Board gets word on Bledsoe ruling

Jamie Bledsoe, a Colfax sophomore transfer student from Pullman last year, won his appeal to regain sports eligibility from the WIAA. Bledsoe was cleared to play on teams at Pullman where he returned this year.

A report on the decision was presented at the Colfax school board meeting Monday night, although the WIAA decision came before the start of the school year, and he was able to play fall sports at Pullman.

The appeal was made after the WIAA last spring suspended Bledsoe from sports eligibility for a year because of a violation of the residency rule which prohibits players from competing on a varsity sport outside of their district if the sport is offered in the district where they reside.

Bledsoe last year played on the varsity baseball team early in the season. After school officials realized the family had not moved into the district as planned, he was removed from the team, and the district self reported the violation to the WIAA.

Athletic Director Mike Morgan told the Gazette the WIAA determined the episode stemmed from case of miscommunication among the parties involved and lacked any real intent to get around the residency rule. The rule is enforced by the WIAA to prevent athletes, particularly in urban areas, from jumping to neighboring sports programs.

Bledsoe’s parents filed the appeal. His father, James Bledsoe, also served as head softball coach last year.