The Regis-Altoona co-operative wrestling program from Altoona High School and Regis High School in Wisconsin has been placed on probation by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Activities Association for allegedly tampering with hydration tests.
The one-year probation also includes moving oversight of the team from Regis to Altoona High School’s athletics department, hiring a new coach and forfeiting some contests. The WIAA warned Regis and Altoona that if further compliance concerns are uncovered within the probationary year, additional sanctions could follow.
Parents first alerted school officials to the tampering, noting that students were not submitting their own samples. Instead, coaches were instructing student-athletes to use urine samples that had been previously stashed in the bathroom.
According to WEAU, hydration testing was first mandated by the WIAA in 1998 after several wrestlers died due to extreme weight cutting practices. The hydration tests ensure safe skinfold testing of body fat percentage.
"We understand and respect the WIAA’s decision to place the Regis-Altoona Wrestling (RAW) program on probation for incidents that occurred during the 2025–2026 season,” said Altoona School District superintendent Heidi Eliopoulos. “Following those events, the School District of Altoona assumed oversight of the cooperative wrestling program in March 2026. Since that transition, a new head coach has been hired to lead the program, and the cooperative now operates under the oversight of the Altoona Athletic Department. We are committed to working closely with the WIAA to ensure full compliance with all applicable regulations, recognizing that these standards exist to protect the health, safety, and well-being of our student-athletes. We are committed to moving the program forward with strong leadership, clear expectations, and a positive culture for our student-athletes."
In addition to the hydration test tampering, student-athletes and parents identified several other moments of concerning behavior from Regis-Altoona coaching staff, including using unclean wrestling mats, cleaning wrestling mats with undiluted chemicals that left student-athletes with burns, and using alcohol in the presence of minors while away at tournaments.
Dr. Phillip Opelt has been named the new boys’ wrestling head coach and the assistant coaching position has been posted for hire.
