News

Seven Saugus athletes suspended for lighting cigars at graduation

SAUGUS, Mass. - Seven Saugus High School athletes were suspended from taking the field for their postseason tournament games for lighting cigars at graduation.

One baseball player and six lacrosse players have been suspended from postseason play for the incident, all after following what other players called a "tradition."

"It's just sad, it hurts us hard," Saugus lacrosse player Mario Desimone said. "There's been a tradition at Saugus High that they smoke cigars after graduation."

Desimone said, because it's a tradition, that his teammates didn't think anything of the situation when they lit up cigars to celebrate.

"They didn't know, it's not their fault I don't think," Desimone said. "It hurts them because they're working so hard for this and they can't play."

Another graduating senior, Sydney Stevenson, said no one else has been punished for the move in other years.

"Everyone is pissed," Stevenson said. "Every other year, kids have done it and there's no penalties."

The athletes found themselves in trouble after the moment was caught on camera by a local newspaper and reported to administrators.

"You're caught," Saugus Superintendent David DeRuosi said. "It was reported, it came out, school officials had to take action."

DeRuosi said the students not only violated the tobacco-free policy at a school-sanctioned event, but also MIAA rules as athletes.

"If we did not take action, then the odds are we would forfeit games," DeRuosi said.

Parents are convinced the school could've found another solution for the seniors who, they believe, didn't know they were in the wrong.

"It's way too much," Elizabeth Kalivas said. "I think we need to let the parents raise them."

Another parent said the school overreacted with the move.

"They're good kids and stuff like that," John Mellone said. "I think they went a little overboard with it."

Some of the suspended lacrosse players will be at the team's game in the first round of the Division 3 North tournament against Pentucket Regional High School on Tuesday.

One school committee member took to social media following the suspensions to blame the school for sending mixed messages to students with the policy.

DeRuosi said the school will make the tobacco-free policy very clear to students from here on out.