Kewaskum Residents Raise Concerns About Volleyball Coach

The Kewaskum School board held their regular meeting on Oct, 28 at 6 p.m. at the Kewaskum High School. Individuals came forward during the public comment portion of the meeting to raise their concerns about the the current Varsity Volleyball Coach.

Lisa Cannestra, a parent of a senior who left the varsity team mid season said, “We are deeply concerned about the toxic environment within the volleyball program that led to five senior girls, my daughter included, walking away mid-season.”

She went into more detail about her daughters experience saying “After the game on Oct. 1, five senior girls, including my daughter, were asked by the head coach to stay behind and the rest of the team was dismissed. The seniors report they were terrified of what was going to happen and what the head coach was going to do because she was so mad. The conversation that occurred on Oct. 1 was recorded by two of the senior girls because of perceived threat and being scared. My daughter arrived home that night visibly upset. She allowed me to hear the recording and stated the recording was not entirely different from other interactions with the head coach.”

She recapped her request for a meeting with administration stating, “I expected the school administration to prioritize student safety and the concerns that I identified as a parent, but they did not. Parents raised concern for safety on Friday, Oct. 2. My daughter was interviewed about student conduct issues on Friday, Oct. 2. All senior girls were met with regarding their student misconduct, not any coaching concerns and subsequently directed to delete the recorded evidence of the interaction on Monday, Oct. 5. The two senior girls were served with suspensions on Monday, Oct. 5. The first parent meeting made available to any of the senior parents was after all of that. I did not meet with the athletic director for the first time until Thursday, Oct. 8.”

One of the seniors on the team who chose to leave also shared her experience saying,

“I politely and maturely approached the athletic director with concerns about the future of the program because multiple underclassmen had come to me saying they no longer wanted to be part of the program due to the staff’s actions. It stuns me that this administration wants student advocacy, but when students advocate for themselves, they are left feeling like idiots and as though they have no voice. The manipulation, vulgar language and emotional abuse we have received are things that should never come out of a coach’s mouth. As a coach, you should be working to build confidence and character within your players. This coaching staff has failed to do so, and that is why they no longer deserve the title of coach.”

There was no action taken or statement made by the board or administration at this time as it was said during public comment and no action or rebuttle is allowed.