Arrowhead High School's 2025 state football championship could be in jeopardy after a Waukesha County judge dismissed a case centered on the eligibility of graduate Tristen Seidl.
The dismissal now leaves both Seidl and Arrowhead High School potentially exposed to sanctions from the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
Judge Paul Bugenhagen, Jr. ruled the case is moot, saying the original question at the heart of the dispute no longer applies.
"The existing matter is whether Tristen Seidl could play varsity football at Arrowhead High School in the fall of 2025 — that controversy no longer exists," Bugenhagen said.
In 2023, Seidl's family home burned to the ground. His family moved to the Arrowhead School District, and he attempted to play football his senior year. The WIAA ruled him ineligible, citing a rule that prohibits students who move their senior year from playing a sport without a hardship exemption. The family took the matter to court. The courts granted a temporary injunction that allowed Seidl to play during the 2025 fall season. Arrowhead went on to win the state championship.
The Seidl family argued that withdrawing from or dismissing the case could trigger WIAA sanctions — including the potential loss of the 2025 state title.
Watch: Arrowhead's 2025 state football title at risk as judge dismisses case
"He can't dismiss the case because the bottom line they will sanction Arrowhead and him if they dismiss the case," Seidl family attorney William Rettko said.
Bugenhagen acknowledged the family's concerns but said they fell outside the court's role.
"The controversy in this case has changed over the season. Initially it involved a high school student wanting to play football at the school he was enrolled at," Bugenhagen said.
"Now the concerns of the Seidl's and Arrowhead has shifted," he said.
The judge added that the potential consequences facing the Seidls do not justify keeping the case open.
"The personal stakes that the Seidl's have is just a possibility of some future consequences depending on the discretionary decisions of the WIAA," Bugenhagen said.
What happens next is largely in the hands of the WIAA. TMJ4 News has been reaching out to attorneys on all sides. Seidl family attorney William Rettko said that they are done with the case now that the court has dismissed it. They said as of Wednesday afternoon they have not heard of any sanctions would be coming from WIAA but it will be up to that organization to move forward. TMJ4 also reached out to the WIAA, to ask whether the organization plans to sanction Arrowhead High School. So far, no one has returned any calls.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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