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POWELL, Wyo. - Northwest College's 16th nationally ranked volleyball team has one fewer win on its season record after self reporting the use of an ineligible player in its Sept. 14 match against Dawson Community College.
The eligibility form for freshman Mayara Conilho Moraes of Osaco, Brazil, had not been filed with the National Junior College Athletic Association before she played with the Trappers in their Sept. 12 loss to Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne and their Sept. 14 win against Dawson Community College at home.
On the Trapper roster, Moraes is listed as Mayara Conilho, following a common practice in Brazil where daughters chose to be recognized by their mother's last name.
Eligibility forms were filed for each volleyball player when they reported for the preseason, but Moraes, a middle hitter, didn't arrive until Sunday, Sept. 6, for Trapper practice because of a delay in getting her visa approved. The team was already seven games into its season, and her eligibility status was overlooked.
NWC discovered the oversight and filed Moraes' eligibility form on Sept. 17, after Moraes had participated in the two matches in which she saw limited time on the playing court. The ineligibility was self-reported to the NJCAA Sept. 18.
The NJCAA ruled that even though NWC caught and reported its own violation, the two games Moraes played in before the oversight was corrected must be forfeited. The Trapper record now reflects a loss against Dawson instead of a win; the loss against LCCC will stand as is. After last weekend's matches in Rock Springs and Riverton, the Trapper record is now 14 wins and 6 losses.
NWC interim athletic director Dana Young said Northwest hasn't experienced this problem before, as far as she's aware.
"We have processes in place to safeguard against it," Young said, "but nothing is failsafe."