The last-ditch appeal by a Conifer wrestler suspended by his school district was denied for Thursday’s Class 4A state wrestling championships.
Conifer heavyweight Blaine Sumner, a standout since his freshman season and a top contender to win a state title, was kept off the mat when a judge refused to overrule or delay his suspension, according to Colorado High School Activities Association commissioner Bill Reader.
Sumner and the Jefferson County School District presented their case Thursday morning before weigh-ins.
Sumner was handed a five-day suspension for what the district called a hazing incident. In an interview with 9News, Sumner admitted he took part in a joke on another wrestler and put pizza and a concoction of lotion and coffee grounds in his bed while he slept.
“We just put pizza on a kid’s bed,” Sumner said. “We didn’t damage the sheets.”
Sumner said the suspension “took away his dream” and was a harsh punishment for what he called a “harmless prank.”
“I can’t understand why a kid should be suspended for five days for that sort of action,” said Preston Sumner, Blaine’s father.
Jeffco superintendent Cindy Stevenson saw it differently.
“I’m not going to judge excessiveness,” she said. “What I’m going to judge is that we expect our kids to behave.”
