Dozens of area students signed national letters of intent last week, accepting scholarships from colleges and universities around the country and pledging to attend and play for that school. The students had ceremonies before their friends and family, often with club coaches and college college coaches in attendance.

It has been brought to our attention that one local athlete, a former member of Whitewater’s defending state champion soccer team, was told she would not be able to have a signing ceremony at the school because she was no longer an active player. She was told this was a county-wide rule, but it is no rule we know of.

In fact, every year at a number of local schools, we have been witness to signing ceremonies involving students who are not active athletes at their school.

Every school should be proud of every student who has earned a scholarship. The school should take pride that they have students who are good enough at their academics and athletics to earn such a reward. It is hard to not see this athlete’s exclusion as being vindictive for her absence from this year’s team.

Whitewater should have taken the high road, spared the three minutes to set up a picture in front of the roaring Wildcat, congratulated this girl and moved on to defending their title.