kaorder1999
03-27-2009, 12:45 PM
Parents aim to get Duncanville track athletes reinstated
02:16 AM CDT on Thursday, March 26, 2009
By DAMON L. SAYLES / The Dallas Morning News
dsayles@dallasnews.com
DESOTO – A group of concerned parents, along with volunteers and summer track coaches, are working to get Duncanville track and field athletes reinstated after they were suspended for the remainder of the season by school administrators.
The parental group met Wednesday in nearby DeSoto to discuss plans to meet with Duncanville ISD officials, including athletic director Kevin Ozee and head track coach Derek Dorris, after Ozee issued 60-day suspensions to seven athletes – Kennedy Daugherty, Issac Ogunlade, Gabe Castillo, Reggie Reed, Jacolby Sternes, Jonathon Cook and Aaron Frazier. Group coordinator Boutique Banks-Adkison is requesting a meeting with officials expeditiously, as the District 7-5A track meet is in less than two weeks.
Ozee said he suspended the athletes after they competed at the Lancaster Invitational Meet of Champions on March 14, despite being instructed by Dorris not to compete because of unfavorable weather conditions. Ozee said the athletes entered the event as unattached competitors, or athletes who enter without affiliation to a school. That, according to UIL rules, is a violation.
"We're going to go on a chain of command," Banks-Adkison said. "I was told we need to talk to Kevin Ozee first, then talk to superintendent Alfred Ray. We'll go whatever route we need to go to get this situated, because it's not fair to these athletes who have worked so hard."
Section 1207 (d) of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules state high school students "shall not be permitted to enter unattached" in any UIL member-sponsored athletic event.
"I'm getting criticized because it's pretty harsh, but the kids were warned about doing this at the beginning of the season," Ozee said. "We try to educate them about the UIL rules. I feel terrible for the kids, but I've got an entire program to run. We can't turn a blind eye to this."
Dorris did not return phone calls Wednesday.
Most of the suspended athletes, and some of their teammates still on the team, were at Wednesday's meeting. Of the seven suspended, Daugherty, Castillo, Ogunlade and Frazier are seniors.
"Once I heard it was 60 days, I mean, the season's over after that. It was no point in even staying out there," Castillo said. "This was what I was depending on for a scholarship."
Among the supporters in attendance was William Henderson, who volunteered his coaching services with Duncanville's program last season. Henderson has watched the athletes grow at the school and through summer track.
"This track team had the potential to be special," Henderson said. "We haven't been told what rule was violated. If rules were broken, I think 60 days is a little bit harsh."
Parents said they were upset with the ruling and that they didn't receive correspondence via a letter until days after the incident. Duncanville was on spring break the week following the Lancaster meet.
"I feel for him, because I know it's my son's passion," said Sharon Willis, Reed's mother. "He's been walking around trying to figure out what happened. No one's really telling him anything."
Cook's mother, Emma, added: "You hate it for the seniors. They're trying to go to college with [track]."
Ozee said the violation was reported last Monday and has been turned in to the UIL compliance office. The UIL did not return late Wednesday calls.
Three of the seven were a part of the 4x400 relay team that has the state's top recorded time. Akeem Banks, a relay member and Banks-Adkison's son, thought the team was in the clear because they did not compete wearing Duncanville paraphernalia, and the team's scores were not counted in the final standings.
"We were pretty much told we could run," Banks said, "but they wouldn't post our times."
Athletes who violate the UIL's "unattached participation" rule may sustain a penalty of suspension from competition for a maximum of three years, according to the constitution. The rule also states a penalty for violation shall be assessed against the high school sponsoring the meet.
Lancaster boys track and field coach and meet director Greg Williams has declined to comment until after he has heard something directly from the UIL.
02:16 AM CDT on Thursday, March 26, 2009
By DAMON L. SAYLES / The Dallas Morning News
dsayles@dallasnews.com
DESOTO – A group of concerned parents, along with volunteers and summer track coaches, are working to get Duncanville track and field athletes reinstated after they were suspended for the remainder of the season by school administrators.
The parental group met Wednesday in nearby DeSoto to discuss plans to meet with Duncanville ISD officials, including athletic director Kevin Ozee and head track coach Derek Dorris, after Ozee issued 60-day suspensions to seven athletes – Kennedy Daugherty, Issac Ogunlade, Gabe Castillo, Reggie Reed, Jacolby Sternes, Jonathon Cook and Aaron Frazier. Group coordinator Boutique Banks-Adkison is requesting a meeting with officials expeditiously, as the District 7-5A track meet is in less than two weeks.
Ozee said he suspended the athletes after they competed at the Lancaster Invitational Meet of Champions on March 14, despite being instructed by Dorris not to compete because of unfavorable weather conditions. Ozee said the athletes entered the event as unattached competitors, or athletes who enter without affiliation to a school. That, according to UIL rules, is a violation.
"We're going to go on a chain of command," Banks-Adkison said. "I was told we need to talk to Kevin Ozee first, then talk to superintendent Alfred Ray. We'll go whatever route we need to go to get this situated, because it's not fair to these athletes who have worked so hard."
Section 1207 (d) of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules state high school students "shall not be permitted to enter unattached" in any UIL member-sponsored athletic event.
"I'm getting criticized because it's pretty harsh, but the kids were warned about doing this at the beginning of the season," Ozee said. "We try to educate them about the UIL rules. I feel terrible for the kids, but I've got an entire program to run. We can't turn a blind eye to this."
Dorris did not return phone calls Wednesday.
Most of the suspended athletes, and some of their teammates still on the team, were at Wednesday's meeting. Of the seven suspended, Daugherty, Castillo, Ogunlade and Frazier are seniors.
"Once I heard it was 60 days, I mean, the season's over after that. It was no point in even staying out there," Castillo said. "This was what I was depending on for a scholarship."
Among the supporters in attendance was William Henderson, who volunteered his coaching services with Duncanville's program last season. Henderson has watched the athletes grow at the school and through summer track.
"This track team had the potential to be special," Henderson said. "We haven't been told what rule was violated. If rules were broken, I think 60 days is a little bit harsh."
Parents said they were upset with the ruling and that they didn't receive correspondence via a letter until days after the incident. Duncanville was on spring break the week following the Lancaster meet.
"I feel for him, because I know it's my son's passion," said Sharon Willis, Reed's mother. "He's been walking around trying to figure out what happened. No one's really telling him anything."
Cook's mother, Emma, added: "You hate it for the seniors. They're trying to go to college with [track]."
Ozee said the violation was reported last Monday and has been turned in to the UIL compliance office. The UIL did not return late Wednesday calls.
Three of the seven were a part of the 4x400 relay team that has the state's top recorded time. Akeem Banks, a relay member and Banks-Adkison's son, thought the team was in the clear because they did not compete wearing Duncanville paraphernalia, and the team's scores were not counted in the final standings.
"We were pretty much told we could run," Banks said, "but they wouldn't post our times."
Athletes who violate the UIL's "unattached participation" rule may sustain a penalty of suspension from competition for a maximum of three years, according to the constitution. The rule also states a penalty for violation shall be assessed against the high school sponsoring the meet.
Lancaster boys track and field coach and meet director Greg Williams has declined to comment until after he has heard something directly from the UIL.