(Josh Watt/CHSAANow.com)
AURORA — The athletic department-wide restriction on Pine Creek was lifted by CHSAA commissioner Paul Angelico on Friday following a mutually agreed-upon improvement plan between the school and CHSAA.
Angelico confirmed to CHSAANow.com that the restriction was lifted. The resolution to the restriction is due in large part to an 18-point plan from Pine Creek to ensure that all CHSAA rules are known and followed.
“The plan that they have submitted to ensure awareness, knowledge and compliance is exemplary, and could be used as a model by any school,” Angelico said.
Pine Creek’s plan is aimed to fix issues that caused the restriction in the first place. The Eagles’ athletic department was placed on restriction in early January following incidents in the fall and winter. Under CHSAA bylaws, teams on restriction are prohibited from competing in the postseason.
But the school and the CHSAA office had been working on the issue throughout January to ensure the Eagles’ athletes could participate in the upcoming postseason. It is very rare that a restriction is not lifted prior to the postseason.
Pine Creek’s athletic department is now on probation, as per CHSAA bylaws. Any school or program removed from restriction is placed on probation as a next step.