Drake issues statement on alleged hazing

By James Barron | The New Mexican
Posted: 2/7/2012, 10:00 PM Mountain time

Ron Drake released a statement Tuesday defending his actions as head girls basketball coach at Española Valley in regards to an alleged hazing incident.

Drake, who is in his fourth year with the program, wrote that the incident was a prank pulled by two players, who were identified as Lauren Quintana and Lilly Martinez by other news reports, on freshman Clarissa Martinez during a trip to North Carolina last June. He did not offer any comment outside of his statement.

Española Valley athletic director Lenny Roybal said the school district is in the final stages of its investigation of the matter.

"I am sure we will have a decision," Roybal said. "It could come possibly [Wednesday]."

The incident occurred June 30 at the University of North Carolina team camp, and Drake wrote he was informed by two of his team captains that a player, later identified as Clarissa Martinez, was upset after discovering her pillow was missing and her shampoo bottle was tampered with.

Upon learning of the incident, Drake talked to the two players, who admitted "pulling a prank," according to the statement. The players said they took Clarissa Martinez's pillow, and mixed soap and shaving cream in her shampoo bottle.

The players felt guilty about it, Drake wrote, and went so far as to replace the tampered shampoo bottle. He emphasized to them he has a "zero tolerance" policy and did not allow Quintana and Lilly Martinez to stay in the same van or room together.

The pair also had to write "I will not pull practical jokes on anyone again" 500 times and run 300 laps in future physical education classes, the statement said. Drake added that he called a team meeting, which appeared to resolve any lingering issues.

Drake's response comes after allegations made by parent Suzie Archuleta, the mother of then-team captain Amanda Maestas, that Clarissa Martinez's pillow was ripped apart, thrown in a toilet and urinated on.

Archuleta also claimed in a Dec. 21, 2011 letter to former Española Superintendent Evelyn Maruska that Maestas was made a scapegoat by the team, which prompted her to leave the program before the season started.

"Consistent with Española High School policy, neither my coaches nor I condone harassment bullying, or hazing of any kind," Drake wrote. "Anyone who coached for or against me will attest to my reputation as a strict disciplinarian. I do not play favorites when it comes to doling out discipline."




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