Mohonasen (N.Y.) High School has terminated its head wrestling coach after he was seen on surveillance video striking a Freshman student-athlete in the face.
According to Syracuse.com, the incident occurred during Thursday night’s practice and the coach was fired on Friday morning when school officials could review the video.
Surveillance video shows the student-athlete, 14-year-old Elexis Rostocki, reaching toward the coach to get his attention. After two attempts to reach the coach, he “hit her directly in the face (…) started to point in her face and curse at her.”
“There was an incident that we can’t really provide details with, but we handled it. The coach has been terminated, and we really take the safety and security of students and the conduct of our coaches very seriously,” said Matt Ronca, athletic director at Mohonasen High School.
According to News10, the Rostocki family is considering legal action against the coach and Rotterdam police confirmed that criminal charges are pending.
“I witnessed the video through the school and it’s disturbing. I think any time that an adult puts their hands on a child, it’s a little disturbing. But I think it’s a little more jarring when it’s someone that you trust your daughter with and that she trusts as well,” said Desire Rostocki, the student-athlete’s mother.
