D-155, CL police investigating alleged hazing incident

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CRYSTAL LAKE – In her five years as superintendent, Jill Hawk said District 155 officials this semester are dealing with the district's first accusations of hazing.

Prairie Ridge High School officials were notified Jan. 28 of the allegations about the wrestling team through an anonymous letter and began an investigation, as has the Crystal Lake Police Department.

"A number of wrestlers may have been involved in activities that included the restraining of wrestlers by other members of the team who then slap them on the stomach," Police Chief David Linder said. "We are investigating allegations that some members of the wrestling team may have touched certain private areas of the restrained wrestlers through their clothing during the course of these activities."

No criminal charges have been filed at this time.

Police have interviewed more than 60 Prairie Ridge wrestlers, Linder said, but are unsure of how many students might have been involved in incidents, which allegedly occurred on school grounds. Police were in the process of interviewing coaches.

"We do not have any facts that lead us to believe our coaches were aware of any inappropriate conduct," Hawk said. In fact, she said, the coaches warned the wrestlers at the beginning of the season about hazing.

Hawk declined to comment on any suspensions or other disciplinary actions, citing privacy laws, but a letter to parents issued Thursday said that the district "will take appropriate disciplinary action against students who violated either the intimidation or hazing policy or any other district policies governing student conduct."

"Students who we have facts that led to a consequence regarding athletic participation would not wrestle anymore," Hawk said. "Where we did not have those facts or the facts were not as serious, they would participate according to the code of conduct."

Four wrestlers were scratched from last weekend's Fox Valley Conference Meet, but a coach had declined to comment on the reason why. He said it was "wait and see" whether they would be back for a regional competition this weekend.

But as far as the meet goes, "the Prairie Ridge wrestling team will have members there," Hawk said.

There have been phone calls from parents with stories that are far from fact, Hawk said.

"There are a lot of rumors that are completely unfounded out there right now, so we wanted to put as much information as we could out there," district spokesman Jeff Puma said.