WIAA Members Vote Down Allowing NIL

The member schools of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) defeated a much-deliberated Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) proposal at the 128th annual meeting Wednesday in Stevens Point.

The membership voted 219-170 to reject the proposed NIL language that would have allowed student-athletes to engage in promotion and revenue opportunities and activities not associated or identified with their school team, school, conference or the WIAA, which included a number of prohibited NIL activities.

Sevastopol athletic director Brooke Tanck said NIL “needs to come to athletic directors and school administration fully vetted with more guidance and rationale.”

“High school athletics is education-based, and we can all learn from what is occurring at the collegiate level,” she said. “Right now, there are far more ways NIL can negatively impact high school athletics than it can positively.”

Sturgeon Bay athletic director Todd Meikle said the district’s administrative team discussed its options on the proposal, which it didn’t support as presented, and voted “no.” 

WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser said the failed vote does not end the discussions on NIL.

“We will continue this conversation with our membership in response to the trend across the nation with other high school associations allowing some opportunities for Name, Image, Likeness,” she said. “The annual meeting vote is evidence of the ownership the membership has in the democratic process.”

Though WIAA staff provides information, rationale and possible unintended consequences on NIL, Hauser said “it’s ultimately up to each member school to determine how to cast its vote.” 

Southern Door athletic director Mark Jonas said the school has no stance on NIL at this point, but will go along with what the majority of the WIAA membership decides.

Gibraltar athletic director Jim DeBroux said the April 24 vote will allow the district more time to study the possible implications of NIL, which he expects will be eventually be adopted at some point in Wisconsin with most states having approved a form of NIL for high school.