By Staff
As the result of eligibility rules violations and an absent effort to meet the commitments of the school's membership resolution for the 2003-04 school year, the Walter French Academy in Lansing has been placed on probation without post-season tournament competition in all sports by the Michigan High School Athletic Association for a 12-month period effective immediately.
The penalty stems from the use of three student-athletes who may have been ineligible to participate in girls basketball during the recently-completed season, and the school's lack of response when asked to address the issue.
During its probation, Walter French Academy may engage in regular-season competition with MHSAA member schools, but is prohibited from participation in the Association's post-season tournaments.
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by over 1,200 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract approximately 1.6 million spectators each year.