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The Northwest College women’s volleyball team saw two of its losses transform into victories late last week following a ruling by the National Junior College Athletic Association. The record change stems from an NJCAA ruling last week that Central Wyoming College must vacate all victories dating back to the start of the 2010 season.
Central Wyoming has also been placed on probation for this season, meaning the Rustlers will not compete in the Region IX North tournament scheduled to begin on Wednesday in Powell. Central Wyoming has spent the last half of the season as a member of the NJCAA”s top 20 and was ranked No. 16 in the latest round of national ballots.
The ruling was announced by Central Wyoming last Thursday and is related to what the school describes on its website as “multiple years of documented violations related to student-athlete eligibility for volleyball.” The charge stems from allegations that at least one, and possibly as many as three, Central players may have played professionally over that span of time.
The NJCAA ruling overturns the Trappers’ only Region IX North losses this season, making the team 12-0 in regular-season regional play. The Trappers’ overall record likewise improves to 21-9, although the change could be temporary as Central Wyoming still has the option to appeal the NJCAA’s ruling, an option the school notes it is pondering.
“We are considering an appeal of a portion of the eligibility issues, due to the possible factual inaccuracies,” Central Wyoming vice president for student and academic services Jason Wood noted in a statement on the CWC website.
Should the NJCAA’s decision stand, the Trappers would also add two victories to their 2011 season record. The team would receive one additional win for the 2010 season as a result.
A successful appeal would not, however, change the NJCAA’s decision to place the program on probation, leaving Central ineligible for this week’s regional tournament in Powell. The Trappers open tournament play at noon on Thursday against either Casper College or Eastern Wyoming.