Finally, Leticia Romero can find a new place to play.
On Tuesday, Kansas State announced that it had granted Romero’s release. She won’t be allowed to transfer to another Big 12 school.
Kansas State announces it has granted release of Leticia Romero under school's new policy. She can't transfer to a Big 12 school.
— Blair Kerkhoff (@BlairKerkhoff) May 27, 2014“We appreciate the support of K-State fans during this time,” Kansas State AD John Currie said in a statement, “and wish Leticia all the best in her future pursuits.”
Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2014/05/27/3477054/k-state-grants-leticia-romero.html#storylink=cpy
Last week, Kansas State would not let Romero transfer, but cited a new university policy Tuesday that allows the transfer.
Romero’s battle to be allowed to transfer began gaining national attention recently. The school’s appeals committee denied her request in April.
“There is no university procedure to reexamine one of those decisions,” university VP for communications and marketing Jeffery Morris said in a statement at the time. “Thus, the university process concludes with the Appeals Committee’s decision. Also, the final and binding nature of these decisions does not allow for them to be overturned by university administrators.”
Last season as a freshman, the 5-8 Romero was named second team All-Big 12 and to the All-Big 12 freshman first team. She led the Wildcats in scoring (14.2 point per game), rebounding (5.8), assists (149), steals (57), 3-pointers made and percentage (38, 39.2 percent) and minutes (32.6).
After Kansas State went 11-19, head coach Deb Patterson was fired and Jeff Mittie was hired. Romero asked to be released after the coaching change, saying that she was not a good fit for Mittie’s system.
Here's a sampling of the reaction to the news Tuesday:
Good for K-State doing the right thing with Leticia Romero. Not always easy to admit you're wrong, but this is the only way it could end.
— Sam Mellinger (@mellinger) May 27, 2014 Kansas State looks down, sees pants at ankle-level and hears a nation's laughter, and does the right thing with Leticia Romero release
— Ray Ratto (@RattoCSN) May 27, 2014 Public pressure can work for the good as it did in the case for Leticia Romero. ESPN's work on this made that transfer happen. Good on them.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) May 27, 2014