Highlands soccer coach suspended after autistic player taped to goalpost
The Highlands School District on Wednesday confirmed the boys varsity soccer coach is suspended and announced the team's season is over amid an investigation into the alleged hazing of an autistic teammate.
District spokeswoman Misty Chybrzynski said coach Jim Turner is suspended, though not because he is suspected of participating in the incident Sunday evening in which two senior players are accused of duct-taping sophomore Austin Babinsack to a goal at the district's soccer field in Harrison.
Harrison police, who were called by passers-by who found Austin screaming for help, said juvenile charges are possible against the two 17-year-old players, whose identities have not been released.
Police said surveillance video footage showed 16-year-old Austin was tied up for 22 minutes before help arrived.
While police were there, the two upperclassmen returned with another teammate they allegedly intended to duct-tape to the soccer goal, according to police.
Chybrzynski said the district canceled Thursday's boys soccer game against Freeport, which would have been the last game of the season and the game at which senior players would have been honored. With the forfeiture, the team finishes the season with a 4-14-0 record; they were not expected to make the playoffs.
Austin's mother and students on social media believe the two seniors were suspended from school for five days. Chybrzynski said she could not comment on disciplinary actions against specific students but noted, “It's in our board policy that suspension is possible.”
As for the coach, Chybrzynski said he is suspended due to the ongoing investigation: “He wasn't on site at the time of the incident.”
Turner, who is not a teacher, on Wednesday referred a reporter to his attorney, Julian Neiser.
“I have been advised not to make any kind of statement at this time since the investigation is still ongoing,” said Turner, who has coached the team since 2004.
Neiser declined to address the suspension but emphasized Turner was not aware of the alleged hazing beforehand.
“Mr. Turner had absolutely no involvement in the incident, was not present when it happened, and first learned of the allegations about the students after the fact,” Neiser said in an email. “Any reports of Mr. Turner's involvement, approval or prior knowledge with respect to any aspect of the incident are patently false and unequivocally denied.
“Out of respect for the students who are involved, we will be cooperating fully with the district and will withhold further comment until after that process is completed,” Neiser said.
Chybrzynski declined to comment on whether any other coaches were suspended or are involved in the investigation.
Austin's mother, Kristie Babinsack, said an assistant coach who filled in for Turner at Monday's soccer game laughed at Austin and allowed players to mock him during game.
“Kids started calling him snitch and tattletale,” Babinsack said. “Austin started to become really upset and started crying.”
She thinks the assistant coach also should face disciplinary action.
A listed phone number for the coach could not be found.
Students support seniors
Babinsack was upset to hear students brought signs to Monday's game supporting the two seniors, who did not play.
Students have tweeted photos and statements imploring the district to “free” the suspended players.
In a tweet that since has been deleted, one of the accused students wrote, “It was a soccer tradition that got way blown out of proportion.”
The other accused student on Monday tweeted, “We need people to not go to class until they say that they will let me and (other accused student) play.”
Another post from him Tuesday night read, “I respect everyone who knows the whole story and understands what's going on #R4L (Rams for Life) is a family and you don't disrespect family!”
The two students did not respond to requests for comment. A phone message left at one of their homes was not returned; a listed phone number could not be found for the other family.
Tradition?
Several students posted that the duct-taping of underclassmen was a Highlands tradition.
Chybrzynski declined to comment on whether the district has received previous reports of similar hazing incidents involving the soccer team.
Harrison police Chief Mike Klein said the department received a report in fall 2012 that a student had been duct-taped to the Highlands Rams statue at the high school, but a responding officer found no sign of anyone.
“I'm not saying it didn't happen, but it was unfounded,” Klein said.
Babinsack said Austin and other underclassmen were “decorating” senior players' homes Sunday night with streamers and toilet paper as part of the upcoming Senior Night celebrations.
She said the two upperclassmen took Austin from one of those homes and drove him to the soccer field to be duct-taped.
Victor Nelson, a 2014 Highlands graduate and last year's soccer team captain, said the duct-taping is a team ritual that he believes has occurred for at least a decade.
Nelson, 18, of Harrison said everyone involved with the team, including parents, knows that while the underclassmen “TP” seniors' homes, the seniors pick a student to wrap in duct tape.
“It's completely all for fun. The people know it happens every single year,” he said. “It's never to hurt anybody. It's all for fun.”
Nelson said the coach was never involved: “I don't understand why he's getting suspended. I'd like to support the students and the coach. The students don't deserve to be pressed with charges. The kid's mom is blowing it out of proportion.
“It's a tradition, and if you want to be part of the team, that goes along with it,” he said. “Through the years, the kids who get tied up, it's usually a nice memory in a way.
“It's almost an honor, to get picked by the seniors.”
Liz Hayes is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-226-4680 or lhayes@tribweb.com.
