A Maryland high school field hockey team will be sitting out of the state semifinals as a consequence for a prank that got out of control.
Severna Park, the 4A East regional champions, will forfeit its place in the state playoffs after all 24 players were suspended for taking part in a toilet paper prank that seems to have gotten out of hand.
As the Washington Post reports, the team celebrates a regional victory by rolling Coach Ann Andrews’s house with toilet paper. Andrews told the Post that the she looks forward to the tradition, because it signifies a successful season.
Goals A. Miller, E Sayers, L. Slattery & B. Blumenberg: Severna Park field hockey a 4-1 W over South River & the 4A East championship. pic.twitter.com/nS9pOYn5Yk
— SP Voice Sports (@SPVoiceSports) November 1, 2017
However, this year, the team took it further, moving on to several other houses on their celebratory toilet paper throwing spree. The houses were thought to belong to friends, but as Andrews told the Post, “They may have gotten some of the houses wrong.”
In response, Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent George Arlotto ruled that the team would have to forfeit its playoff spot. Instead, the team Severna Park defeated in the regional, defending 4A champion South River, will advance in their place.
“While I realize that this is a very disappointing end to what has been a great season for Severna Park, the actions of players and coaches in this matter do not reflect the values we must have for our school system and our athletic programs,” Arlotto said in a statement. “Our student-athletes should be ambassadors for themselves and their schools in our communities.”
Andrews defended her team, saying that though this year’s prank got out of hand, the team wasn’t acting with malicious intent. She did, however, say that this would be the last year of any toilet paper-related celebrations.
What do you think? Did the punishment fit the crime in this case? Let us know in our poll below:
{module TP Prank}
