Iola High’s Mustangs played their final regular-season doubleheader Friday at Columbus and head into Monday’s Kansas Class 4A regional baseball tournament without their starting catcher.
Senior Drew Walden was among a group of Iola High students cited for consuming alcohol at a party Wednesday night in the 1700 block of Nebraska Road. Walden has been the starting catcher for the Mustangs the past two seasons.
“Yes, Drew is suspended from play for a week from the time the citation was issued,” Mustang head baseball coach Mark Percy told the Register Friday morning. “That means through Tuesday.”
Walden will miss the regional tournament games unless the games are pushed past Wednesday because of rain. Walden would be eligible to rejoin the baseball team If the Mustangs win the 4A regional and qualify for the state tournament .
Iola High principal David Grover provided the Register a copy of the Iola High student activity policy.
As per school policy, any student involved in any activity sanctioned by Kansas State High School Activities Association and offered at Iola High faces suspension for violations.
The rule says during the season of practice and competitive play, regardless of quantity, a student shall not 1) use or consume, have in possession, buy, sell or give away alcoholic beverages, marijuana or any controlled substance, 2) use any tobacco product, including chewing tobacco.
If a violation is substantiated, the penalty for a first violation is the student will be ineligible for one week and not less than one interscholastic event.
Several other IHS athletes also were cited but they are not still competing in a sport for Iola.
