WIAA takes back Chief Sealth state titles

SEATTLE – The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has stripped Chief Sealth High School of its 2005 and 2006 girls state basketball titles, saying coaches illegally recruited players.

The unanimous decision of the WIAA’s 10-member executive board, announced Tuesday, means the team must forfeit all of its games for the last four seasons.

“It is our conclusion that significant recruiting did occur, and the nature of the incidents and multiple occurrences cause us to believe they were intentional,” said Art Jarvis, superintendent of the Enumclaw School District and a WIAA board member.

Earlier this year, the WIAA’s SeaKing District board had recommended denying Chief Sealth the opportunity to play in the district’s 2007 tournament, but the WIAA decided to allow the team to compete in all league, district and state competitions for the 2006-07 school year as long as there is appropriate oversight of the program.