The governing body for high school athletics and activities in Washington state, the WIAA, recently put all Inglemoor High School programs on probation for two years. The penalty is in response to two violations by former Viking girls basketball head coach John Augustavo, who played 13 girls during the district and state tournaments earlier this year.

The Inglemoor girls’ basketball team made it all the way to the finals of the Class 4A State Tournament before losing in double overtime to Gonzaga Prep.

Initially, the WIAA Executive Board imposed a $500 fine and a two-game suspension on Augustavo for the first violation, during the district tournament, but subsequently waived the fine and allowed the team to move on to the state tournament. After further revue and a determination that a second violation occurred during the state tournament, the WIAA imposed a $2,000 fine on the school.

“Initially we had a $500 fine to be used to train coaches [on WIAA rules and regulations],” said Northshore School District spokesperson Leanna Albrecht. “An additional fine of $1,500 and two year probation period was also imposed to ensure we don’t have additional violations.”

Albrecht said that the money will not come from funds allocated for ASB programs and events.

“We conducted training for our coaches in August,” Albrecht said. “The focus is to emphasize that coaches are aware of rules and regulations.”

Probation starts this school year and will last for two years.

“The importance of being on probation is to ensure compliance with WIAA rules/regulations and to ensure we don’t have future violations,” Albrecht said.

The district, school administrators and the WIAA board worked closely to make sure that penalties do not impact students directly and the probation is for rule violations by coaches and program directors and “any additional violations will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis,” Albrecht said.

If there are additional violations in the next two year the WIAA could impose additional sanctions.

“Any additional violations are first reported to the league and then reviewed and approved at the WIAA district level,” said WIAA spokesperson Conor Laffey. “After the WIAA district reviews the sanctions, the WIAA Executive Board would either hear the appeal or approve the WIAA district’s decision.”

The board and the Inglemoor administration met Monday to discuss the school’s progress in educating and training its coaches and administrators on WIAA rules and regulations.

“Inglemoor Principal Vicki Sherwood, Athletic Director Lance Gatter and Executive Director of Student Services Chris Bigelow met with the WIAA Executive Board on Monday to give an update on the school’s efforts to provide additional training for coaches,” Albrecht said. “The meeting went well and the executive board was pleased with the school’s efforts to date.”

Augustavo’s contract was not renewed by the Northshore School District after 13 years with the team. It is unclear whether he still has to serve the six game suspension.

Girls basketball teams are only allowed 12 players to play during the district and state tournament. The extra player only played in one game and had no impact on the outcome, according to the WIAA. The WIAA also had the authority to make the girls basketball team forfeit the game but declined to do so.

“The coach was suspended a total of six games after the two infractions,” Laffey said. “Since the same infraction was committed in consecutive weeks, the entire school was placed on probation to ensure all coaches and administrators received necessary training on WIAA rules and regulations.”

Augustavo told the Reporter earlier this year that he had not been given information on the differences between league tournaments and the district and state tournaments. The KingCo league allows for more than 12 players to suit up for tournament games and it is the only league in the state to do so.

“The thing here is, that, no one wanted to see the students get penalized,” said WIAA Executive Director Mike Colbrese earlier this year. “That’s what this penalty does, it focuses on those most responsible for the violation. The girls were an unwitting part of it.”