Weatherly dismisses two players from boys basketball team

The Weatherly boys basketball program has been singled out for having two nonresident participants this past winter on its team.

According to various reports, the school district was informed that two players were not properly living in the district and therefore were in possible violation of PIAA rules.

The PIAA, and sports participants all over the country, require residency within certain boundaries of a said school district. The exception are private schools, which allow for student-athletes to attend a school of its choice providing it pays a tuition.

Once the Weatherly School District received the complaint, the administration immediately took measures to remove the supposed nonresident athletes from the basketball team.

“Yes, the two players we were informed about are no longer on the team,” said district Superintendent Terri Young by phone late Tuesday afternoon. “(They) are both (attending) school until our school board has a meeting to determine their (status) to remain in our district.”

The Wreckers are still in contention for a postseason subregional playoff spot, but because the school took the action to remove the players from playing, it may not jeopardize the team’s playoff chance.

“By doing (what) they did, it shows they acted properly and quickly,” said one District 11 official. “Therefore, if the team does qualify for the playoffs, I doubt they will be suspended. You have to understand the school acted the right way and took the measures to not allow the players to remain with the team. Had the school continued to let those (non-eligible) players stay on the team, it would have caused (the District 11 athletic committee) to take some sort of action.”

Both players — who were removed from the team late last week — did not participate against Shenandoah Valley Monday. The suspended players were not in uniform for the team’s games against Lourdes and Northwest, both losses by Weatherly.