Last night my coaching staff and student-athletes at Beloit Memorial High School had an uncomfortable experience that resulted in us feeling unsafe at Westosha Central High School and ultimately not competing in the Varsity game.
As the JV game was winding down (after our bench received multiple technicals for cheering throughout the game), a referee approached me and stepped within 2 inches of my face stating "I should've ejected you from the game but it's too late now. So you need to just sit there, shut your mouth, and watch the game" as he was simultaneously wagging his finger in my face. I asked him to step back out of my personal space and he responded, "I don't have to". I stood up to repeat my statement as the referee did not step back out of my and my girls personal space. He then became even more disrespectful and disgruntled I would not "sit down and shut up."
As this altercation is happening , I saw who I now know is the superintendent sitting at the scores table closest to our bench. He did not see an issue with the interaction that just happened as he did not move a muscle to stand up for us and tell the referee he was out of line. He actually waved over the sheriff on duty to have me "removed" from gym for asking a referee to not invade my personal space.
The Athletic Director told my coaching staff that he was going to report us to the WIAA if "she" doesn't play this game instead of coming to see if we were okay, if our student-athletes were okay, or what next steps would look like. He and the superintendent never adressed me at any point during this time. They actually continued to walk past me this entire time as if they did not know I was the Head Coach.
After getting approval from our District to leave, we were told we had to leave out of the back door and could not exit through their gym which is the way we came in. I told them we were going to leave the way we came in as my student-athletes were not the aggressors and would not be treated as such.
As we were exiting, a handful of cheerleaders, student-athletes, and parents/fans started making "ooh ooh ah ah" noises and gesturing like a gorilla. This was triggering for the student-athletes, but our coaching staff advised them to continue walking to the bus as their safety was our main concern.
We notified the Westosha Superintendent right away, however did not stay for the follow up action.
The student-athletes deserve to play in a safe environment at all times. Whether it is the JV2, JV, or Varsity level. We are a family and one program. Our Coaches deserve to be treated with respect in all spaces.
It is such a tragedy for these young student-athletes to have to continue to experience these discriminatory and aggressive actions towards their program.
I will never allow these young women to play in an unsafe environment. I will not continue to be disrespected by individuals who believe their status gives them freedom to disrespect black women.
We are not animals and we are not supposed to just get over it. My girls JUST WANT TO PLAY BASKETBALL! Thats all we want is to play the game we love in SAFE and WELCOMING environments!
-Coach DJ read more
