WPIAL tells Connellsville to implement sensitivity training
The Penn Hills High School boys soccer team says Connellsville players and fans used racial slurs against Penn Hills players in a game two weeks ago.
Connellsville says it didn’t.
The WPIAL says it believes both sides.
On Wednesday morning, the WPIAL announced that it is not levying any penalties against Connellsville for the alleged racial slurs. The league is only mandating that Connellsville implement a plan to train “student-athletes regarding racial and cultural sensitivity.”
The WPIAL is requiring Connellsville to use an outside consultant in the training.
The WPIAL’s decision comes after the league’s board of directors had a closed-door hearing Monday for more than two hours with representatives from both schools. The WPIAL heard testimony from players, athletic directors, school principals, coaches, parents, security personnel at the game and even Connellsville mayor Greg Lincoln.
“What the board was able to discern, based on the information and based on the credible testimony of the Penn Hills players, is that there were, in all probability, some negative interactions on the field,” said WPIAL executive director Tim O’Malley. “But it was the board’s position that they were, in all probability, isolated and not reflective of Connellsville, their soccer program and their school.”
The alleged inappropriate conduct came during a Sept. 11 game when Penn Hills played at Connellsville. In reaction, Penn Hills said it would not play a girls soccer game or a girls volleyball game scheduled at Connellsville.
The WPIAL could have slapped penalties on Connellsville.
“When you ask a kid if he said something and he says ‘No.’ You ask another kid and he says ‘Yeah.’ How do you know?” O’Malley said. “But there has to be some action taken, and Connellsville offered that in advance [of the hearing]. We accepted that and we’ve asked them to enhance that with someone from the outside.”
A statement released by Penn HIlls superintendent Nancy Hines indicates the school is supportive of the WPIAL’s decision. The statement read, “Penn Hills School District is pleased that the WPIAL board found credibility in the testimony provided by Penn Hills representatives.” The statement said the conduct in question from the event is not reflective or representative of the Connellsville Area School District.
Connellsville also released a statement through superintendent Joseph Bradley that said the district would comply with the WPIAL’s wishes.
O’Malley said the postponed games and another Connellsville-Penn Hills boys soccer game should be played and said he received indications that the schools are rescheduling.