18 Athletes Suspended for 2 Games

Eighteen Oak Park High School football players will be suspended from two regular season games and barred from playing in a league-sponsored summer program as punishment for drinking after a recent tournament in Santa Ynez, school district officials said Friday.

In a statement, the district called the consequences “steeped in a zero tolerance policy and a proactive commitment to stem the tide of underage drinking in the community.”

Parents, who had feared the punishment could be as extensive as a yearlong expulsion from the team for some members, expressed relief and said it would be a lesson for their children.

“It’s a question of making sure it doesn’t happen again,” said Albert Melshenker. “I think this will help, and I appreciate the level of fairness that came into play.”

In addition, students will be required to attend an alcohol intervention program, complete 30 hours of community service and volunteer for activities aimed at curbing teen drinking. They will remain on probation for a year and will be immediately suspended from school activities upon a second violation.

The punishment comes after a July 7 football tournament in Santa Ynez. That evening, 18 members of the team drank alcohol on the grounds of an elementary school and at private homes. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department was called about a disturbance at the school and found the students at a host family’s home nearby, where the players submitted to breath tests and deputies called their coach, said Lt. Mike Burridge.