Bellevue High School's football team will not be banned from this year's postseason after all.
On Monday, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association announced it is lifting the final year of the postseason ban imposed after a recruiting and offseason coaching scandal.
The WIAA will strip two state titles from the Wolverines, for 2012 and 2013, but the current team will be able to play in the postseason, if they earn it.
>> Related: Investigation: Bellevue football violated rules for years
"What's right is removing the sanction because it only impacts us kids," wide receiver and safety Hunter Hansen said Sunday, after district officials asked the WIAA board to lift one of 28 sanctions.
"Please remove this restriction from Week 10 and let these kids play," head coach Mark Landes told the board.
Bellevue's football team was originally banned from four postseasons.
>> Related: Some Bellevue football parents fight back over school board investigation
That was reduced to a two-year ban, and now the second year of the ban has been lifted.
A statement announcing the removal of the postseason ban quoted WIAA Executive Director Mike Colbrese as saying, "The Board recognized that there has been a culture shift at Bellevue High School with the changes that have been made to that program. The change in sanctions is an effort to address the institution that was responsible for the violations committed."
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