A family in the town of Oconomowoc is suing the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
In 2023, the family of Tristen Seidl lost their home in Dousman to a fire. The house was deemed unlivable and the family was forced to relocate.
At the time, Tristen, son of Blayne and Jenelle Seidl, was enrolled at Kettle Moraine High School. At the time of the fire, he was part way through his sophomore year.
Since the fire, the family has lived in four separate residences. Most recently, in June of 2024 they moved into a temporary residence within the Arrowhead UHS School District.
However, that temporary residence has since become their primary residence. The family’s lease on the property has been extended through June of 2026. The extension came as a relief after their former home in Dousman was considered to be too damaged and is now set to be demolished.
Their new residence is under ten minutes away from Arrowhead High School, but is nearly 30 minutes away from Kettle Moraine High School.
Tristen is now entering his senior year of high school. Neither school district has prevented him from making the transition between schools.
However, there has been opposition surrounding his ability to play sports.
According to a lawsuit filed in the Waukesha Circuit Court on August 19, 2025, the Kettle Moraine athletic director falsely stated that Tristen’s transfer was due to coaching changes.
WIAA associate Director allegedly emailed Arrowhead stating that due to the timing of Tristen’s move, he would be restricted to non-varsity level competition. A waiver allowing him an exception for extenuating circumstances was denied.
On August 15, the WIAA Board of Control held an appeals hearing, but the appeal was ultimately denied.
Tristen had thus far spent his high school career becoming one of the conferences ‘honorable mentions’ due to his outstanding performance.
This may also harm his future as well.
If Tristen is not allowed to play, he may lose his scholarship offer from the University of Sioux Falls. He has committed to play there starting in fall of 2026.
The lawsuit is looking to prevent the WIAA from acting without authority and dictating which public schools students are allowed to play sports for. Additionally, they are also hoping for a judge to reverse the WIAA’s decisions so that Tristen can play sports at the school he attends.
