Hyak forfeit reversed; Lady Mules taken out

North Beach High School found documents last Wednesday that cancelled a forfeiture in favor of the Wahkiakum Mule girls basketball team.

On February 19, Wahkiakum School District Athletic Director Bob Garrett reported that the North Beach Hyaks had forfeited their 65-63 win over the Wahkiakum Lady Mules in Monday's district tournament action. The Lady Mules were called back and were scheduled to play Mossyrock in a district game February 20.

Hyak officials had reported that the term of the physician's physical exam for one of their players had expired the day before their 65-63 win over the Lady Mules on February 18. They notified SW Washington District 4 officials who ruled the win forfeited because the district didn't have a valid current physical.

On Wednesday, after The Eagle had gone to press, North Beach officials reported they had been given a a new, current physcial which hadn't been filed. SW District officials then overturned the forfeiture and ruled that and North Beach would continue playing.

Garrett had initially challenged the validity of the second ruling declined to press the case.

Following is the statement of Wahkiakum High School Athletic Director Bob

Garrett made this announcement last Wednesday, 10:55 a.m.: North Beach is back in the girls district tourney. Apparently at today’s hearing, North Beach provided a valid physical for the girl in question that was dated in December. They are claiming that the school did not know she had a valid physical when they reported the infraction yesterday. And now, lo and behold, they have a valid physical. The hearing committee has ruled that given the latest development, North Beach does not have to forfeit the game. Our girls’ season is once again over.