MILWAUKEE — When Jennifer Waldherr heard dozens of Milwaukee Public School (MPS) athletes’ football season was cut short because school leaders failed to file the proper paperwork, she got to work.
“When I saw it on the news about these two teams, I decided I’m fighting for both schools,” Waldherr said. “I called the WIAA Monday and my first question is ‘How do we appeal this?’”
Earlier in the week, both Pulaski and Bay View high school football players were forced to end their season early, and they'll also be banned from the playoffs for the next two seasons.
Watch: Community petitions after teams forced to forfeit games, banned from playoffs:
Since Pulaski won the Blackbourn Division and was elevated to the Richardson Division, and Bay View was relegated to Blackbourn, paperwork needed to be done.
MPS failed to submit that paperwork to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA).
“A few of my friends play on the team. They were devastated. We spent the whole year practicing,” Jayda Rosa, a Bay View High School sophomore and Waldherr’s granddaughter, said.
“I'm out here today to fight for the school and get us back on the roster.”
In response to the situation, Waldherr and her family drafted two petitions: one requesting the WIAA to reinstate the teams for the playoffs next year, and another calling for the removal of Bobbie Kelsey, the current MPS Athletics Commissioner.
On Sunday, the family set up tables in front of Bay View and Pulaski High Schools.
Throughout the afternoon, community members stopped by to show their support by signing the petitions.
One Pulaski graduate expressed frustration, stating, "How do you punish the kids?"
Waldherr said that the petitions aim to demonstrate to the WIAA how strongly the community feels about this issue.
"If we stand together and make our voices loud enough, they’re going to change their mind," Waldherr said. “Even though I don’t know any kids in the programs, I want them to know we love them, and we have their back no matter what.”
MPS said they've appealed the WIAA’s decision, but that it’s too late for this season as both teams already played their final games.
Waldherr said they hope to get as many signatures as possible over the next few weeks.
For more information on the petition to reinstate the teams in the playoffs next year, you canvisit this website.
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