Washington student-athletes tested for drugs

Washington student-athletes tested for drugs

By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor

Those students who participate in sports at Washington High School got a bit of a surprise Thursday, one day after returning from holiday vacation.

Student-athletes said they were called to the auditorium for a short meeting. However, once there, they were told that they were all going to be tested for drugs.

“I was surprised,” said WHS sophomore Hayley Stowe, who plays varsity basketball and softball. “I didn’t expect it. They made an announcement and said it was just going to be a short meeting. When we came in, they said that everybody in the auditorium was getting a drug test.”

It came as a surprise to students and coaches.

“We didn’t find out about it until Thursday morning,” WHS athletics director and varsity baseball coach Darin Vaughan said. “As long as I’ve been here, we’ve had random drug testing. This wasn’t random; this was everybody.

“Regardless of how it was done or the timing, I don’t want guys in our program to be using or abusing drugs. A definite message was sent that we want a clean athletic program and we want it done the right way. It’s important to be a clean student and a clean player.”

Jimmy Kozuch, Washington’s varsity boys and girls soccer coach, said while he agrees with testing student-athletes, he was stunned by the timing. He also hopes that if testing is going to be done, it won’t be limited to Beaufort County student-athletes.

“I agree with drug testing, but to come out after the holiday and do it is a little outrageous,” Kozuch said.

“Doing it state-wide is fair. If you’re just going to test in the county, that doesn’t make sense to me.”

Jamont Jones, a varsity football player for the Pam Pack, thought the timing was excellent.

“I think they timed it perfectly,” Jones said. “We were just getting back from Christmas break and everyone was unaware that a drug test was about to happen. With an unexpected drug test, any athlete who does drugs may think-second (about) doing them if he or she wants to continue playing sports.”

The testing started in the morning and didn’t conclude until near the end of school. That meant some missed classes for several students.

“We have exams coming up and we need to review,” Stowe said. “I missed one class and some people missed all of their classes. Unless you got at the front of the line, you were there all day.”

Joe Lawrence, Washington’s varsity boys basketball coach, said testing the students randomly would work better.

“It may need to happen randomly,” Lawrence said. “(The student-athletes) are aware of it if it happens randomly. I don’t think we need to bring in every student-athlete in the whole school. They’re always talking about missing class time and they were missing class time waiting for (the drug testing).

“If you pull 10 of them at a time in season, that would get the message across. That’s what they do with bus drivers and that’s what they do with coaches. They don’t pull every coach and go over there and test them. I think random is probably better.”

While some students refused to take the test, which means an automatic 365-day suspension from athletics, others were in favor of it.

“I thought it was a good move from the county because we do need to be drug free and maybe it will be a wake-up call for a lot of athletes that do things they shouldn’t,” said Robert Dail, a varsity tennis and soccer player for the Pam Pack.

Dail, who is also the varsity boys basketball scorekeeper, said the timing of the testing was questionable.

“We have next week (of classes) and then exams so missing a whole day of class wasn’t the best thing at this time of the year,” Dail said.

“Overall, I do think it was a good move to make sure our athletes are indeed eligible in all aspects so there’s no cheating at all, whether it be off the field or on the field.”

Xenia Adonts, an exchange student from Germany who plans to play varsity soccer in the spring, said she spotted a few worried classmates in the auditorium.

“I saw so many worried faces and it made me laugh,” said Adonts, who missed a history test because of the long process of testing. “I felt really good because I didn’t have to fear anything. I think it’s right that they did it.

“I hope some people recognized that it’s wrong, especially for athletes, to take drugs and I really hope it changed their opinion about it.”

Some students and coaches are all for testing to ensure drug-free schools.

“In general, I don’t have a problem with drug testing students and I certainly don’t have a problem with drug testing student-athletes,” said Allison Jones, Washington’s varsity girls basketball coach. “It’s a privilege to play; it’s not your right. If substance abuse is going on, then sports is the least of your concerns.

“I think student-athletes have to step up. I think they have to be leaders and role models. They’re athletes and we expect them to have healthy bodies.”

Of course, others disagree with the testing.

“It’s good for some people and bad for some people,” said WSH student Tony Turnage, who plays varsity football and junior varsity basketball. “Truthfully, I don’t think there’s a need for drug testing. If somebody is doing something in their personal life, that’s their personal life. That’s not the school’s business.”

The testing shouldn’t come as a complete surprise. Student-athletes are asked to fill out a Beaufort County School District Student Athletic Commitment Contract.

Beaufort County Schools operate under a “Code of Student Conduct.” Student-athletes may be randomly tested for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines and any other drugs the superintendent deems appropriate.

Beaufort County superintendent Dr. Jeffrey C. Moss couldn’t be reached by phone Saturday evening.

Under the contract, student-athletes agree to remain “chemically free from tobacco and its products, alcohol and drugs” and that the pledge “extends to seven days per week.”

The student-athlete who signs the contract agrees to “authorize the Beaufort County School District to conduct a urinalysis test for drugs and/or alcohol use” and “authorize the Beaufort County School District to conduct random drug testing during the current school year and subsequent years of high school.”

What confused some coaches and student-athletes was that the testing didn’t seem exactly “random.”

“I think that drug testing is needed in school, but I thought it was supposed to be randomly done, not every athlete at one time,” said WHS student Scott Baytala, a varsity wrestler and junior varsity football player. “I know that drug testing is needed to allow only the ‘clean’ athletes to play sports, but it also cost a lot of money to drug test every athlete and that money needs to go to towards new books or new athletic equipment.

“As for the timing, the school system definitely picked the perfect timing for the drug testing. I mean, of course people like to have fun and party on New Year’s and the school system knows it. Although the timing may seem unfair because it was around a big ‘party time’ for students, if you stay clean and don’t do drugs, then you have nothing to worry about. I had nothing to worry about with the drug test because I know that I’m clean, but for those who like to ‘party,’ they might as well kiss sports goodbye for a year.”

Davey Ann Burbage, who plays basketball, softball and tennis at WHS, questioned the timing of the testing.

“I really don’t think it was a ‘random’ drug test,” Burbage said. “But I think that athletes will be more cautious now.

“It is interesting that they would do it right after a big break, but I think if they were going to catch a lot of people, that was a good time to do it.”

Student-athletes who do take and fail the test will have to attend a substance abuse education and/or intervention program, which lasts approximately one month. In order to return to athletics, the student-athlete must complete the program and test negative on a subsequent drug test.

Kozuch is worried that some student-athletes who failed or didn’t take the test may give up on athletics all together.

“All the student-athletes are passing their classes,” Kozuch said. “Maybe we should focus on those who aren’t passing their classes. Obviously, these student-athletes aren’t problem kids.

“If somebody doesn’t pass the test and they can’t play, who’s to say they won’t go home and get high every day now.”

Sport Sawyer, Washington’s varsity football coach, said student-athletes must adhere to strict guidelines by the school system and by the N.C. High School Athletic Association.

“Being an athlete is a privilege,” Sawyer said. “An athlete gets to wear their school colors and participate in the athletic event of choice. They are doing this in front of people who support their efforts in friendly athletic competition, but being an athlete also has its price. You must be eligible by NCHSAA rules and regulations as well as local standards.

“Also, an athlete must practice their sport and sometimes this is not easy (extreme heat, rain, cold weather or coaches pushing you to your limits). Then you go home, clean up and then maintain high standards in the classroom. I believe it is awesome we have young men and women who are that dedicated to do this representing their school and athletic event.”

Sawyer said sometimes athletics is the only aspect a student-athlete can lean on in his teen years.

“Regardless of the athletic event that they participate in or school they attend, it takes a special person to be an athlete,” Sawyer said. “Being an athlete is all that some young people have. Without athletic events, some students would be lost.

“Not all students or athletes live in supportive homes. Look at the world we live in. Being drug free is awesome as well, but everyone should be drug free.”