Ineligible Player Prompts Elkins to Void All Football Wins - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

Ineligible Player Prompts Elkins to Void All Football Wins

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By Tim Carrico - email
ELKINS, West Virginia -

The West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission (WVSSAC) has ruled an Elkins High School football player ineligible, which has prompted the Tigers to vacate all wins from the 2012 football season.

Dr. James Phares, Superintendent of Randolph County, said on Tuesday a parent from a neighboring county had submitted a written complaint to the WVSSAC's main office in Parkersburg. That letter challenged the residency of an Elkins High School transfer student-athlete.


Dr. Phares said the athlete had the necessary grades, credits, and transfer and transition papers but there was a discrepancy with his eligibility.

In the WVSSAC's rules, a student-athlete's residency must be checked; if they do not move with their guardian, then an appeal process must be filed for the WVSSAC to review.

According to Dr. Phares, the transfer student's guardians are his grandparents, not parents.

WVSSAC Director, Gary Ray made the determination on Wednesday morning that the athlete is ineligible and that all of Elkins' wins will be null and void.

The student has been deemed ineligible for the entire year. Dr. Phares said the family of the student and school board are considering legal action to reinstate the player's eligibility.