Cleveland forced to vacate TSSAA girls wrestling dual state title after investigation

Cleveland vacated its TSSAA girls wrestling dual state title after an investigation found the team used an ineligible athlete in the championship.

The athlete’s family did not meet the TSSAA’s requirements for a bona fide change of address when it moved from Oklahoma to Tennessee before the dual state wrestling tournament, according to a TSSAA letter to Cleveland principal Bob Pritchard on March 26.

Transfer athletes without a bona fide change of address are not eligible to participate in Tennessee high school athletics for one year from their last participation date. The TSSAA said it found “multiple discrepancies in the (athlete’s) family's accounts and the documents obtained” to make its determination. The decision was made with findings from Cleveland’s investigation. 

The TSSAA's letter also states that the family gave false information to Cleveland while gaining eligibility initially.

TSSAA bylaws dictate that "when a team plays an ineligible athlete in TSSAA tournaments or playoffs and wins the contest, the win is vacated, the team is removed from the tournament or playoff, and no team replaces that team in the tournament series."

By rule, there will be no girls dual state champion. Cleveland defeated Clarksville 47-15 in the final. Cleveland must return its trophy and pay $100 “for using an ineligible athlete in one varsity girls' wrestling contest,” the TSSAA’s letter said. 

Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83.