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WWW.NORTHKITSAPHERALD.COM
Friday, September 17, 2010 • North Kitsap Herald
Student athletes suspended for partying Coaches adjusting rosters to deal with aftermath. By KIPP ROBERTSON
krobertson@northkitsapherald.com
NORTH KITSAP — Students from at least four of the seven fall sports teams at North Kitsap High School have been suspended from competing for a minimum of 15 days.
The suspensions are the results of an ongoing investigation. Principal Kathy Prasch and assistant principal John Waller are currently looking into a party that took place during Labor Day weekend, where some students consumed alcohol. Consuming alcohol violates a code of conduct agreement athletes sign at the beginning of the season. The majority of the students who have been sus-
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pended from their teams admitted their participation in the party to reduce the penalty, Prasch said. “We still don’t know the amount of students who were at the party,” Prasch said. “Students have continued to come forward and admit they were there.” The severity of the punishment depends on whether or not the students went into the house and drank alcohol at the party, or stayed outside and did not participate, Prasch said. The North administration found out about the party after concerned parents and students told Prasch photos of the party that were posted on Facebook.
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So far, students involved but adjusted his lineup with boys tennis, cross for tonight’s game against country, girls soccer and North Mason High. If it the football team have were possible, Frease been identified and sus- would like a system set in pended from league play, place where coaches could but are still test students allowed to regularly for “We still don’t know practice with substance the team. abuse, he the amount of For the students who were at said. coaches, hav“It’s just the party. Students ing players like having suspended is an injured have continued to problematic p l a y e r ,” come forward and because they Frease said. admit they were are forced to “We’ll just rebuild their have to there.” lineups, said adjust to Kathy Prasch, North aththis quickly North Kitsap High principal letic coordiand younger nator Craig players will Barry. Barry be expected has not heard to much to step up.” from other coaches about For those younger playthe issue, but said each is ers, Frease said this is handling it in their own an opportunity to show way. coaches their potential. “This adds an extra burOther coaches, includden on the coaches,” Barry ing head soccer coach Dee said. “They are all focusing Taylor, had to adjust their on their upcoming matches rosters quickly. while this is going on.” The girls soccer team With two losses in the faced the Kingston pre-season, Viking football Buccaneers on Sept. 14 head coach Steve Frease is and Taylor made lastunsure how the suspen- minute adjustments before sions will affect his team, the game. The suspensions
gave some yougner players more time on the field. Some had to change positions to fill in for suspended players Because it’s early in the season, Taylor said the freshman players should be able to catch up to where they need to be, but the outcome of the season is uncertain. The other fall sports coaches could not be reached by presstime, and some who were contacted declined to comment. A first-time violation of the code in the athletic handbook can result in a suspension from league games for a maximum of 60 schools days, but no less than 15 days, if the student admits he or she violated the code. If a student is caught violating the code through an investigation, the penalty is more severe, with an exclusion from participating on the team for 60 days or the remainder of the season, whichever is longer. “I don’t doubt more parties have been held this year, but maybe it takes something like this for students to learn,” Prasch said.
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