This is what's wrong with society today

[mreye]

http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/200...1030002c1df.txt

 

Don't break the rules and you'd be able to wrestle! The dad is worse than the kid. :rolly

 

Dad fights suspension to save son's wrestling season

 

 

VALPARAISO | The father of Chesterton High School's top wrestler is waging a legal battle to restore his son's shot at competing downstate after an underage drinking arrest last weekend.

 

Gregg St. Germain asked Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper on Thursday to step in and prevent school officials from further enforcing a policy that would prevent his son, Andrew St. Germain, from competing in Saturday's wrestling sectional tournament at LaPorte High School.

 

Andrew St. Germain is being treated unfairly because while the suspension is supposed to cover just three matches, it actually eliminates him from competing in nine matches as a result of its timing with the sectional event, said his attorney Hawk Kautz.

 

By not being able to compete in two matches Saturday, Andrew St. Germain has no chance of qualifying to take part in the two matches each at the regional, semi-state and state levels, Kautz said. He already sat out Wednesday's match with Portage.

 

"Andy, in losing his Saturday, loses everything," Kautz said.

 

The request for a temporary restraining order was strongly opposed Thursday by the Duneland School Corp., which said making an exception for Andrew St. Germain would send the wrong message and be unfair to the other student athletes who were also suspended.

 

Sixteen of the 21 people arrested Saturday at a house party in Liberty Township were student athletes and all are receiving the same penalty under the terms of the high school's Positive Life Program, said Chesterton High School Athletic Director Garry Nallenweg.

 

Five of those arrested are from the varsity wrestling team.

 

"One kid is not more important than the program," Nallenweg said.

 

Harper took the request under consideration following a heated hearing and said she would rule by this morning.

 

There is more at stake for Andrew St. Germain than just a simple shot at a state title, according to the legal challenge, which was filed just a short time before Thursday's hearing. The high school junior hopes to obtain a wrestling scholarship to attend college and fears his chances will be hurt if not allowed to compete at sectionals.

 

While it was repeatedly pointed out there is no guarantee Andrew St. Germain will win at sectionals and proceed toward the state competition, his legal petition said he is rated second in the state with a current record of 32-0.

 

Chesterton High School Principal James Goetz said the 20-year-old Positive Life Program will be irreparably harmed if this request is granted.

 

The program offers students taking part in extra curricular activities the opportunity to reduce suspensions in these types of cases from 40 to 20 percent of a season by taking part in a series of drug and alcohol awareness classes, he said.

 

Enforcing the policy is sending a much better lesson to Andrew St. Germain and other students than the example sought by this legal action, Goetz said.

 

"I think we are trying to teach the children the right way," he said.

 

In the event St. Germain is denied his request, he would still be eligible to compete at the team level if the team finishes first or second on Saturday and proceeds to regionals, Goetz said.

[FlaSoxxJim]

It sucks for the kid and I feel sorry for him. But obviously they can't make an exception for him.

[mreye]

It sucks for the kid and I feel sorry for him.  But obviously they can't make an exception for him.

You feel sorry for him? He broke the rules. IMO, the rule is lax. In my high school all athletes signed a sheet that said if they were caught drinking, smoking, etc, they'd be out for the remainder of the season.

 

The kid's a Junior. Straighten up your act and come back next year.

[FlaSoxxJim]

You feel sorry for him? He broke the rules. IMO, the rule is lax. In my high school all athletes signed a sheet that said if they were caught drinking, smoking, etc, they'd be out for the remainder of the season.

 

The kid's a Junior. Straighten up your act and come back next year.

He did break the rules and should be punished accordingly. But, sure, I do feel sorry for him if one screw up does end up killing a legitimate shot at a scholarship and possibly cost him a chance at going to college.

[Balance]

He did break the rules and should be punished accordingly.  But, sure, I do feel sorry for him if one screw up does end up killing a legitimate shot at a scholarship and possibly cost him a chance at going to college.

I would feel bad for him, too. But people need to learn that actions have consequences. Getting arrested will tend to have a negative impact on your future.

[FlaSoxxJim]

I would feel bad for him, too.  But people need to learn that actions have consequences.  Getting arrested will tend to have a negative impact on your future.

This is true. And again I 100% agree he should get the suspension and deserves the suspension and all of its consequences. But it still sucks for him.

[The Critic]

Yeah, it sucks for him, but it would suck for everyone if they made an exception for him.