Tumwater athletes suspended

Tumwater High School’s football and volleyball teams could be without several players today because of suspensions or dismissals.

The number of players disciplined was not released because of an ongoing investigation into violations of the school’s athletic code, athletic director Tim Graham said Thursday afternoon.

Multiple sources told The Olympian a party took place last weekend involving players from both teams.

“We are continuing our fact-finding on a few athletic code violations,” Graham said via text message. “The consequences will range from suspensions to removal (from the team). It will affect the football and volleyball teams.”

Tumwater’s football team (9-1 overall) is in the Class 2A state playoffs and hosts Steilacoom at 7 tonight at Tumwater District Stadium.

The volleyball team, which is 17-0, begins play at the 2A state volleyball tournament today at Pierce College in Lakewood.

According to Tumwater High School’s athletic code, players can be disciplined for unsportsmanlike conduct (including disruption, fighting, vulgarity, verbal abuse, etc.); a violation of school policies and/or school disruption; involvement in criminal offenses; attending social functions where minors are illegally using a prohibited substance or consumption, possession, transmission or selling of the following prohibited substances: alcoholic beverages, drugs (including anabolic steroids), look-alike drugs, narcotics or tobacco (including chewing tobacco).