LOYAL — The Loyal School District announced Wednesday, Sept. 2 that due to a self-reported eligibility issue, the Loyal/Greenwood co-op football team will forfeit its 41-7 win over Neillsville/Granton from this past Friday and receive a one-year probation period.
The Marshfield-area school districts said they became aware of the issue following Friday’s game, promptly addressed it and self-reported the matter to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
Advertisement
The WIAA then reviewed the situation and imposed the forfeiture and probation.
The districts did not disclose the nature of the eligibility issue or identify the player involved and described the mishap as “an honest mistake” and said they take responsibility for it.
Ostricki answers Stratford’s call: Ostricki answers the call, embraces new defensive role for Stratford
Loyal/Greenwood assistant coach Aaron Greisen said the coaching staff believed the player had served the required suspension and was eligible to return against Neillsville/Granton.
“To my knowledge, our coaching staff was told and understood that the player needed to sit one game, and that’s what he did,” Greisen said in a public Facebook post Wednesday shared on the team’s account.
Advertisement
Greisen said the player was required to sit three games under Greenwood’s Student Athletic Code Handbook, which states the suspension lasts 21 days from the first competition or one-third of the season.
He said the coaching staff would not have played the player had it understood the suspension required three games.
“Had we known it was actually three games, he absolutely would not have played,” Greisen said.
Stoffel ready to lead as a sophomore: Mosinee sophomore captain Pacyn Stoffel finds happiness on volleyball floor
Greisen said the situation stemmed from a breakdown in communication and acknowledged that he wished he had looked more closely into the eligibility requirements himself.
Advertisement
The forfeiture alters the result of Friday night’s game.
The districts and the WIAA did not immediately provide additional details about what the one-year probation means for the football program.
The Loyal/Greenwood football team is expected to continue its season as scheduled. The Greyhounds next scheduled for a road game against Auburndale on Friday, Sept. 4.
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Reporter Alfred Smith III at alfred.smith@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @AlfredS_III.
This article originally appeared on Marshfield News-Herald: Loyal/Greenwood football forfeits win due to ineligible player
