The executive director of the WPIAL is investigating potential recruiting violations involving Baldwin’s football team and the general administration of the athletic program.
If found to have been in violation of state and WPIAL rules, Baldwin could face a range of penalties, WPIAL Executive Director Scott Seltzer said.
“Consequences could range from no sanctions to suspensions. That will be determined by the board,” Seltzer said. Any coach found to have violated recruiting rules can be suspended for up to a year, he said.
State and WPIAL rules about recruiting are very specific.
“Recruiting which is materially motivated in some way by an athletic purpose is defined as efforts by a school, or any of its employees, agents, or representatives, to engage in, support, or condone conduct whereby a motivating factor is to seek out one or more athletes to attend a particular school; to promote a school’s athletic program or personnel other than as part of the overall program at the school; and/or, to provide preferential treatment or attention to prospective enrollees who are athletes,” Seltzer said.
The WPIAL board authorized Seltzer to begin an investigation last week.
“The Board passed a motion to give the executive director the authority to conduct an investigation and schedule a hearing if necessary, regarding possible recruiting violations and administrative and institutional oversight issues of the Baldwin School District athletic program,” Seltzer said. “I will ask for information from the high school administration, and depending on the information provided, that will determine if a hearing is necessary.”
It has not been determined whether the investigation will look at other sports or only the administration of the football program, he said. The investigation will look at administration of the athletic program because “that was the motion that was passed by the board,” Seltzer said.
Baldwin Principal Shaun Tomaszewski said he could not comment because of the ongoing investigation.
Baldwin football players, meanwhile, are aware of the investigation.
“We had a team meeting after practice for the coaches to discuss the situation with us,” senior Nathan Mickolay said.
Senior Jaden Duttine said he has been trying to keep his mind off of the situation.
“I am aware of the investigation, but I have been just trying to focus on the rest of the season,” Duttine said. “We see this as more adversity for us to overcome as a team.”
