WPIAL denies postseason eligibility to 3 softball players after transfers

By: Chris Harlan
Sunday, April 7, 2019 | 11:59 PM

The WPIAL denied postseason eligibility to three softball players under the new PIAA rule that makes transfers ineligible unless they qualify for a specific waiver.

North Catholic junior Billie Aguglia (softball), Serra Catholic junior Kaitlyn Conrad (softball) and Moon senior Antonia Schaefer (softball, track) are eligible for the regular season but cannot take part in the the playoffs after hearings this week in Green Tree.

All three can appeal to the PIAA.

The WPIAL granted postseason eligibility to Penn Hills senior Jozef Bozeman (track) and Franklin Regional junior Alexandra Corker (spirit, track), who each won their appeals.

The PIAA enacted a rule last summer that makes any athlete who transfers after the start of 10th grade ineligible to participate in the playoffs for one year. Each PIAA district can grant a waiver, but the reasons deemed sufficient are limited:

A change of residence necessitated by a change in employment.

A school-initiated administrative transfer within a school district.

A court-ordered transfer.

A change of schools caused by a military reassignment of a parent.

A change of schools caused by release from a juvenile facility.

Or, a demonstrable change in income or other financial resources that compels withdrawal from a school.

The PIAA rule also states that a transfer for “academic, developmental, spiritual and/or social reasons” does not meet the hardship waiver standard. Nor does “a change of residence resulting from a family separation, unless court approved.”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.