Football players suspended for hazing
New Berlin Eisenhower investigation followed anonymous letter
New Berlin Eisenhower football players who hazed their teammates will serve five-game suspensions as punishment for their involvement in the behavior.
The School District of New Berlin meted out those suspensions shortly after it conducted an investigation into possible hazing practices among the team following an anonymous tip. The investigation found that hazing did occur.
The hazing, according to an anonymous letter, involved older players “paddling” younger teammates with a wooden board “as hard as they can on the buttocks.” The letter added that some student-athletes had considered leaving the team as a result.
According to a source, players received five-game suspensions beginning Friday night in the crosstown rivalry game against New Berlin West. Those suspensions will run through the penultimate week of the regular season, leaving open the possibility of the players returning for the final home regular season game and additional playoff games, if Eisenhower qualifies.
WTMJ reported Friday the suspended players include “team captains and other senior players.”
In an email, head coach Matt Kern told the Journal Sentinel he had been instructed not to comment on the investigation.
Superintendent Joe Garza said in a statement that specifics of the hazing, including detailed disciplinary action, would not be discussed with media but “student-athletes involved in these incidents will be held accountable.”
The Lions have established themselves on the field as one of the area’s most consistently successful programs. They have not lost a regular season game since Sept. 23, 2016, have won 21 consecutive Woodland Conference games and reached the WIAA Division 3 state championship in 2017 and the state semifinals last year.