Wisconsin High School Basketball Player Sues WIAA Over Eligibility

A Wisconsin high school basketball player filed a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association regarding his playing eligibility. WISN.com’s Nick Bohr wrote that the WIAA denied 17-year-old Luke Bauer the chance to play for New Berlin Eisenhower from Pius XI. The governing body’s rules state that transferees like Bauer must satisfy a one-year residency before playing.

However, Bauer claimed in his lawsuit that the harassment and bullying at Pius XI forced him to transfer. As stated in the documents he filed in Waukesha County Court, Bauer received threatening messages and dealt with cyberbullying. These prevalent actions made him “not eat in the union with the regular student body but ate in a secured classroom.”

Likewise, Bauer is hoping for an exemption from the WIAA’s policy because of the harassment he received from his team. As claimed in his lawsuit, “He was called ‘whiteboy’ because he was the only white player on the varsity team.” Bauer added that his teammates were excessively physical toward him during practices, as manifested through hard fouls.

While administrators from Pius XI and Eisenhower agreed on Bauer’s transfer, the governing body for Wisconsin high school basketball barred him from playing for the Lions. Though there is no definite hearing date yet, the lawsuit argues that delaying Bauer’s eligibility could affect his basketball prospects.

Pius XI is 33rd in the Wisconsin On3 Team Rankings, while Eisenhower is 166^th. Pius XI finished the 2023-24 season with a 17-9 record and a 9-3 mark at home. The Popes started this season at 0-2, losing to New Berlin West and Waukesha West.

Meanwhile, the Lions are at 2-4. They started the season with a four-game losing streak to Waterford, Brookfield Central, Germantown, and West Allis Central. However, they bounced back with back-to-back victories over Kettle Moraine Lutheran and South Milwaukee.

Pius XI Releases Statement Regarding Lawsuit

Meanwhile, Pius XI released a statement regarding the lawsuit against the WIAA. A portion reads:

“Claims made by this former student are without merit and are intentionally hurtful and damaging to our school and the community we hold dear. Due to the nature of these allegations, we are exploring whether these false claims constitute defamation and will pursue the appropriate legal action.”

“At no time during the student’s tenure at Pius XI Catholic High School were there reports of bullying or cyberbullying. The former student in question was part of a diverse basketball team but was not the only white player on the team.”

“We stand behind the culture and community of our Boys Basketball Program. We are in complete support of the upstanding leadership and professionalism of our coaching staff, and are proud of the young men who participate in the program who embody the core values of Pius XI Catholic High School. Our school takes any and all reports of concerns very seriously, and we keep records accordingly. We have a strong history of treating all students with dignity and respect, and we are committed to creating a welcoming and positive environment for all of our students.”