David Bridges
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind.– A video circulating social media caused uproar in the Penn High School community. Now, a coach is no longer with the team while the school looks into the matter.
Since the video led to an investigation, it also led to former volleyball players coming forward with allegations of mental abuse, with some saying the head coach made them quit the team.
A cell phone video showed a Penn High School player dancing on the sidelines during a volleyball match, wearing part of a costume. Coach Lisa Pawlik appears to be grabbing at the hat and the student’s jersey, jerking her backward.
The controversy brought some former Penn athletes, like Riley Niedbalski, to admit they quit the team because of the head coach.
“I was being mentally and physically and emotionally abused by the head coach,” Niedbalski alleged. “She made me play on my back, even when it was hurt. And she would force players to play even though they were hurt.”
While some parents believe the video was taken out of context, Penn graduate and former player Taylor Hostetler said issues with Coach Pawlik were common.
“She saw food as something that was taking away our energy rather than fueling us,” Hostetler said. “She blamed losses on players.”
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