Poly High senior AJ McKee, the Moore League’s premier wrestler this season, appeared destined to compete this weekend in the 126-pound finals at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield in the CIF State Championships.

McKee (40-3), who had led the Jackrabbits to their first league championship since 1989 and won a league individual title, had just beaten St. John Bosco’s Joseph Dominguez 7-3 to earn the Poly captain his first CIF-SS Southern Division individual crown.

With a favorable seeding and momentum on his side, McKee’s mission of making a deep run at the state tournament was just a week away from reality as the CIF Southern Section’s top wrestlers were set to compete at last weekend’s CIF-SS Masters meet.

But his dream became a nightmare when the CIF-SS ruled McKee ineligible for not fulfilling weight management rules, and some have accused Poly of falsifying documents.

According to documents, McKee apparently was certified to compete at 138 pounds in the CIF system, but not at 126.

The results were swift and devastating. McKee was stripped of his CIF title and his prep career ended abruptly.

Fifth-year Poly coach Bart Roper also tendered his resignation.

“It was determined that AJ McKee did not fulfill the requirements of the CIF-SS Bluebook Rule 3103 on weight management,” CIF Director of Communication’s Thom Simmons said. “That made him an ineligible wrestler in all matches, including the league finals and individual finals.

“Accordingly, his CIF-SS individual title is vacated. I cannot speak on his Moore League title as it is a league decision.”

Poly’s most fervent rival is taking no joy in arguably the league’s darkest moment.

“I really do feel badly for AJ that he wasn’t able to finish out his career, because I like him and I think he would have done well at state,” Millikan coach Marshall Thompson said. “But you have to follow the rules, and rules were broken by his program.”

The ramifications could sink even deeper than first thought. McKee almost certainly will lose his individual league title and Poly likely will surrender its first league title in 24 years.

Second-place Millikan would claim consecutive league championships if the league strips the Jackrabbits as expected.

“I just heard about this on Friday and I am going to do my research and contact CIF,” league secretary Lisa Ulmer said. “This sort of thing hasn’t happened before, so I am not going to rush any decisions, and nothing will be done until our next scheduled meeting, which is March 13.”

The universal feeling throughout the wrestling community is one of odd timing and sadness for the popular 17-year-old athlete.

“I didn’t understand what happened when I was told I couldn’t compete. It was a feeling of complete shock because I had no idea that any rules were being broken,” a somber McKee said. “I’ve trained my entire life and was so excited to have won my first CIF championship a week ago and was looking forward to chasing my dream in Bakersfield, but my dream has been ripped away from me and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

The school wouldn’t say much, but athletic director Rob Shock confirmed, “AJ’s title has been vacated and coach Roper no longer represents the Long Beach Poly wrestling program. The issue of our team league championship will be determined at a later date.”