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S-O has special board meeting regarding student
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At a special meeting of the Sibley-Ocheyedan school board on Monday morning the board voted 3-2 to uphold a senior student's suspension from the wrestling team. The special meeting was called at the request of Don White, assistant wrestling coach at the high school and his wife, Lori on behalf of the student.
The senior athlete was suspended from wrestling competitively for one year after he was convicted of two counts of shoplifting. The wrestler is ranked seventh in the state in his weight class.
White told the board members that wrestling tends to draw kids from dysfunctional families and those kids are often influenced more by their coaches than anyone else. He explained the wrestler's mother does not live in the area. White and his wife have taken in the boy to live with them. The student lost his older brother who had previously served as his parent, stated White.
According to the S-O district rules, the first time a student is convicted of an infraction, he or she is suspended from competing for one-third of the season. A second conviction demands the student cannot compete for a 12-month period. During this time, however, the student may continue to attend classes and is allowed to practice with the team but may not compete.
When asked by board member Jose Alvarado if the rules are explained to the students, White stated he did not read the rules to his athletes and was unsure if they were acquainted with them.
Board member Kyle Grimes said "the rules need to be followed" regardless of what he called "heart-wrenching extenuating circumstances."
Board member Paul Feldkamp, addressed the wrestler, "I want you to understand that we care about you, 100 percent, regardless of how the vote goes."
Fellow board member Alvarado, who has known the athlete for a long time, said, "I care for him a lot."
Feldkamp and Alvarado cast the two "nay" votes.
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