(9-8-26) The Illinois High School Athletic Association (IHSA) has opened an investigation following a September 8 report from Homewood-Flossmoor High School regarding unacceptable words and actions directed toward its student-athletes at a cross country meet on September 5.

Every student-athlete deserves a safe and respectful environment to compete. Demeaning words and actions will not be tolerated.

This follows an incident that took place at a football game between Homewood-Flossmoor and Lincoln-Way East Friday night.

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According to the schedule H-F competed at the Mike Kuharic Invitational at Lyons Township HS on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Homewood-Flossmoor High School said there was a second incident with the Lincoln-Way East Girl’s Cross Country Team at during the invitational.

a spokesperson for Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210

“Lincoln-Way’s administration learned that, prior to the meet on Saturday morning, Lincoln-Way East coaches merely recounted a well-known story about an area of the Lyons Township course referred to as “the jungle,” This area is labeled as such on publicly available maps of the course. According to the coaching staff and student-athletes, at the time of the meet Saturday morning, they were not even aware of the events that took place on Friday.

After concluding its investigation into the cross-country meet allegations, the Lincoln-Way administration is confident that neither its staff nor student athletes intended to harass, intimidate or offend any of their competitors or those competitors’ families. Nevertheless, the entire Lincoln-Way school community recognizes the impact and sensitivity of the matter, particularly after the egregious and intolerable behavior displayed by certain Lincoln-Way East students during Friday’s football game.”