Sports

Demons Forfeit 6 Boys Basketball Games After OHSAA Violation

WHS boys basketball record plunges, player suspended

A Westlake High School varsity basketball player has been suspended for two games and the team has been forced to forfeit six wins for games the player participated in. The team remains eligible for playoffs.

According to a release by the Westlake High School athletic department, on Feb. 15, the school's administration was made aware of a possible Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Violation of Rule 6.3-Participation in Non-Interscholastic Programs-Team Sports, by a member of the boys’ basketball team.

The school investigated and found the allegations were true and immediately contacted the OHSAA for guidance.

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Athletic director Tony Cipollone said the player played in a single recreation league game in a different local rec league.

“He was unaware of the rule,” Cipollone said. “He played with friends not on the Westlake (high school) team.

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“He made a mistake and paid the price.”

The common penalty is for the school to hold the player out of two games for every one non-interscholastic game he participated in. Since this occurred one time, the player was held out of two games. He has since served the suspension.

“The penalty also included forfeiting any games in which the ineligible player participated in before the violation occurred,” the release said. As a result, Westlake will forfeit the wins against Midpark, Olmsted Falls, Avon, Amherst Steele, Avon Lake and North Olmsted."

As a result, the boys basketball record has dropped to 7-14 overall and 3-10 in the Southwestern Conference (SWC).

Cippolone said has received a letter from the OHSAA that all penalties association with the incident have been fulfilled.

The Demons are still eligible for playoffs and are currently seeded third.


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