Parent Says Hills Players Have Sacrificed 'Way More' Than Their Opponents

WAYNE, N.J. — The issue of Wayne Hills returning to the state playoffs has again brought up the idea that something like high school football could divide a town.

Video of a closed-door meeting Superintendent Mark Toback and Principal Maureen Weir had with players and their parents has surfaced. The video shows the father of a player screaming at Toback while defending his son and making remarks about other players and parents — including Wayne Valley High School’s.

“I can tell you for sure that my son, and all of the boys here, have sacrificed way beyond, way beyond, all of the other programs we’ve beaten, that’s the bottom line,” the father said in a round of applause. “Why don’t you ask one of those parents at Wayne Valley to send their son as a transfer student and wait 30 days and then pay the price to be a victorious champion. That’s what this is about.”

RELATED: High School Team Back In The State Playoffs

Five years ago, nine Wayne Hills players were arrested and charged with assault after police said they attacked two Wayne Valley High School players after a Halloween party.

That incident was followed by accusations of favoritism by parents of children who play other sports, many of whom said that because it was the eight-time state champions, and their coach, Chris Olsen, who were at the center of the controversy. The players were allowed to play in the team’s first two playoff games, but were banned from the championship game at MetLife stadium. Hills won on a late touchdown.

The family of one of those players said that the town is again divided and that the victim continues to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The person said that Wayne Valley alumni and students are “in disbelief” that the decision could be overturned.

The closed-door meeting was held after it was announced the team was banned from the postseason after the district learned that two varsity players — Tyler and Hunter Hayek — played the entire season without filing a bona fide change of address form, officials said. District officials reported the violations to the NJSIAA, the state’s governing body on high school sports.

The district, players, and parents appealed the decision to the state Department of Education and a stay was placed on the ban. The state also permitted the Hayek brothers to play for the rest of the postseason.

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