WILLIAMSVILLE, NY (WKBW) — A high school soccer team's season is officially over after some sort of violation.
That violation has forced Williamsville East to suspend some players on the girls varsity team.
On Monday evening, the spokesperson for the school district issued this statement:
"The Williamsville East Varsity Girls Soccer Team is forfeiting the remainder of the 2019 season. Team members and their parents were informed by school officials during a private meeting held earlier this evening.
The decision comes after an internal investigation found that 13 team members violated the district’s interscholastic athletic contract during a recent incident that took place off school property and outside of school hours."
“We regret the need to take this action but our investigation showed that a number of team members engaged in behavior that clearly violated the athletic contract,” Superintendent Dr. Scott Martzloff said.
"Student athletes and their parents sign an athletic contract agreeing to a code of conduct that extends to a player’s behavior outside of school during the athletic season. Violations to the agreement result in immediate suspension from practice and competition for five weeks.
With 13 of 21 varsity team members suspended from play and not enough junior varsity players ready to move up, the school cannot field a team for the remainder of the 2019 season.
In addition to Dr. Martzloff, East Principal Brian Swatland, East Athletic Director Nick Suchyna, and the district’s AD, Chris Mucica were present for tonight’s meeting with parents and team members. Due to student privacy regulations, the district declines further comment."
A tip to our newsroom from an unidentified person stated that up to 15 players were placed on suspension. A previous written statement said "a number" of students violated their athletic contract and they've been suspended from both practice and competition for the next five weeks.
The statement said allegations were brought to the attention of Williamsville East administrators and were investigated. That's when it was determined a number of team members violated an athletic contract they sign along with their parents.
"Recently, allegations involving the Williamsville East Varsity Girls Soccer Team were brought to the attention of Williamsville East administrators. These allegations have been investigated and as a result, it has been determined that a number of student athletes violated the interscholastic athletic contract signed by both parents and students. Those student athletes found to be in violation of the athletic agreement have been suspended from practice and competition for five weeks. The future of the 2019 Williamsville East Girls soccer season is currently under review.
On Friday the district forfeited its game against Starpoint.
The Williamsville East Varsity girls soccer team, known as the flames, plays under Section VI and remained a top ranked team.
The team was schedule to play at home Monday night against West Seneca East, but the district tells 7 Eyewitness News the game has been forfeited.
