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Posted on Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 11 p.m.

At games after brawl, Pioneer and Huron parents have mixed reactions to district's actions

By Pete Cunningham

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The Huron High School football team ended its season winless on Friday night, falling 37-0 to Westland John Glenn High School. John Glenn scored on a 52-yard touchdown run on its very first offensive play from scrimmage and on a 79-yard run on just its third offensive play of the night.

In a season full of blowout losses for the winless River Rats, Friday was the second-largest margin of defeat Huron suffered.

In a season when low numbers was a problem throughout, the roster was at its thinnest on Friday night.

Huron likely would have struggled with John Glenn on Friday even if eight players weren’t out serving suspensions for their various roles in last Friday’s on-field brawl following the Pioneer game. Another two were out with injuries.

Among those not suited up on Friday were Demetrius Sims, Daniel Hugan and Will Harris, all two-way starters for the River Rats, leaving Huron with just 26 players on the sideline and some in the varsity lineup for the first time all season.

More coverage: Huron vs. John Glenn boxscore | Friday football roundup

“It was a tough week, there’s no doubt about it,” said Dan Burkholder, who served as coach for the game in place of suspended head coach Cory Gildersleeve. “So there’s a lot of disractions for the kids, but they gave us a good effort.”

The attendance in the visitor’s bleachers at John Glenn High School was as sparse as on the Huron sidelines. Some parents in attendance were pleased with how Ann Arbor Public Schools officials handled everything surrounding the brawl. Both head coaches were suspended for two games and multiple players were suspended from each side. A Pioneer assistant coach thought to be the instigator of the fight has been relieved of his coaching duties as well.

“I feel it was handled the right way,” said Teresa Jackson, whose son, Josh Jackson, is the starting quarterback for Huron.

"I think it just took time to gather information and play itself out. Everybody wanted to do the right thing it just took time to get there,” said Cindy Masini, mother of Huron backup quarterback Kevin Masini. “I’m just really disappointed in tonight because we’re here without a number of players that make a big difference on our team…It’s just disappointing that we’re not here with everybody.”

Not everyone thought was in support of the district’s actions. One Huron parent, Kathy Coles, thought Pioneer should lose its postseason eligibility. Pioneer qualified for the postseason with a 31-17 win over Livonia Franklin despite the absence of several starters, including defensive standouts Dewan Olive-Abinojar and Darius Sanderford.

pioneer-helmet-coach-test.jpg

Several Pioneer players wore tape on their helmets on Friday night with suspended head coach Paul Test's last name written on them. (Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com)

It wasn’t just Huron parents critical of the district’s actions. A Pioneer parent, who declined to be named, said they were unsure if it was handled correctly.

Another Pioneer parent thought the punishments to players and coaches have been plenty.

“It’s more than enough. I think (AAPS) should stay out of it. They’ve more than done enough,” said Joanne Kristensen, mother of Pioneer kicker Eric Kristensen. “With the MHSAA doing their suspension, that was fine and I don’t think the AAPS needs to interfere anymore.

“Let the coaches do their job, let them sort it out, and let the principals and ADs do it.”

Kristensen was even sympathetic toward Pioneer assistant coach Vince Wortmann, presumed to be the coach who struck Gildersleeve as Gildersleeve confronted Test following last Friday’s game. Though district officials and Wortmann have all declined to comment on if he is in fact the assistant who has been fired, he was not at Pioneer's game on Friday and multiple sources have indicated Wortmann was indeed the coach let go.

“Coach Vince, our assistant was out of line, but not everyone knows that coach Test is like a father to him,” Kristensen said.

Though not much went right for Burkholder’s team on Friday, he said when the ball was finally kicked off there was a sense of relief. Relief that the teams could, if just for a moment, just get back to playing football.

“Last week was an unfortunate situation, which is the understatement of all understatements,” Burkholder said. “When we kicked off it felt like, ‘ok it was over, time to move one’, It did feel good, no doubt about it.”

-- Matt Durr and Kyle Austin contributed to this article.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be contacted at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.

Comments

Gerry

Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 12:42 p.m.

Hearing comments like what were quoted from parents in the article, I'm not suprised that their kids acted so poorly. Teams who get into fights should not play. Coaches who start fights should be relieved of both their coaching AND teaching duties. But trying to teach kids positive life lessons on the football field is futile if they are not being taught that way at home. This whole thing is nauseating.

jpud

Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 1:35 p.m.

Feel free to move on anytime, the fields are for rent and if you don't want the school district or community involved, go ahead and start a private team. As long as you use taxpayer money to represent our community, you can be held accountable to the behavior standards of the community. It is just that simple.

Alex D

Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 4:35 a.m.

We should move on with our lives and start talking about something else. Maybe Ann Arbor isn't as bad as annarbor.com makes it seem, given that the biggest story in the past week in Ann Arbor has been high school brawl.

EyeHeartA2

Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 2:21 a.m.

Wait, WHAT? There was a fight? First I heard of it. Except for the other 372,942,387 articles. Also, any news on Camp Take Notice? or Jenny's Farm Market? 'cause it HAS been awhile.....I'm just sayin'

Barb's Mom

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 9:15 p.m.

I thought I read somewhere that this all started because a "freshman" quarterback misunderstood the signals. If this is true that a Freshman was playing on the Varsity team, then that just eliminated the need to keep Freshman Football. AAPS can eliminate it and save money just like they want to do in all the other Freshmen Sports teams.

say it plain

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 11:57 p.m.

Ah, good point! But the reason I thought they'd cited wanting to keep freshman football-as opposed to how they were willing to cut freshman teams in all other sports--was because it would be a 'safety' hazard to the young players to try and play with the bigger kids in general, and that they needed freshman ball to get the young ones 'up to speed' in a safe place before going out there and dealing with the dangers of the game.

Classof2014

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 6:29 p.m.

Ok, thank God this is over and taken care of. Yes, I would have liked to have seen more punishment for the 2 teams, but whatever. Let's let this story die and move on to more important things.

Brad

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.

The call to "move on" rings out!

all-blue

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 4:55 p.m.

Thought it was very interesting at the Dexter / Jackson NW. game last night. Dexter leading 13-6 had the ball on the JNW 7 yard line with a min. to go...........They took a knee.

Thoughtful

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 6:25 p.m.

Good for Dexter. Let them take the win.

Unusual Suspect

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.

That's just pure strategy. Any other play would carry the risk of a fumble or interception that could result in a touchdown the other way and a loss.

thecompound

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.

These stories are just getting ridiculous, but I see the watchdogs are out. Wonder if some of these folks will continue commenting once this blows over? (and AAPS is counting on it to blow over), lol.

J. A. Pieper

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 11:26 p.m.

You are so right, they are counting on this blowing over, and hoping no one will remember! Just what AAPS likes to have happen!

Brad

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 3:19 p.m.

Still waiting for that video, AAPS. It will come out eventually. You might as well cough it up "voluntarily". But you won't.

Alex D

Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 4:30 a.m.

I think your just nosey

Brad

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 11:51 p.m.

@kathy - I want the public to be able to see it so that they get a chance to see the events and judge for themselves whether AAPS has taken appropriate action. That is the transparency I speak of. AAPS has video and they are a public entity, so why are they seemingly hiding it?

Boohoo

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 11:13 p.m.

Nice I agree KC, the fix? Is it really that big of a deal? Enlighten me.

kathy coles

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 11:08 p.m.

It was a public game, pay the $5.00 to get in and you could have seen the game. Do you want to see the film for all the other games these two teams played during the rest of the season or just this one because there was a fight at the end?

Bashir McCrutcheon

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 7:55 p.m.

don't sweat it, the fix is in, lol

Brad

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.

Down votes for disclosure and transparency, eh? You don't think the public is entitled to see what happened at that game? If you don't, why?

say it plain

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 2:59 p.m.

Clearly parents are a huge part of the problem. People like the Pio parent, wishing that AAPS would *stay out of it*?! I would *love* to see AAPS stay out of it...meaning, stay out of caring so much about Football! Given what these programs are clearly teaching kids--that winning means everything and it's cool to be uncivil and chest-beating--it would be better for *everyone* if that was totally "out"side of the tax-payers schools and left to parent-run leagues dedicated to the pursuit of whatever it is they think they're pursuing with this game. We can sooo see who rules the roost in Ann Arbor, those who seem to believe their kids putting on the uniforms and win-win-winning is more important than being held responsible for their nasty conduct. Looks real good from the outside...NOT. Ann Arbor is just getting faker and faker in its alleged status as a 'cool' and 'different' place, worthy to attract residents from the more progressive and peace-loving (or even reasonably intelligent) corners of the world! Ah, but the deep human interest story implicit in the comments from the parent about how the fired Pioneer coach thought of Test as a 'father' lol...I realize reality-TV may be causing people to think that reality-reality should be similarly 'played' for maximum drama, but, still...over the line with a shove is over the line with a shove. Poor sportsmanship--and of course, it's not merely running up scores that's relevant here, but displays of various sorts, like the coach on the shoulders cuteness the dexter-game week, the laughing at huron's huddle, and so on--should have consequences too, but, alas, around here, not so much! I do hope that as a counter, if there is clear evidence about who was involved in the alleged assault with a *weapon*, that this person is charged with something criminally. Because otherwise doing the same thing in a bar brawl should also be brushed aside as "oh, c'mon, it was a heated moment!"

J. A. Pieper

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 11:23 p.m.

All you parents and community members who are commenting, the real issue here is simply that AAPS was embarrassed about this happening in their community. They think they are so perfect, in every way, and this is a chip in their reputation. Unfortunately for AAPS, they couldn't hide it under the rug, as they do with so much of the things that go on in the district, because the police were there! They have hidden the cases where a gun has been brought to school, among other things. Like they hide academic problems, and won't release their count day totals, like all other Washtenaw area districts have already done. TRANSPARENCY? What is that?

PhillyCheeseSteak

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.

A separate issue, but worth questioning, "In a season when low numbers was a problem throughout..." Why? Are fewer students participating in sports because the AAPS's 'Pay to Play' policy? AnnArbor.com I think an interesting article would be to compare the numbers of students participating in sports over several years, and also the total population at the high schools over the same period.

EyeHeartA2

Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 2:16 a.m.

No, nothing to due with pay for play. The kids are driven FROM the program.

Basic Bob

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 3:10 p.m.

"Pay to Play" is for families who can't demonstrate poverty.

say it plain

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.

Oh lord, yeah, if perchance there are a couple kids who would improve the "numbers" (and I honestly at first took the "low numbers" line in the above article to be talking about "scoring" problems lol...that they suffered such a big defeat margin, rather than that their roster was even thinner than usual!) in terms of W-L but who couldn't come up with the fees, I'm mostly guessing that they'd be 'taken care of' by the booster spending. If 20 more kids in the district would play football or basketball or whatever and fill the rosters and improve the 'numbers' without a pay-to-play system then with one, should be take more money away from the classrooms for it?!

kms

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 2:42 p.m.

I really agree with arbor army about the parents. And for the record, I am a Skyline parent and our team suffered an embarrassing 50-0 loss at the hands of Pioneer this year. I'm not surprised that the Huron parents reaction is for Pioneer to be suspended from play-offs which would punish them more harshly. Then they are decrying that the athlete suspensions were unfair because it seems more Huron students were affected. The Pioneer coach who shoved Gildersleeve was fired as he should be. But from reading the comments, it seems that the Huron community is taking more of a victim role in this and hardly even acknowledging any responsibility. Do they expect more restraint from Pioneer than they do other teams? Test was raked over the coals for bad sportsmanship for allowing his players to continue to play until the game ended. Gildersleeve became enraged over this and started screaming. (And the score wasn't even all that bad, certainly compared to our loss) Does this bother any Huron parents? Do they think all teams should take a knee or only Pioneer?

Orangecrush2000

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 6:34 p.m.

"...Gildersleve became enraged...and started screaming..." This sounds like a "page" out of Dottie Davis's "book," when she thinks someone parked in her parking space, etc,... Like Davis, like Gildersleve.... It's no wonder.

Boohoo

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 3 p.m.

Agree, with the exception of the suspensions it appears they were equal, I actually know parents of both teams affected.

Pat

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 2:20 p.m.

Can we say goodbye to Gildersleeve now? I can't think of a positive contribution that he has made since he arrived. He has only embarassed the school on and off the field.

kathy coles

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 2:15 p.m.

I guess I have learned to never talk to annarbor.com. After a long phone conversation with Kyle you chose to print one thing I said? How about why I felt that Pioneer should have lost playoff chance, or the question that was asked of me about if I felt my son was safe on the field with the Huron coaches? Which that answer was YES, these coaches care about these kids. Or an even better question that was asked of me was do I think it is fair that the head coaches should be allowed to coach these kids during practice - I stated I didn't know what was happening on the Pioneer side, but on the Huron side that coach Gildersleeve had been there on Monday and Tuesday because the boys were meeting with the AD and he was there also to talk about what had happened and to be there if the boys had any questions I also stated he was at the practices the rest of the week for the boys but he stood on the sidelines and let the other coaches do the coaching. It is a shame that you pick and choose what to print and only take bits and parts to make it sound totally different then what was said. Even in your story you make it sound as if Will Harris was suspended, he was not suspended he did not play because of injuries from the Pioneer-Huron game. As for players that were suspended they were not at the game last night.

cette

Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 12:22 p.m.

I don't think Kyle F. did your conversation a disservice.

kathy coles

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.

I took responsibility for what I said and posted it here since they chose not to report what I said. If they didn't want to know how I felt why did they ask me the other questions or ask me to expand on the reason I felt that Pioneer should lose the chance to go to the playoffs?

kms

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.

Journalists will always use a more provocative quote over a more mundane one. But with all due respect, wouldn't it be better to just take responsibility for what you said rather than blame the reporter or worse, calling him "useless"?

Pete Cunningham

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 7:12 p.m.

As stated in the article, eight players were suspended and "another two were out with injuries." Will Harris sat out with an injury.

felicia

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 7:02 p.m.

kyle was useless in our phone conversation as well.

Boohoo

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.

Hope everyone involved learned a "lesson" or two.

arborarmy

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 2:09 p.m.

This is proof that the parents are as much the problem as the coaches. Indeed, the players were, apparently, raised in homes where this kind of conduct is no big deal. I'm betting these parents don't hold their little darlings responsible for their academic conduct, either. Denial is not a river in Egypt

Unusual Suspect

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 5:31 p.m.

The behavior allowed by most parents these days is appalling.

Boohoo

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.

Good thing your not betting in Vegas! Just ensure you raise your children right, and you won't have this issue, ha!

Billy Bob Schwartz

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 2:06 p.m.

Dan Burkholder is a fine man and a terrific coach. Will he be head coach next year? Just wondering. I doubt that he would teach players to fight after a game.

Thoughtful

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.

Pioneer had half as many suspensions. Slap on the wrist.

alarictoo

Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.

Since we will never see the tapes, we will never know what the disparity was.

Boohoo

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 10:01 p.m.

Facts are few and far between on these blogs, ill take your information with a grain of salt though.

Thoughtful

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 6:19 p.m.

Not the facts. Pioneer had 4' Huron had 8. Not here say. Facts.

Boohoo

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.

Pioneer had 3 and Huron had 3, other were injuries and players quitting, simple math, not half.

kms

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.

37-0 is an even bigger loss than Huron suffered at the hands of Pioneer. Did John Glen take a knee in the 4th quarter?

alarictoo

Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.

Actually, @Thoughtful, according to the annarbor.com article that I saw the player himself chose not to play in that game. It was not a decision by Huron's athletic staff. Though it probably should have been...

Thoughtful

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 6:28 p.m.

Huron wouldn't let one of their kids play due to the bounty on him in the locker room at John Glen. He used to go there.

kms

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 2:10 p.m.

@towncryer: Many commentors have been raking Test over the coals for his glaringly bad sportsmanship in allowing his players to continue to make offensive plays in the 4th quarter. I was asking if the Huron community expects other teams to back off or do they only expect restraint from Pioneer? I think that's a fair question.I don't have a dog in this fight ...I'm just reading the articles and comments

Thoughtful

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.

Pioneer was only missing 4 slackers, Huron was missing 8.

towncryer

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.

Really? I thought everyone just wanted to move on?

Boohoo

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 12:38 p.m.

Pioneer players weren't allowed to go to the game though it looks like the Huron players were allowed to go just not suit?

barb

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.

Thanks for the info boohoo, I will check it out. Not sure why everyone's panties are in a wad just because I asked a question, but with this crowd it doesn't surprise me.

Boohoo

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 2:53 p.m.

Punishments should be the same, both coaches weren't allowed to go to the game though they both were allowed to attend practices. If you read the articles for the results from both teams you will be able to see where I get "looks like", a total of 3 articles. Both teams players should've been either not allowed to go to the game or go and not suit up..

barb

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 2:23 p.m.

How do you get "looks like" from this article or pictures? Is it in the game article?

Thoughtful

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 1:59 p.m.

Test was allowed to go to practice, even though he's "suspended". When a kid gets suspended from school, does he still get to go?

felicia

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 7:37 a.m.

Only two kids from pioneer were fighting????????????????????????

Boohoo

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 9:57 p.m.

If your son plays for Pioneer, and you are both unhappy with it, why not part ways. Kind of odd to go through the program for all 4 years and complain...the entire time.....best thing to do is find a program that fit your standards and that would've been best for your son.

felicia

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 7:05 p.m.

So that bring the total of 12 kids who have quit pioneer during the course of the season. HMMMMMMMMM SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN

Bashir McCrutcheon

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 6:14 p.m.

someone getting testy on here, lol

Boohoo

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 3:03 p.m.

Actually 3 were missing for suspension, 2 quit, you must not frequent the games often, though I am sure they appreciated your support.

felicia

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 1:55 p.m.

I was at the game last night...only two players were out

Bashir McCrutcheon

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 1:34 p.m.

why do you give out hurons suspension number (8) but pioneer is only several? name taped to helmet really shows lesson was learned, lol

Pete Cunningham

Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 9:52 a.m.

That's not what this article states. The two players mentioned are two defensive standouts that did not play on Friday. They were not the only two that did not play on Friday.

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