Indiana High School Athletic Association

     9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601    Fax: 317-575-4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

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MEDIA ADVISORY                                                        May 21, 2004

Contact: Jerry Baker, Sports Information Director                                                          

E-Mail: jbaker@ihsaa.org

 

IHSAA PLACES INDIAN CREEK HIGH SCHOOL ON PROBATION

 

Indiana High School Athletic Association Commissioner Blake Ress has announced that Indian Creek High School in Trafalgar has been placed on probation through March 25, 2005 because of violations of both Rule 3-6 (administrative responsibility) and Rule 5 (amateurism) of the IHSAA By-Laws.

 

This probation is a more severe type of warning.  It is official notice than an unethical action has occurred, is a matter of record and must not be repeated.

 

The IHSAA has accepted Indian Creek High School’s recommendation that the adults, Kevin Hamilton and Wendell Denton, who paid an Indian Creek student athlete to commit a blatantly unsportsmanlike act, shall be prohibited from any basketball practice or contest for either gender in which the school participates during the 2004-05 school year.

 

The IHSAA accepts and supports as appropriate the school’s action banning, for a minimum of five years, both Hamilton and Denton from any coaching position in the Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson United School Corporation.

 

The student athlete who was given cash in violation of Rule 5, is, hereby, declared ineligible for basketball.

 

The administration of Indian Creek High School shall hold required meetings prior to each sports season for student athletes and their parents to emphasize the importance of sportsmanship and explain the necessity of compliance with the IHSAA By –Laws.

 

The administration must remain diligent in its supervision of the athletic programs in order to preclude future, similar incidents, which could result in a more severe penalty.

 

Deana McMurray, President of the Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson United School Corporation stated that the NHJ has cooperated fully with the IHSAA in the investigation of this matter and publicly condemns the rule violations of February 24th which led to the sanctions now imposed.

 

She added that the conduct upon which the sanctions are based cannot be justified.  The sanctions imposed by the IHSAA are harsh, but fair under the circumstances.

 

IHSAA 03-04/40