Because of a recent National Junior College Athletics Association ruling, the Barton Community College men’s soccer team will forfeit four victories achieved in the early portion of this season after losing an appeal on Monday.
The forfeitures are the result of a NJCAA interpretation of eligibility requirements for amateur student-athletes.
The name of the player was not released by Barton due to confidentiality reasons, according to Barton Athletic Director Trevor Rolfs.
“In order to play college sports, you have to be an amateur,” BCC head coach Oliver Twelvetrees said. “We had a player who was ruled an amateur, but he played with some others who were considered semi-pro, and that made him ineligible to play in the NJCAA.”
Rolfs said that the school has worked with the NJCAA every step of the way.
“The rulings were interpretation of NJCAA rules and bylaws,” Rolfs said. “We have worked extensively with the NJCAA and respect their ruling in this matter. With the understanding of NJCAA interpretation, Barton will make necessary changes to avoid future questions of eligibility.”
Barton has been working with the NJCAA for more than two weeks, and the school filed an appeal on the ruling last week, which was turned down on Monday.
The Cougars’ forfeits include a 10-0 Region VI victory over Hesston College, a 4-1 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference victory over Coffeyville and two non-conference victories, including a 2-0 victory over No. 12 Otero College and a 3-1 victory over then-ranked No. 9 San Jacinto College.
Top-ranked Barton’s record after the forfeitures  is 5-6 overall, 3-1 in the KJCCC and 3-2 in Region VI.
The ruling came out on the heels of the Cougars’ loss to Laramie County in Wyoming over the weekend.
The changes drops Barton to fourth place in the KJCCC and Region VI.
The Golden Eagles ousted Barton 3-2 on Sunday.
“This is just another one of life’s obstacles that you have to get over,” Twelvetrees said of the forfeits. “Just like our loss on Sunday, you have to take it on the chin and move on. If it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger, and we just have to work that much harder to overcome it.”
The Cougars play Dodge City on the road on Wednesday night at 7.