KITTERY — Traip Academy must forfeit its three football victories this fall after discovering that a transfer student on the team is in his ninth semester of high school.
The Maine Principals’ Association grants athletic eligibility for eight consecutive semesters starting with the freshman year. A violation of this policy results in forfeiture of games.
Traip Athletic Director Mike Roberge reported the violation to the MPA – first by phone on Tuesday and then by a formal letter Wednesday – after reviewing academic transcripts.
“We had a student-athlete transfer here from a New Hampshire school in the middle of last year,” said Roberge. “We review eligibility and grades and communicate with the students and coaches. We missed a year he was in New Hampshire. It was an oversight on my part.”
MPA Executive Director Dick Durost said, “Traip Academy self-reported and it’s MPA policy that makes it forfeiture of any wins.
“MPA schools have a moral and ethical responsibility to report. We commend Mike Roberge for doing the honorable thing.”
Roberge said the student-athlete is in his fifth year of high school because he is short on credits. He wouldn’t identify the student, but said the player will not be a member of the varsity program for the final two games. The athlete will be part of the junior varsity program. The MPA does not govern sub-varsity athletics.
“(He) hadn’t played football before and just wanted to be part of a team concept,” Roberge said. “He was enjoying himself. I feel awful.
The Rangers won 3 of 5 games and had a good chance of making the playoffs. Traip was ranked fourth in Western Class D in the Crabtree Index, which is used to determine playoff seeding.
Traip’s final two games are at Oak Hill (5-1) on Saturday and at home against Dirigo (5-0) on Oct. 25.
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