Cheerleaders benched for talking during National Anthem

CASTALIA — Margaretta High School cheerleaders were punished for talking during the National Anthem at a recent basketball game, according to Margaretta Schools superintendent Dennis Mock.The incident allegedly occurred during Friday night's basketball game and involved multiple cheerleaders. The cheerleaders were benched for Saturday's basketball game, Mock said.Mock told the Register he wasn't aware of the complaint until Monday when district athletic director Gary Barrett told him. Mock also said Barrett talked about the incident with the cheerleading coach.Barrett said he and the building principal had the complaints "with things that we witnessed" concerning the incident."There were no complaints outside of myself and the building principal," Barrett said.When the Register learned of the incident it was told that veterans in the audience complained about students talking during the anthem. But Barrett said he was not aware of and veterans or other community members who complained."(Residents taking issue with talking during the anthem) was suggested to me today, but I can tell you no one else has brought this to my attention," Barrett said.Barrett said there is not a written school policy stating students must stand and sing and not talk during the National Anthem.Barrett repeatedly refused to comment on the students' discipline for the incident, but said this hasn't been an issue before."We have not had an issue and again I'm not going to comment whether they were punished or not because again I can not speak on discipline," he said. When asked if Barrett knew first-hand the cheerleaders were punished, he said: "Well I know what happened, so it's not whether it's my understanding or not."When asked if students will be punished in the future for talking during the National Anthem, Barrett declined to comment further.Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhood