Trash talk may occur at many high school athletic events, but that banter escalated to hate speech during a boys lacrosse game between Brighton High School and East Rochester High School last month.
East Rochester players made anti-Semitic remarks to Brighton players during a game on Tuesday, April 25.
The coaches learned of the comments, which were related to the Holocaust, and the two East Rochester players apologized, said Brighton Superintendent Kevin McGowan.
McGowan said Brighton has been working closely with East Rochester Schools to address the situation.
East Rochester Superintendent Howard Maffucci said the two students will be disciplined by the coach and the athletic director.
“The behavior of our two students is professionally and personally embarrassing to me,” he said. “It’s not representative of our school and our community and I expressed my displeasure to them.”
Brighton officials were pleased with the East Rochester response.
“They found this behavior to be as unacceptable as this school district does,” McGowan said. “Hate speech, intolerance, teasing, bullying in any way shape or form is completely unacceptable to us and we will continue to reinforce that message and work carefully with our colleagues.”
Maffucci said Brighton players made insensitive remarks to East Rochester players, as well. McGowan said his students did not say anything to provoke or respond to the anti-Semitic comments.
Michael Lebowitz is the parent of a Brighton lacrosse player and identifies himself as Jewish. He is upset with the “vulgar” comments, though, they were not directed at his son.
“You can’t let hate language slide, you need to attack it and address it so the community knows about it,” he said.
Both superintendents feel the incident can be a “teachable moment” for students.
Fairport Athletic Director Jim Zumbo paid close attention to the incident, because it could happen in Fairport.
“We teach lessons in teamwork, dedication, respect for oneself and others,” he said. “When these incidents occur we need to work to follow through on appropriate accountability and see what could we have done better?”
The Brighton superintendent would like changes to be made to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHAA) handbook. Currently, an official must hear the language, and eject the player in order for further consequences for taunting to occur.
The teams will meet again May 20 in Brighton.
