Bishop McCort’s wrestling program has been placed on probation for three years following an investigation into recruitment violations of PIAA by-laws, officials said.
D6 Chairman Bill Marshall confirmed to 6 Sports that a verdict had been reached regarding Bishop McCort athletics.
Head wrestling coach Bill Bassett is suspended a year and the wrestling team will be prohibited from competing in the postseason for 20-36 months, pending appeal.
Bishop McCort athletics were placed on probation Oct. 6 after a committee vote to do so in response to the investigation.
The athletic program’s three-year probation period was finalized Thursday and began Oct. 6.
Additionally, the program must “immediately develop a form that outlines the questions at time of transfer, the Bishop McCort administration will use to determine if there was any athletic intent at time of transfer,” officials said.
Bishop McCort released the following statement:
A meeting was concluded this afternoon, Thursday, November 4, 2021, by the PIAA District 6 Committee to review the results of an investigation into allegations of recruiting by Bishop McCort Catholic High School. Members of the committee presented and questioned administration, staff and parents of the student in question at this meeting and heard testimony from all parties regarding this student transfer. School administration presented copious amounts of information regarding the 88 students who have transferred into Bishop McCort due to the school’s pandemic response with regard to inschool instruction. As Principal/CAO Tom Smith states, “We follow the rules set by the PIAA, but feel that there needs to be equity in the manner in which the rules are enforced.” At the conclusion of today’s session, the PIAA District 6 committee found Bishop McCort was in violation of the recruiting allegations. As a result, Bishop McCort has been placed on a 3-year probationary period, Coach Bill Bassett has been suspended from coaching for one year and Bishop McCort wrestlers are not permitted to participate in District or State competitions for a period of twenty to thirty-six months. Mr. Smith responded to this judgment, “We vehemently disagree with the outcome of this hearing and will appeal the decision with the PIAA Board of Directors in Harrisburg. We have adhered to the rules and have followed protocol in admitting all students to our school. Our main goal is, and always has been, to provide a well-rounded and quality education for the students that attend Bishop McCort. ”
ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfl7a0tM6pZKabk6S%2FtXnArZ%2BlnaSesLR51qucrKycnruoec%2BlmJydlGK8r3nPq6abmaSevK95xaijpaennruoedGemqutmam6prrTZqCnrpWowaqzwK2gqKY%3D