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- calendar_today October 25, 2026
Allegations Raise Concerns About Eligibility
The Archbishop Murphy High School football program is at the center of an investigation led by the Wesco Conference and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). The probe follows allegations regarding potential violations linked to player eligibility. These concerns emerged during a Wesco Athletic Directors meeting on September 9, as detailed in meeting minutes obtained by The Herald.
Details of the Alleged Violation and Investigation Process
According to the minutes, the focus is on a claim that a Wesco coach coached a 7-on-7 football team, resulting in athletes transferring to play at the coach's school. Archbishop Murphy is identified as the school in question. The alleged violation was reported to the WIAA, triggering a formal response process. The school involved denied that its coach had led the 7-on-7 team and stated all necessary checks were completed with the WIAA for any transfer student in advance of varsity play.
Wesco President Don Dalziel confirmed that the investigation into Archbishop Murphy is ongoing but did not offer further comment. If the player is found ineligible, Archbishop Murphy may be required to forfeit games in which the student participated, but no final decision has been made.
Responses from Archbishop Murphy and Other Stakeholders
The school has publicly stated its commitment to complying with WIAA rules and protecting student athletes: "Archbishop Murphy High School remains committed to protecting the rights and eligibility of its student athletes while maintaining full compliance with Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) rules,” a statement from Director of Admissions Jana James read. The school maintains that it is contesting an eligibility decision it believes is unsupported by evidence and looks forward to a transparent review process.
Neither Archbishop Murphy’s athletic director Jeff Latta nor WIAA officials were able to provide further comment at the time of reporting, as the issue is still under appeal.
Role of the 7-on-7 Football Program
The investigation has highlighted the "Wipe Me Down Boyz" 7-on-7 football program, cited by several area coaches as being involved in the case. This program offers off-season, non-contact, passing-focused play, and is popular among youth and high school athletes. Ryan Clary, the co-founder and owner of the program, previously listed himself as Archbishop Murphy’s College Liaison on social media but was not an official employee, according to football coach Joe Cronin. While Clary’s presence on the Archbishop Murphy sidelines was acknowledged by some, Cronin stated Clary did not serve in a coaching capacity for the school. Clary, who now lists himself as College Liaison for Mt. Tahoma High School, confirmed he is no longer involved with Archbishop Murphy and only assisted students with college recruitment in the past.
The Player at the Center of the Investigation
Although the player’s name has not been released, it is known the probe concerns the team’s starting quarterback, who transferred from Woodinville High School. The quarterback’s participation in the "Wipe Me Down Boyz" program is documented online. He played in Archbishop Murphy’s opening four games of the season but did not appear in subsequent wins against Squalicum and Lynden Christian. Coach Cronin remarked on the player’s recent absence, explaining that the eligibility situation is being handled through official processes.
Game Schedule and Forfeit Situation
Archbishop Murphy’s scheduled league games against Sultan and Lakewood on October 16 and 23, respectively, were not played, as both opposing schools opted out. While these absences may be marked as forfeits, a conference rule allows lower-ranked teams to skip games against the top two, with certain competitive consequences. As of now, the conference standings do not list these canceled games as forfeits. The Wildcats' next slated game is against Lynden at Terry Ennis Stadium on October 30.
Ongoing Developments
The outcome of the investigation and any potential sanctions are pending. Further updates will follow as decisions are reached by the Wesco Conference, District 1 Executive Board, and the WIAA Executive Board.
Source: heraldnet.com.
