A Wrestling Story

There is so much wrong with this story.

Earlier this month, Iowa Public Radio reported that,

“A western Iowa school district [Hinton Community Schools] at the center of an assault investigation surrounding its high school wrestling team is losing two administrators.”

“…the Hinton School Board accepted the resignations of middle and high school principal Phil Goetstouwers and athletic director Brian DeJong, who is also an elementary school principal. Officials didn’t give reasons for the resignations…”

“The Coralville [Iowa] Police Department launched an investigation after players said older teammates tasered them at a hotel during the state dual wrestling tournament last month. A video circulating on social media showed a [wrestler] being held down on a bed during the attack.”

“A police spokesperson says additional information will likely not be released because all involved are juveniles.”

“The public wasn’t allowed to speak at the special meeting, but afterward, one woman who identified herself by only her initials, D.H., said her son was one of seven freshmen targeted.”

“’It has torn a lot of things apart. A lot of things have been unraveling more and more,’ she said. ‘And it’s going to hit the Hinton community hard. It’s going to be getting worse before it gets better.’”

“She said a lot of people with students in the school district say not enough was done after the incident came to light.”

“’There are still a lot of people who need to be held accountable, and we still don’t have answers,’ she said. ‘We’re still waiting on the coaches, and nobody’s coming forward.’”

“Hinton’s head wrestling coach, Casey Crawford, is still on paid administrative leave. Superintendent Ken Slater told IPR News the suspension will remain ‘until it’s not.’ However, parents say Crawford is still being allowed to teach math. An assistant coach was suspended with pay but allowed to return in time for the state wrestling tournament.”

“Parents spoke out for and against Crawford during a heated and emotional school board meeting on February 12^th. One parent claimed Crawford told the team to delete everything on Snapchat in order to hide evidence in the case. The parent also said he initially reprimanded his son for not stopping the assault but later found out his son was also victimized.”

“The school district suspended wrestlers involved in the assault but wouldn’t provide specific details, citing confidentiality concerns. After a closed-door meeting on February 15^th, officials announced two students were ‘reassigned’ without releasing more information.”

Yesterday, Iowa Public Radio reported that,

“The northwest Iowa wrestling coach [Casey Crawford] suspended after his players faced assault allegations has resigned.”

“[Crawford], who served as head coach of the Hinton High School boys’ wrestling team for 15 years, turned in his letter of resignation last week.”

…

“In the resignation letter, Crawford said, ‘he was grateful to make a positive influence on the athlete’s lives,’ and he looks forward to continuing his career as a teacher in Hinton.”

“Crawford was allowed to teach math during his administrative leave as coach.”

Wrong #1

As a freshman in high school, I must admit I was “initiated.” My “initiation” into high school was being dropped off a mile out of the town and expected to walk back to the school. I’m sorry but using a taser on another student-athlete is just sick.

Wrong #2

There are some coaches who think you build relationships inside a team by allowing upperclassmen to “haze” underclassmen – in the Hinton case by allowing older athletes to use a taser on younger teammates. Here’s the deal. The only relationship you build when you “haze” is a relationship built on negativity, embarrassment, and mistrust.

Wrong #3

The fact that this wrestling coach thinks that he has made a positive influence on the [Hinton] athletes’ lives is disturbing. Instead, what Crawford has done is allow kids to be hurt and a school community suffer needlessly.

Wrong #4

Who decided Coach Crawford could continue to teach math while he was on paid administrative leave from his wrestling position? That decision is just mind-boggling.

In the three years we ran our personalized learning lab school, we didn’t have one “hazing” incident, and we were dealing with 50 middle-school aged kids from all types of backgrounds. You know why?

Because the adult learning leaders spent time building a network of relationships whereby 50 kids learned to trust each other, their adult learning leaders, and their at-large learning community.

One of the reasons it’s time to create a new system of learning is that there are just too many stories coming from our traditional K-12 system like that of Coach Crawford, the Hinton Community Schools, and their mean wrestlers.

Til tomorrow. SVB