School officials say JHS wrestler was disciplined appropriately

Allen’s DUI and eligibility to compete in the state wrestling tournament emerged as a topic of discussion this week after a probe by a local television news outlet.

Allen was not involved in any type of school activity during the alleged offense, which came during the system’s snow break in January. The Jefferson senior was suspended from the wrestling program for three days and was given additional punishment within the program, which included extra conditioning.

“He’s been dealt with according to our discipline policy and has been disciplined within the program,” Jefferson High School principal Kevin Smith said.

Smith said that the school usually allows coaches to handle off-campus issues like this that are unrelated to school business.

“Coach (Doug) Thurmond and the coaches within the wrestling program handled it appropriately,” Smith said.

As part of CBS 46’s recurring “Tough Questions” segment, the station sent reporters to Jefferson Tuesday, asking about discipline procedures within the school’s athletic program.

Jefferson superintendent John Jackson, who was interviewed by CBS 46, said the system takes drunken driving very seriously, but added that Allen’s alleged offense was away from the school and not part of anything related to JHS.

Jackson – who didn’t know about the charge until Tuesday -- said that if Allen weren’t an athlete, “the school wouldn’t have likely gotten involved at all.”

“The only reason he was punished (by the school), is because he was an athlete,” Jackson said.

Jackson said that as far as he knows, Allen has never been in trouble prior to the DUI charge.