Breaking: Roosevelt Football Under Investigation for Alleged Recruiting Violations

WIAA approves Metro and District 2 probes of "alleged recruiting violations"... Independent fact-finder appointed...This after at least a dozen highly-recruited players transferred in prior to season

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RENTON, WA – The Roosevelt football program is under investigation at the state, district and league level for possible recruiting violations after at least 12 highly-recruited student athletes transferred into the football program since the end of last season.

Earlier this week, the state governing body that oversees high school athletics approved an independent fact-finder to investigate the situation. 

Monday’s Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) board actions come after a torrent of heavily-recruited players with ties to a common athletic training facility transferred to Roosevelt ahead of the 2024 season. 

“It's clear that some schools are becoming magnets and I worry that private trainers are becoming too influential…There needs to be some awareness by the WIAA when a large number of impact players all of a sudden move to the same school.”

- Anonymous 4A coach featured in SB Live survey. 

Under current rules, investigations into alleged violations can only be brought forward by a member Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) school. Multiple sources had previously told J425 that a Metro League school registered a complaint earlier in the summer.

This information is supported by action occurring at the state board meeting Monday.

WIAA Board Approves Roosevelt Investigation

At a WIAA board meeting held Monday in Renton, the WIAA board officially approved “actions taken by the Metro League, WIAA District 2, and District Directors regarding alleged recruiting violations by Roosevelt High School and the appointment of a fact finder.”

If the WIAA finds that ineligible players have competed, Roosevelt – currently 3-1 and rated by many as a 3A state contender – could be forced to forfeit games…and even worse for the student athletes attempting to gain scholarships…ineligible players could be barred from competing for a full year.

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The Roosevelt probe occurs against the backdrop of the WIAA expanding internal dialogue about transfer and eligibility rules.

Under current rules, once a student establishes residency at one school, they are prohibited from gaining immediate eligibility at another school with rare exceptions granted for “hardships” as defined by WIAA bylaws. By definition, hardships must not include the presence of any athletic-related root cause.

 In the absence of hardship, a student is required to re-establish residency for a period of a year before regaining eligibility.

Current rules also bar any individual – whether a school employee or not – from facilitating the transfer of a student for athletic purposes.

So What Exactly is Going On?

The league, district and state investigations come after months of murmuring on background and rumors that a Metro school had initiated an investigation into alleged recruiting violations occurring at fellow Metro competitor Roosevelt. This information is borne out by the board action Monday, confirming Metro League and District 2 investigations centered on Roosevelt. 

In general terms, the situation at Roosevelt breaks down like this: