Herkimer student athletes face consequences after reportedly attending underage party
-->By: Jennifer Lee
Updated: October 2, 2012
We recently told you about that Ilion High School's football team forfeited its game against Frankfort-Schulyer as did Ilion's other sports teams.
The superintendent says the school took disciplinary action after reportedly twenty students attended an underage drinking party.
And on Tuesday, Herkimer Junior-Senior High School is following suit. Herkimer's superintendent says about fifteen student athletes voluntarily came forward, admitting they were at an underage party in Ilion last week.
Those players will now have to sit out at least one game.
"I think that the Herkimer kids did it they would be just as liable as the Ilion students," said Kyle Madigan, a former Ilion student.
"I think it would be fair considering the Ilion students got in trouble and they were doing the same thing," said Hilary Ball, a Herkimer resident.
Herkimer's superintendent Gary Tutty says students from field hockey, football and the girls and boys soccer team have broken their silence and have fessed up.
"Take your punishment and reflect on what you did and move on and lets not do it again," said Tutty.
Mr. Tutty says it could have been a long investigation into last week's underage party. Although players have broken the athletic code of conduct the superintendent says he's proud of them for voluntarily coming forward.
"It says a lot about their character. And I'm hoping that's what comes out of the whole thing. And say look we made a mistake and now let's see if we can make something positive out of this," said Tutty.
Some football players will be sitting out of the game against Little Falls this week. And the other athletes will be doing the same.
Even though some may think one game isn't enough Mr. Tutty says it affects the players.
"They don't play a whole lot of games. Some kids have been injured so to miss a game is big. They know it. It hurts," explained Tutty.
Mr. Tutty says other schools may have been involved and he hopes those students would also come forward.
As for more punishment for the Ilion players, the superintendent says penalties have been handed out and they are putting this matter behind them.
