WPIAL: Washington H.S. To Forfeit 6 Games For Ineligible Player
WASHINGTON (KDKA) – The Washington High School football team suffered a big blow Tuesday morning.
The WPIAL ruled the team will have to forfeit six games because of the ineligibility of a player.
In Washington, Pa., this is a big deal.
On the front page of the Washington Observer Reporter today is a picture of wide receiver Quorteze Levy because decisions made about his eligibility could affect the entire team.
"The young fellow is eligible to participate through the remainder of the year," said Tim O'Malley, of the WPIAL. "Wash High, however, has been directed to forfeit the games in which this person played while he was ineligible."
"Certainly that would be a travesty to an otherwise fine season that the team has had," said Joe Nicolella, Washington High School's athletic director.
The season had promise, but also had eligibility struggles earlier this year involving Zach Blystone.
The latest case involves Levy.
After a routine review of his senior record preparing for college, it was discovered he repeated a ninth grade semester in Michigan and again in Washington when he transferred.
"And that in itself is a violation of PIAA bylaws," said O'Malley. "You get four years of eligibility after you leave the eighth grade."
So, Washington is appealing the forfeiture decision to the PIAA. The decision to allow him to play now, they see as too late.
"The WPIAL granted two semesters of eligibility for Quorteze Levy, and as a result, two semesters would indicate this semester, and of course, second semester," said Nicolella. "So, he'd already played games during the first semester and that's why we're making our appeal."
It's expected that the statewide PIAA will make their decision on the appeal by the end of the week.
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