One-Act loses awards, school fined
By Alyssa Schafer, Editor
Disputes over whether two Washburn students were eligible to compete in varsity activities have resulted in a $500 fine and team awards being stripped. During a North Dakota High School Activities Association (NDHSAA) meeting last week, the association’s executive board assigned sanctions for two alleged eligibility violations—one concerning a sophomore girls basketball player and the other an eighth grade One-Act play participant. For the two violations, Washburn School has been fined $500 and will undergo a probationary period of one year, said Sherm Sylling, NDHSAA executive secretary. Any complaint or violation against Washburn during that probationary period will be scrutinized intensely, Sylling said. "If there are any violations during that period, there could be more severe sanctions recommended by the board," Sylling said. Beyond those sanctions, the One-Act group’s awards from the 2009 regional and state competitions must be surrendered, said Brian Bubach, NDHSAA assistant to the executive secretary. The One-Act group took fourth place during the regional competition and sixth place at the state competition. Each participant from the Washburn team received a plaque, which will have to be returned to the NDHSAA. The team award must be returned, as well.
