Hazing allegations by former Louisiana high school athletes; LHSAA investigating

SABINE PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Former students and basketball players allege hazing by the coaches and principal at Zwolle High School.

Kayla Kimbrough, a 12th grader at Pleasant Hills High School who previously attended Zwolle High School, spoke of her experiences with her female basketball coach.

“I was being treated unfairly. She told me I was never going to be nothing, I wasn’t going to make it in college so I might as well not even go. And she threw a water bottle at me intentionally to get my attention one time in the locker room,” said Kayla Kimbrough.

Kayla’s mom, Kimberly Kimbrough, said that she tried to speak to the coach after listening to her daughter.

“I did call her on two incidents in which she lied about it. With the, calling my daughter the A-word and then saying she wasn’t going to amount to nothing. And but she just, she just lied about it,” said Kimberly Kimbrough.

Kimberly Kimbrough claims that she reached out to the principal in 2023 for a meeting, however the meeting was never scheduled.

Ari Wysinger, a 10th grader at Pleasant Hills High School, reported bullying and hazing by his teammates and basketball coach, who is also the school’s principal.

“Some of the players hung one of the freshmen on a hanger last year in the locker room and then me and the other freshman got our shoes peed in and the coach said he’ll wash them but he never did,” said Ari Wysinger.

Kimberly Kimbrough echoed this allegation, saying that her 14-year-old son, who plays basketball, had his shirt torn when he was hung on a hanger.

Wysinger also alleges that the basketball coach/principal would make remarks such as ‘he has a long neck, ”he looks like Frankenstein,’ and ‘he is slow.’

Ari’s mother, Sinissia Wysinger, was also angered by what she was told by her son.

“Don’t be trying to hurt kids because that don’t make no sense. Why- why would you be a principal and be working in the school system, if you don’t care about kids. If all you want to do is hurt kids if they can’t help you. To me that’s not a person who should be a principal or a coach,” said Sinissia Wysinger.

The Sabine Parish Superintendent, Shane Wright, released a statement on the allegations.

“All allegations of hazing or bullying by students or adults are taken seriously, are investigated, and are addressed. Similarly, we do not condone wrongdoing by any parties and expect our students and employees to follow Board policy. I can also advise that certain claims did arise for the first time after an LHSAA eligibility investigation and ruling. Those allegations are being reviewed at this time.”

Shane Wright, Superintendent, Sabine Parish School Board.