CLEVELAND - An investigation by the Cleveland Catholic Diocese into the swastika incident during a Lake Catholic High School soccer game vs. Orange High School determined it was a prank started by a Lake Catholic player. Based on the evidence, this is what they determined what happened.
Prior to the game, a Lake Catholic player, in an attempt to play a prank on three other Lake Catholic players and without thinking through the possible consequences, drew a swastika on his hand with eye black and pressed his hand on the arms of two players and the back of the calf of a third player, thereby transferring the image of the swastika onto those other players.
The two players with the mark on their arms became aware of the mark on their arms prior to the game commencing and rubbed the mark off. The player with the mark on his calf was unaware of what was on his leg when he took the field of play and remained unaware until it was brought to his attention during the course of the game. The mark was subsequently removed with the help of teammates.
The player who stamped the mark on the other players has cooperated fully in the investigation, has expressed sorrow at his actions and the hurt caused as a result, and is willing to accept responsibility for his actions. The diocese unable to find any evidence that any Lake Catholic player uttered any anti-Semitic slur or remark despite commentary to the contrary. Although it was alleged in a secondhand account that a player for Orange reported hearing a Lake Catholic staff member use an anti-Semitic slur during the game, no eyewitness came forward to testify or provide a statement about this allegation and no official, coach, or athlete reported hearing it. Consequently, they were unable to determine whether this occurred.
The player responsible for putting the mark on his teammates (a senior) was prohibited from participating in commencement exercises and will not receive his diploma and final transcript until he completes community service assigned by the school and participates in the team programming described below. The entire 2022 lacrosse team will be required to attend a program developed by the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in the coming weeks. The program will include both instructive and restorative elements. (Graduated seniors will not receive their final transcripts unless the program is completed.)
WTAM News reported earlier that the head soccer coach at Lake Catholic High School has resigned.
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