T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK
Jennifer Galownia, mother of Bridgeport students, addresses the board of education Wednesday on behalf of herself and other parents following Friday’s football game against Shadyside. She said the Shadyside team exhibited poor sportsmanship and inappropriate tactics and asked that Bridgeport not play against the Tigers in the future.
BRIDGEPORT — Angry parents brought allegations of inappropriate behavior and tactics on the football field by Shadyside High School to the Bridgeport Board of Education on Wednesday.
The Shadyside Tigers came out on top Friday night at Bridgeport’s Perkins Field inside Bill Jobko Stadium, overcoming the Bulldogs 40-26.
But Shadyside’s performance included 22 penalties at a cost of 180 yards. Only six of those penalties came in the second half, after coach Mike Kernik said he and his team had a “heart-to-heart” talk in the locker room.
On Wednesday, Jennifer Galownia, a mother of Bridgeport students, addressed Bridgeport board members, saying she was the “unofficial representative of several other parents, and some parents in other schools.” She said the game was an example of poor sportsmanship.
“Friday night’s game was ridiculous. We did not deserve that, our children did not deserve that,” she said. “We are anti-bullying everywhere except on that field on Friday. I felt terrible for our children at that game. (Shadyside players) were out for blood.”
She referred to videos from the game, recorded by spectators.
“I have parents sending me videos, and they’re saying we have to send them to the Ohio High School Athletic Association,” she said. “That was brutal. They played dirty.”
Galownia said the attitude continued after the game.
“We’re being crucified over social media over that game from that team,” she said. “Why are we still playing them? We are telling (Bridgeport students), ‘Forget what you learned … because it doesn’t matter. You’re going to play with zero integrity or you’re going to get that from your opponent.’
“I don’t think it’s fair for our kids. … We’re telling our kids it’s OK. You want to go out and hurt somebody? Go out and hurt somebody. … How can we expect them to play fair, follow rules, follow the law, not get arrested if the rules don’t matter? … We’re lucky our kids didn’t get hurt.”
She asked the board to consider not scheduling games with Shadyside in the future.
Galownia said the Shadyside team has shown this behavior in past games and “gotten away with it.” She said parents from other schools have also sent her videos.
“Parents should have a lot of say in who their kids play,” she said.
“We will put a plan into action,” Bridgeport Superintendent Brent Ripley said.
“We’re just going to put our kids in the best position we possibly can,” Ripley said after the meeting. “Emotions run high during games, but we want to evaluate it fully and do what’s best for kids.”
Shadyside Superintendent John Haswell was contacted for comment afterward.
“I was not pleased about how that game went,” he said. “I called their superintendent personally the next day and apologized for our kids’ behavior. That is not who we are and it will be dealt with, and it has been dealt with.”
Haswell said Kernik has addressed the players, and the behavior will not be tolerated. He said one Shadyside student-athlete was ejected from the game Friday and will not play this week due to an OHSAA-mandated suspension. Haswell said other discipline occurred as well.
Shadyside is set to play Monroe Central High School at 7 p.m. Friday at Fleming Field in Shadyside.
“If there is any type of that behavior, it will be dealt with by pulling people off the field. That is not Shadyside,” Haswell said. “That was not representative of what we stand for, and I promise you it’s not going to happen again. If it does, then the people that did it will be removed.”
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