Tony Sandquist and his family are killing High School Sports.

That is right, I said it. Tony Sandquist his parents and any SE polk fan, that wants to support this kid can kiss my ass.

If you don't know what the fat man is talking about see story below. Basicly kid tells coach he will never be at a party with drugs, beer, etc. He ends up at a party with beer and says well I'm special. BS your not special you a aveage basketball player in the state that has only a few college talent kids and most of them are playing for Ames.

Judge halts S.E. Polk's suspension of player

By TOM WITOSKY and TOMMY BIRCH • twitosky@dmreg.com • March 4, 2010

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Twitter FarkIt Type Size A A A A Polk County judge has prevented Southeast Polk High School from suspending a boys' basketball player from the team for a conduct violation - a ruling that could allow the player to take part in next week's state tournament.

District Judge Michael Huppert issued the injunction Tuesday afternoon, just hours before senior Tony Sandquist, 18, played in Southeast Polk's 50-48 victory over Des Moines Hoover. Sandquist scored eight points in the victory, which earned the Rams a berth in the Class 4-A state tournament.




The legal tussle centers on the question of due process for students suspended from extracurricular activities and whether a school district has the right to complete its process while the student remains suspended.

Under Southeast Polk's policy, a student is immediately suspended and remains suspended during the appeals process.

Jon Garner, the lawyer for Sandquist, said the petition was filed to assure the player had a chance to finish the season while school officials determine whether he is guilty of inappropriate behavior.

But Peter Paschler, an attorney for Southeast Polk, said he will file a motion this week asking that the temporary injunction be lifted or, at minimum, a hearing for arguments on the issue be held as soon as possible.

"We expect to be going (to court) within the next day or two," Paschler said.

Huppert issued the injunction after Garner argued that school officials failed to follow the Southeast Polk student conduct code in suspending Sandquist for attending a party on Friday night at the home of another student where alcohol was found.

Court documents did not outline Huppert's reasons for granting the injunction.

Paschler said Sandquist has failed to follow procedures that exist for appealing a suspension.

"Our position is that the stay should be lifted or set for hearing because we believe the existing due process procedures in place should be allowed to function," Paschler said. "He has not availed himself or taken advantage of the process or exhausted it."

But Sandquist, in an affidavit, said he should be allowed to compete while a determination is being made by school officials.

"To be denied this opportunity when I have not done anything wrong and when I have not been provided the opportunity to fully defend myself and plead my case will cause irreparable harm to my high school athletic experience," Sandquist said in a statement filed in court.

Garner, the player's lawyer, said: "We simply wanted to make sure the proper process and procedure was followed before this young man was punished in any way. We are confident once the process is complete, the facts will demonstrate that he not only acted appropriately, but acted responsibly."

Garner said he advised the Sandquist family not to comment.

Southeast Polk athletic director Kent Horstmann said school officials are unclear about a timetable to resolve the issue. The school's boys' basketball team will play West Des Moines Dowling Catholic at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday in the first round of the state tournament.

"I think it's all in the court's hands at this point," Horstmann said.

Garner said his client was suspended despite the fact that only conflicting evidence existed about whether Sandquist knew there was alcohol on the premises. The lawyer also alleges officials refused to follow two early steps in the appeal process.

Sandquist says he attended the party after the team's victory against Urbandale but did not know alcohol was present because he was tired from the game and had been sleeping in a bedroom for two to three hours.

The affidavit also says Sandquist left the party unnoticed through a side door and started driving home, but decided to return "as I had done nothing wrong and wanted to act responsibly."

Police, who were present by that time, said they would not issue citations and directed students to call their parents for rides home.

Marti Kline, Southeast Polk's community relations director, declined to name any of the participants at the party, but said up to seven students were sanctioned for violations of the conduct code.