Twelve members of Walter Johnson’s cross country team were removed from the team and suspended from school on October 4th for drinking on the school-sponsored cross country trip to Williamsburg, Virginia. A teacher overheard a group of girls discussing the drinking in class the following Monday, and reported this to head coach Greg Dunston. Each member was called individually into his office for questioning, and each one of them confessed.

Dunston said, “We called in each member individually and asked them about what happened, and all of them were honest with us.” The drinking that took place came as a surprise to the coaches because on the trip they “had room checks both in the night and the morning,” said Dunston. “We didn’t find anything suspicious, and it turns out the runners smuggled the alcohol in water bottles.”

Dunston immediately made the decision to suspend the students from the cross-country team for the rest of the season. He then referred them to the administration since the drinking happened at a school sponsored function. The twelve students were suspended by the administration for possession and consumption of alcohol.

Above all, Dunston commented on the loss of trust he has in his team. “Coach Martin and I take these trips because we trust our team. We’re not only disappointed in the suspended runners, but in the whole team for allowing the drinking to happen.” The coaches have decided to cancel any trips scheduled for the rest of the season, including an upcoming trip to New York.

Dunston concluded, “I think these kids have really learned that their actions don’t just affect themselves, but also their coaches, parents, teachers, and teammates.”