Baldwin Wallace ineligible for playoffs
| Baldwin Wallace will remain
eligible for D3sports.com rankings and postseason
awards. Baldwin Wallace athletics photo |
Baldwin Wallace has self-reported to the NCAA that it has incorrectly awarded financial aid to a number of student-athletes and as such, has removed itself from NCAA postseason consideration for the 2012-13 academic year.
The No. 23 Yellowjackets, who had a chance to be in this week's first NCAA regional rankings, were in contention for an at-large bid, or the automatic bid for the Ohio Athletic Conference if it defeated Mount Union this upcoming Saturday.
“Recently, mistakes in the application of NCAA regulations
to the awarding of financial aid to a small percentage of our
student-athletes have come to light,” Baldwin Wallace
president Robert Helmer said in a statement, published by the
Canton Repository. “Baldwin Wallace University has
always stood for the highest standards of integrity. For that
reason, we have notified the NCAA that we are withdrawing from any
consideration of postseason play for our athletic teams during the
2012-13 academic year. This was a difficult decision to make, but
one that would certainly be expected of us by the NCAA.
“The University is obligated as an NCAA member to examine
any possible failure to maintain full compliance and to take
appropriate corrective action. Over the coming months, we will work
cooperatively with the NCAA to determine a final resolution of the
situation.”
The possibility remains that there may be further sanctions levied by the NCAA. This decision does not affect Baldwin Wallace's win-loss record. Although the Yellowjackets are now ineligible, they can still keep Mount Union from clinching this weekend.
In other fall sports, Baldwin Wallace has been removed from the conference tournament. In women's soccer, the Yellowjackets will essentially forfeit their match with John Carroll and John Carroll will advance to the final, while in men's soccer, Wilmington will advance to play at John Carroll in the semifinals.
