The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) denied a Baraboo High School student the opportunity to participate in school-sponsored sports, citing its transfer rules. The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) has taken up the case, filing a lawsuit against both the WIAA and the Baraboo School District.
The student at the center of this dispute, the eldest daughter of Emily Weigel, had previously attended a small Christian school in Baraboo, which lacked an athletic program. The transfer to the public high school was necessitated by severe health issues affecting her younger sibling, leading to significant family adjustments including the loss of Emily Weigel’s full-time job to manage the medical needs of their child.
“Our daughter isn’t trying to exploit any system; she simply wants to play sports, embracing a new chapter in her life amidst family challenges'” said Weigel. “The WIAA’s decision is an overreach, and we’re fighting for her and others in similar situations.”
Upon transferring to Baraboo High School, the student, a passionate softball player, was eager to join the school team for the first time. However, she was met with a one-year ineligibility ruling under WIAA’s transfer policy. Despite attempts by the school to secure a waiver, the WIAA rejected both the initial request and the subsequent appeal.
“Our clients live and pay taxes in the school district, yet their child has been denied access to programs funded by those very taxes,” said Skylar Croy, Associate Counsel at WILL. “The bureaucrats at WIAA arbitrarily denied her a ‘waiver,’ stifling her growth and development. This needs to change.”
The lawsuit argues that by outsourcing eligibility decisions to the WIAA, a body not directly accountable to public oversight, the Baraboo School District is unlawfully abdicating its responsibility over student activities, which are integral to public education.
The WIAA describes itself as a private entity, but its decisions significantly impact public education, raising questions about oversight and accountability. The Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction, who has constitutional authority over public instruction, does not extend this oversight to the WIAA’s operations, creating a legal gray area.
This case highlights the broader issue of how transfer rules in sports can inadvertently penalize students for circumstances beyond their control, potentially affecting their educational and developmental opportunities. The outcome of this legal battle could set a precedent for how student eligibility in co-curricular activities is managed in Wisconsin’s public schools.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the community and educators watch closely, pondering the balance between regulatory control and the rights of students to participate in school life fully.
Published 2/3/25 10:03am