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MPS football error: Bay View, Pulaski win but forfeit season finales

By FOX6 News Digital Team
Updated  October 18, 2024 10:12pm CDT
Milwaukee Public Schools
FOX6 News Milwaukee

Bay View, Pulaski win but forfeit finales

The Bay View High School football team trounced Milwaukee Riverside on Friday – but was required to forfeit the game, the team's season finale.

The Brief

    • The Bay View and Pualski high school football teams won their season finales, but had to forfeit.
    • Due to an MPS paperwork error, the WIAA suspended both teams for two-years and made them forfeit every game this season.
    • Bay View's win would have qualified them for the playoffs, if not for the WIAA decision.

MILWAUKEE - The Bay View High School football team trounced Milwaukee Riverside on Friday – but was required to forfeit the game, the team's season finale. The same story unfolded for Pulaski High School the night before.

The WIAA handed down a two-year suspension to Bay View and Pulaski high schools. The school district's head of athletics didn't submit the proper paperwork for Bay View and Pulaski to change conferences. It effectively ended the teams' seasons and, in some cases, players' football careers.

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Pulaski High School played its last game on Thursday night, beating Vincent High School 44-0. Bay View was just one win away from qualifying for the playoffs; they beat Riverside 52-32.

The WIAA said the two MPS football teams must forfeit every game this year and next year. They are also banned from postseason play. The district said it plans to appeal the WIAA’s decision, but for teams and seniors this season, it's likely too late.

Milwaukee Bay View plays Milwaukee Riverside on Friday, Oct. 18

How did this happen?

The Milwaukee City Conference has long operated with a promotion-relegation system, according to a district official, that is comparable to English football.

The winner of the Blackbourn Division is moved into the Richardson Division the following season, while the last-place finisher in the Richardson Division slides to the Blackbourn Division. Bay View and Pulaski swapped spots ahead of the 2024 season.

However, the district said its Office of the Commissioner of Interscholastic Athletics and Academics, which runs the City Conference, did not file the proper paperwork.