Texas high school cheerleaders suffered first-degree burns after being “punished” by their own coach.
On Wednesday, the eighth-grade head cheerleading coach at Evans Middle School in Lubbock forced the team to perform “bear tanks” and “crab walks” on a hot outdoor track.
“We told her our hands were on fire and she said she didn't care,” said one All in Lubbock cheerleader. “She forced us to get back on track.”
The girls claim they were punished after they cheered on a school soccer match, which the coach deemed “disrespectful” and did not want.
Eighth-grade cheerleaders at Evans High School in Lubbock, Texas, suffered first- and second-degree burns after being “penalized” by their own coach
The coach made them disciplined after the team cheered during a high school football game, which the coach deemed “disrespectful” and did not want
The girls' parents said their future was in jeopardy if they failed to complete laps of the red-hot track
She allegedly demanded that the girls lie on the floor and then told them to crawl and crab walk for an entire mile, or four full laps of the track.
Some of the girls were unable to complete the penalty – stopping after two laps due to pain. Some even became physically ill.
When Angel Thompson, the mother of one of the cheerleaders, asked her daughter how her day at school was, the middle schooler put her things in the car, went to sit down and replied, “Mom, do you want to know how my day was?” Was he happy?
According to Everything Lubbock, she showed her mother her hands, which had developed blisters.
When a parent went to the school that afternoon to check the track temperature, she noticed that it had reached a whopping 125 degrees.
The girls were forced to perform exercises over a distance of a mile, or four laps of the track, but some of them stopped after the second due to pain and some even became physically ill
Some of the girls complained that it hurt, but their coach replied that she “didn't care” and told them to continue
At least one of the girls had to be taken to University Medical Center to the burn unit
The parents also told the outlet that their coach allegedly threatened the girls with their future careers if they did not comply with the cruel and unusual punishment.
Although some of the girls were examined by the school nurse, no call was ever made to inform their families of their injuries.
Instead, the cheerleaders returned home, where their parents were finally notified of their terrible day.
The cheerleaders returned home with first- and second-degree burns, and at least one of them had to be evaluated at University Medical Center's burn unit.
It was malicious. It was intentional,” said the mother of one of the girls.
Angel Thompson, one of their mothers, became emotional in an interview when she recalled her daughter getting into the car after school and showing her mother her hands full of burns and blisters
The coach, who is also a teacher, has been placed on administrative leave, but parents have launched a police investigation and hope she will face criminal charges
The teacher has been placed on administrative leave, but parents have launched a police investigation and hope to file criminal charges.
Lubbock ISD released a statement after the incident, saying: “We are devastated by these events and the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority.
“This type of incident does not reflect the standards and values of Lubbock ISD and Evans Middle School.
“We want to express our deep concern and regret for the pain and suffering this has caused students and their families.
“No child should ever be the victim of harm in their learning environment and we are fully committed to ensuring that incidents like this do not happen again.”
“Our goal is to maintain a safe, respectful and supportive environment for all students.”
