Absolutely unacceptable explanation from Willard Local Schools administrators
February 26th, 2009
Opinion from the moderator: for years and years, colleges covered up hazing incidents by using the euphemism horseplay. Now Willard Local Schools administrators are using the same term and refusing to release the specifics of the case. This is totally unacceptable and I hope concerned parents will press the school board for an investigation to see if a suspension of a coach or administrator is warranted here. When details are clear, this incident may indeed turn out to be horseplay. For now, I for one am not buying the argument and I hope the News Journal will investigate and release specific details of the incident.In particular, this should be pressed if veteran members of the team “horseplayed” rookie members.
Here is the News Journal story:
Willard wrestling incident investigated; no charges filed
By TERRICHA BRADLEY • News Journal • February 26, 2009
WILLARD — Willard Local Schools administrators are calling an incident involving the high school wrestling team “reckless horseplay that went too far.”
Superintendent Dennis Doughty confirmed an incident occurred in late January involving several members of the wrestling team.
“Officer (Brian) Slone, who works at the school was immediately involved and the police did an investigation,” Doughty said. “The police are a big deterrent for kids.”
Willard High School Principal Jeff Ritz said the incident didn’t involve hazing. He said the students were “dealt with accordingly and severely disciplined.” No details of the discipline were divulged.
Huron County Childrens Services was also contacted.
Athletic director Michael Lillo and wrestling coach Todd Fox declined comment.
No charges have been filed.
According to a police call sheet, Ritz called the station Feb. 2 during the investigation. He said numerous students, including athletes, were being questioned.
“We dealt with three separate students and (are currently) investigating other students,” Ritz said. “We figured out they were messing around with each other. What they did was unacceptable and horseplay that went too far.”
Uncharacteristically, Willard had competitors in just 10 of 14 weight classes at last week’s Division II Shelby sectional tournament. Two other weight classes were filled with inexperienced freshmen.
The Flashes finished eighth, scoring 79 points. Only Jeff Goines, runner-up at 145 pounds, made the finals. Kyle Niedermeier was a third-place finisher at 103 and Ben Petrie was fourth at 171. The wrestling season is over for Willard, except for those four individuals that advanced to this week’s Fostoria district tournament.
3 Responses to “Absolutely unacceptable explanation from Willard Local Schools administrators”
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Moderator's note: As moderator, I'll publish all relevant news stories, letters from activists, pro-hazing letters, and opinion pieces. Although hazing in fraternities, high schools, bands, camp, the military and overseas groups is a hot-button issue, civility is expected. If a letter needs editing for grammar or clarity, I'll edit and return for the letter writer's approval if an email address is attached. BIO: Hank Nuwer is the editor of The Hazing Reader (Indiana University Press) and High School Hazing (Grolier/Scholastic). My website is http://hazing.hanknuwer.com.
February 28th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I would encourage everyone to contact the school board, because this is a case of hazing gone too far. The details of what exactly happened are rather shocking and the coach should be held responsible.
March 1st, 2009 at 9:05 am
Hello. I found this website searching for information about the incident that happened in my hometown of Willard, Ohio. I had to respond to it.
I want to tell you that if someone speaks out against the Willard School System, they are ostracized and called stupid. In Willard, Ohio, there’s an unwritten law that says ‘no one shall speak out against the school system and that the Willard School system tells no lies, it always speaks the truth’ The local newspaper ‘The Willard Times Junction’ has had little about this. They know how to smooth things over, and people are dumb enough not to question them.
I would like to know if nothing but horseplay went on, then why was the Huron County Children Services brought in.
If you would like to know who people are treated when they speak out against the Willard School System then go to http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2009/02/11/front/iq_686143.txt and read some of the comments.
March 1st, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Here’s the link to the Mansfield New Journal’s article and there more comments can be read.
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090226/UPDATES01/90226013&s=d&page=1