WIAA issues statement on social media post

A video posted on social media after the Division 1 girls high school basketball state championship is stirring up criticism of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The video, posted by an Appleton North player's dad, showed a WIAA official allegedly halting a celebratory hug between a girls basketball state champion and her younger brother.

Appleton North High School won the Division 1 title on Saturday in Green Bay against De Pere, 49-34.

After the game, guard Sydney Levy attempted to hug her little brother Jaylen for a postgame tradition, according to their father Nic's social media post.

A WIAA official, reportedly Executive Director Deb Hauser, got in the way. Watch below:

@wiaawistate didn't let Jaylen give his sister, Syd, a hug after winning the STATE! He gets excited to hug her after EVERY game. He cried ? pic.twitter.com/Usvd1M2D04

— Nic Levy (@CoachNicLevy) March 12, 2017

The WIAA released a statement, saying the clip may be seen by the casual viewer as insensitive.

The WIAA says it cannot know the individual traditions and rituals of all the schools, teams, families and players involved in the celebratory situations following a State championship. 

 

For the safety and “what if" situations that can evolve and cause potential harm to innocent bystanders, the WIAA keeps spectators off the playing surface.

 

Here is the full statement: 

 

The WIAA said it reached out to the family to express regrets for any distress they may have experienced, however the family responded saying it has not heard from the WIAA.

 

pic.twitter.com/WiPGxrb7lf

— Nic Levy (@CoachNicLevy) March 13, 2017