WIAA will review Camas football decision

A co-director of the WIAA’s District 4 is calling for the WIAA’s executive board to review a decision that cleared Camas football coach Jon Eagle from charges of recruiting and has asked for penalties to be levied if the board does decide there was a violation.

Mike Colbrese, the executive director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, confirmed Friday that the executive board will review the case at its meeting Sunday and Monday. If any other action is taken, the WIAA will release the information Monday, he said.

Eagle, assistant coach Dan Kielty, and the Camas High School athletic department were hit with sanctions after the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League and then the WIAA’s District 4 board ruled that there was a recruiting violation when Eagle met with a football player from Evergreen High School.

The WIAA’s district directors on Thursday overturned those two decisions, acting on new information — a witness that corroborated Eagle’s account of the meeting that no recruiting occurred.

“District 4 is asking for clarification,” said Tim Trimble, a co-director of District 4. “We want another set of eyes to look at the data and clarify what recruiting is.”

“If this isn’t recruiting, please help us with the definition,” Trimble said.

Colbrese said District 4 is asking the board to “find out if the district directors correctly interpreted whether or not Coach Eagle’s actions are really recruitment.”

If it is determined it is not recruiting, District 4 wants a clear determination of recruiting, Colbrese said.

If it is determined to be recruiting, “they believe the executive board should impose a penalty,” Colbrese said.

A Camas administrator was made aware of the review and declined comment for this story.