Village Otters Commit Multiple infractions at the 2009 Divisional Meet.

The infractions involved our team moving swimmers to different events after the meet data exchange between all teams had taken place
for the division. This change is against NWAL rules as it gives an unfair seeding advantage to the team as the other swimmers times are known.
These changes created multiple issues at the divisional meet that were not fully detected until the end of the meet. We as a team have taken steps
to discipline the necessary parties and have cooperated fully with NWAL in their investigation. NWAL deferred to the invitational's and
all qualifying times were allowed for these meets. We apologize for any problems that have been created due to this lack of judgment
and will work hard to establish our trust and integrity in the community that we live in.

Village Otters e-mail letter to swim team parents.

Two coaches and a volunteer from the Village Otter Swim Team committed multiple infractions
at the Divisional Meet held on June 20 at the Kingwood Park High School.

When the Meet Director and VGO Board President became aware of these infractions, they investigated to determine the full scope,
and then took immediate disciplinary action, which consisted of firing the coaches and relieving the volunteer of her position.
The Village Otters also provided full disclosure to NWAL and all of the other swim teams participating in the Divisional Meet.

The rest of the Village Otter Team (Swimmers, Coaches, Volunteers, Parents)competed with sportsmanship and honor.
Regardless of any mis-informed comments made by children or few irresponsible adults to the contrary,
the integrity of these people and this team is intact.

Letter From NWAL President.

I am writing to let everyone know that the Village Otters took immediate and strong action upon discovering that a very few isolated individuals
had committed multiple infractions of NWAL rules in connection with the Division E2 divisional meet. NWAL judged the response of the
Village Otters with respect to the individuals involved to be swift and appropriate given the severity of the violations involved.
The actions included removing the individuals involved from their positions and forfeiting the meet. Because of Village Otters appropriate decision
to take strong internal disciplinary measures, the NWAL League Officers were of the view that no additional action should be taken against the team.

Importantly, the NWAL investigation determined that, apart from the few individuals involved, the Village Otters Board, parents, swimmers, and other
team officials were completely unaware of and uninvolved in the violations committed by these individuals. The team did not discover these matters
until the Divisional Meet was over. When it did, its reaction, as noted above, was immediate and severe.

Although the Village Otters situation has been misunderstood and perhaps misinterpreted by persons who were not directly involved in it,
I wish to commend the Village Otters for the way they have conducted themselves since these infractions came to light and to say that the reaction
of the team upheld the highest ideals of the Northwest Aquatic League.

Mike Swaim
President,
Northwest Aquatic League