University Wrestling Must Forfeit 11 Victories

University High’s wrestling team, tied for 10th with San Clemente in the Orange County poll, will forfeit 11 dual-meet victories, Athletic Director Mark Cunningham said Thursday.

The team competed using an ineligible player, Cunningham discovered. The Trojans were in violation of Southern Section rule 213 regarding transfer eligibility; the athlete, who competed for another school last year, did not have a bona fide change of address.

“We’re trying to be aboveboard about this,” said Cunningham, who declined to name the wrestler. “It was an oversight; there was some miscommunication between the athlete and the administration. The worst part of it is he was a JV wrestler who was filling in at two 10-way tournaments for us.”

University used the ineligible wrestler in 11 matches. The Trojans new record, including the tournament forfeitures, is 11-13-1. Cunningham informed the team after Wednesday’s 54-6 victory over Santa Margarita.

“It shouldn’t affect us much for playoffs as long as we take care of business,” Cunningham said. “The only way it could hurt us is if we get into a wild-card situation.”

University retains its 4-0-1 Sea View League mark and is tied for first with eighth-ranked Irvine. Should both schools win their final two meets, the league championship would be decided by the greatest point differential against league opponents because the Trojans and Vaqueros wrestled to a 27-27 tie Jan. 11. The league champion would receive an automatic berth in the Southern Section dual-meet championships.