baseball this season partly for the prospect of benefiting financially from his name, image, and likeness, making Friday particularly critical, as it marked the last chance for him to enroll in spring classes.
Judge Casper noted that the court remained unconvinced the NCAA’s refusal of the waiver breached its own regulations and indicated that Ciulla-Hall had not satisfied the criteria needed to demonstrate a strong likelihood of success on the merits regarding his antitrust grievances.

In contrast, Fourqurean indicated that the NCAA’s denial of his waiver limited his ability to capitalize financially on NIL opportunities. According to a sports marketing consultant, he had the potential to earn “significantly above $250,000, possibly reaching $500,000” by playing this season at Wisconsin.
Fourqurean also reflected on how his life experiences—including the death of his father in the summer of 2021—affected his mental state and hampered his training in the offseason.
His involvement that year included 11 games for Grand Valley State but saw him playing just 155 snaps.

Matt Mitchell, who coached Fourqurean during his time at Grand Valley State, noted that the cornerback was thrust into play in 2021 due to injuries among his teammates, despite being neither physically prepared nor mentally fit for the challenges. Mitchell added that under typical conditions, Fourqurean likely wouldn’t have stepped onto the field that season at all.