Antioch High School's varsity football team, having achieved a strong season record, will now be unable to quickly savor the taste of victory in their upcoming game, due to a decision made public on Thursday. The team was set to face Liberty High School, but following an incident involving the team's conduct, a first step toward holding students accountable led to the forfeiture of the game. According to a social media post made available by the high school, Principal John Jimno expressed regret over the necessity of this action, emphasizing a commitment to accountability and the values the school holds dear.
In the wake of the disappointment that surely follows such a decision, the principal wrote in his statement, "While I am legally prohibited from sharing specific details about the incident, I can confirm that the matter involves a significant portion of the varsity football team." This came after a now-deleted video had surfaced online, showing a student on the ground in the locker room while others participated in actions unbecoming of the school's norms. As per Jimno's letter, the team won seven of eight games before this incident, but the necessary enforcement of standards has led to them sharing a 7-2 overall record, now on par with the Liberty High School Lions, as reported by Antioch High School's Facebook post.
Furthermore, principal Jimno's letter, which KTVU reported on, stated that the forfeiture of Thursday night’s game is "only the first step in ensuring that our Code of Conduct is upheld." Highlighting the gravity of the school's expectations and the privilege of participation in athletics, the principal underscored the importance of personal integrity alongside academic effort. These are considered non-negotiable standards that, when not met by student-athletes, reap consequences such as game forfeiture.
