A Palm Desert High School water polo coach and several players were disciplined for a hazing incident in which a freshman was duct-taped to a stretcher.
A surveillance tape showed the incident took place Tuesday morning at the school pool. The junior varsity coach and eight to 10 players were disciplined, Principal Pat Walsh said.
Walsh declined to describe the discipline but Athletic Director Christina Osborne said “there will be individuals who will not be on (the pool) deck for the season.”
Walsh said older players bound the player to a stretcher and one threw an unused con-dom at the boy’s face.
The principal said coaches will meet with athletes to remind them of “appropriate behavior” and he will meet with the parents of the water polo players.
“We don’t tolerate any behavior where a student or athlete is being treated in a demeaning manner,” Walsh said.
On Wednesday, the team lost to Cathedral City, 15-3. It was the first league match the team has lost since 1997.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 14, 2006. Read the original PDF.