O’Neal Bans Former Student from Competing on Visiting Swim Team

In a move that challenges the principles of fair play in sports, The O’Neal School’s administration banned a visiting student athlete and his family from participating in a swim meet just days after John Elmore responded to the community about the launch of this website.

Last year the Stefanik family faced a distressing series of events when their son was assaulted, unjustly expelled from school, and subsequently barred from participating in the O’Neal Aquatics team, a program notably open to the public. Overcoming these challenges, their son joined a new swim team and after three months of dedicated training his team was invited to a meet at The O’Neal School campus pool.  Eager to showcase his resilience and skill, the former student had been rigorously preparing to compete in multiple relay races and individual events.

However, on the eve of the competition, the student’s family received startling news from their head coach Chrissy Hicks.  Jen Schmitz, the Director of O’Neal Aquatics, had expressed reservations on the phone about the athlete attending the meet. Despite Coach Hicks’ advocacy for her athlete’s right to compete, the school’s decision was unwavering.  In a follow-up email Coach Hicks conveyed the distressing update: not only was the former student barred from competing, but the parents were also prohibited from being on deck effectively excluding the entire family from participating in or supporting their new team.

“I WAS JUST CALLED BY THE HEAD COACH OF THE O’NEAL HIGH SCHOOL TEAM, JENNIFER SCHMITZ. SHE INFORMED ME SHE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR THAT [YOUR SON] IS NOT ALLOWED TO SWIM AT THE DUAL MEET TOMORROW, JAN 18, 2024, BETWEEN O’NEAL, THE FAYETTEVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL AND OUR TEAM, THE MOORE COUNTY HOMESCHOOL AQUATICS AT THE O’NEAL SWIMMING FACILITY. FURTHERMORE, YOU, AS HIS PARENTS, ARE NOT ALLOWED ON DECK. I AM SO SORRY ABOUT THIS.” – COACH HICKS

This incident establishes a disturbing precedent at O’Neal which has been recognized as a leading athletics program among NCISAA schools within its division. The decision to selectively remove a member of an invited team just hours before a competition is a clear demonstration of their belief in manipulating the rules for their advantage.  This particular action, resulting in the exclusion of a key swimmer from the visiting team, not only influenced the meet’s outcome but also tarnished the reputation of O’Neal’s celebrated athletic achievements. Additionally, this response appears to be a deliberate act of retaliation against the Stefanik family who had previously challenged the school’s administrative misconduct.

Imagine if this practice were to be adopted universally across all levels of sports, from amateur leagues to professional competitions. The essence of sports rooted in fairness and equal opportunity would be fundamentally undermined. Teams could strategically exclude key players from rival teams destroying the integrity and competitive spirit that are foundational to true athletic competitions.  It would create a sports culture where victory was not earned through skill and teamwork but instead engineered through exclusionary tactics.

Jen Schmitz’s role in this matter is also particularly troubling. Having taught the Stefanik’s son to swim from a young age and being fully aware of the circumstances surrounding his injuries, her apparent lack of support and empathy is notably disheartening.  More importantly, her involvement in enforcing the ban makes her a direct participant in what appears to be another retaliatory practice carried out by The O’Neal School.  While we are sympathetic to the challenges faced by teachers and staff in standing up to this administration, there remains a fundamental responsibility for them to protect and advocate for the welfare of the children who they have authority over. Jen Schmitz’s decision to proceed with an unethical act when she had the opportunity to object implicates her directly in the school’s pattern of questionable behavior.

Please take a moment to consider the ramifications of these events and realize that a departure from this school may have lasting repercussions for student athletes.  Such a possibility further underscores the need for accountability and a re-evaluation of the values and practices upheld at The O’Neal School.