Garden City Community College announced Friday it has forfeit all six wins to date this season for playing an ineligible player.
The announcement begs the question: How did Garden City play the majority of its season with an ineligible player? Unknowingly, according to the school's statement.
Garden City AD Mike Pilosof's statement places the blame on the player, who was not named, and/or his previous institution for not being entirely forthcoming with his academic records. Once new information came to light, Garden City immediately self-reported to the National Junior College Athletic Association.
"First and foremost, we completed a thorough eligibility check on the student-athlete in question prior to the start of the season," Pilosof said. "All processes and procedures were followed to the letter of the law by the standards set forth by the NJCAA. However, it was discovered that information was not disclosed to Garden City Community College. Once we were made aware of the situation, our athletic department immediately contacted the national office."
The move has a catastrophic effect on Garden City's season, who was 6-1 and ranked fifth in the NJCAA's latest poll with No. 2-ranked Iowa Western coming to Garden City on Saturday.
Rather than fight for a KJCCC championship and an NJCAA playoff berth, the Broncbusters will now play out the string of a schedule that concludes on Nov. 16 against Hutchinson Community College.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.