MPS error causes WIAA to forfeit Bay View and Pulaski HS football seasons, issue 2-year playoff bans

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Another paperwork error at MPS may prove costly for student athletes at two district high schools.

We've confirmed the Pulaski High School and Bay View High School football teams will forfeit all games from this year, plus they'll be banned from the playoffs for two years.

It stems from another MPS error in which the district apparently did not report conference changes to the WIAA.

Bay View Athletic Director Lisa Dawes confirmed the developments in an email, writing, "Bay View is banned from playoffs for 2 consecutive years and must forfeit all games this season."

While it's still early in the process, Dawes later added, "We are still gathering facts regarding this situation."

Officials at Pulaski confirmed the same information.

The forfeitures and playoff bans are the result of the district not notifying the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, or WIAA, of conference realignment that involved the two schools for the 2024 season.

Here's how the Milwaukee City League works: at the end of each football season, the lowest team in the Richardson division and the top team in the Blackbourn division swap places.

At the end of the 2023 season, that was Pulaski and Bay View.

But those swaps constitute a conference change in the eyes of the WIAA, which requires an official notification. MPS apparently did not provide that notification, hence the forfeitures and playoff ban.

We spoke with coaches from both schools off camera.

They told us the errors were made at higher levels of the district's administration.

They said they are frustrated their players will be punished for errors made by adults, and they're hopeful the WIAA can work out an alternative outcome.

The coaches we spoke with Monday said it's their understanding that for now, all games will be considered scrimmages, not official games.

But they don't believe the decision will force them off the field. So they hope their players can keep playing games, even if they're not counted in official standings.

Calls, emails, and messages to several WIAA leaders went unreturned Monday.

And Milwaukee Rec Commissioner Bobbie Kelsey also did not respond to multiple calls and emails.

Multiple requests for information and comment from MPS Monday were also ignored.