KUSA — The principal and athletic director at Eaglecrest High School are on administrative leave after a report alleged the pair didn't report a player on the football team who was ineligible, but played anyway during the 2017 season.
According to a letter sent to parents on Tuesday from Cherry Creek School District Superintendent Scott Siegfried, Principal Gwen Hansen-Vigil and Athletic Director Vincent Orlando were "made aware" of the ineligible player last year, but chose not to take action. It's unclear who the player was, or why he was deemed ineligible to play.
As a result, the Colorado High School Activities Association - the state's governing body for all high school activities - is punishing them both, as well as the school's athletic teams.
All CHSAA-related athletic programs at Eaglecrest High School are on probation, meaning there will be "increased scrutiny of athletics and activities at the school and more serious penalties for any new violations," the letter read.
In addition, four Eaglecrest games from last season – two varsity and two JV – will be forfeited. The vacated varsity wins are against Bear Creek (Sept. 28, 2017) and Rocky Mountain (Oct. 6, 2017).
The Raptors' 2017 regular season record will be reflected as 8-2, which would not have removed them from the Class 5A playoffs, CHSAA specified on its website.
Hansen-Vigil is restricted from overseeing all CHSAA-related athletics and activities at the school for a year and Orlando will be placed on probation for one year and is not allowed to serve on CHSAA-related boards for four years.
Hansen-Vigil and Orlando will be on leave, the letter says, pending an internal investigation.
In an earlier email to parents, the school's administrative team will oversee the school's day-to-day operations.
This comes just a couple months after Eaglecrest's former football coach - Dustin Delaney - resigned as coach after leading the team for just one game this season. He accused the Cherry Creek School District of dangerous negligence with regard to the school's football field and facilities. The Cherry Creek School District says Delaney's allegations are not true - and that they addressed his needs over the summer.
Eaglecrest High School is located in Centennial and has just shy of 3,000 students from grades 9-12, according to the school's website. The Raptors' record last year before the sanctions was 13-1, meaning the team was undefeated until the championship game of the 2017 CHSAA State Football Playoffs, where they lost to Pomona, 56-49.
So far this year, the team is 7-0.
