### Cheer Coach's Punishment Leaves Middle Schoolers with Severe Burns

In Lubbock, Texas, thirteen eighth-grade cheerleaders from Evans Middle School have sustained first and second-degree burns on their hands following an extreme disciplinary action by their cheer coach. The girls, members of the school's "red" cheer team, report that they were made to perform "bear crawls" and "crab walks" on a blazingly hot outdoor track due to their execution of an unapproved cheer during a football game. The cheerleading coach deemed this performance "disrespectful."

Angel Thompson, a mother of one of the injured cheerleaders, recounted a worrying conversation with her daughter about the incident. "I had asked [my daughter], 'Are you okay? How was school?' She showed me her burned hands and explained that they were punished," Thompson said. The distressing events unfolded when the students were ordered to complete the intense physical punishment at approximately 2 p.m. under the scorching sun, which had heated the track to at least 125 degrees, based on a parent's verification.

The cheerleaders reported the unbearable pain from their burning hands to their coach, but were allegedly told to continue. The increased heat and physical strain led several girls to become physically ill, forcing some to stop after just two laps, though they were initially instructed to complete a mile. The severity of the burns was such that one cheerleader required attention at the University Medical Center burn unit, and others sought help from the school nurse.

Parents were not informed by the school about their daughters' injuries, a matter that has added to their grievances. One anonymous mother described the coach's actions as both "malicious" and "intentional." According to the parents, the coach also threatened the cheerleaders' future in the sport if they did not complete the punishment.

In response to these disturbing developments, the Lubbock Independent School District (LISD) has placed the coach on administrative leave while an investigation is underway. The district released a statement expressing their heartbreak over the incident, reaffirming their commitment to student safety and well-being, and promising a thorough review to prevent such occurrences in the future.

Parents of the affected cheerleaders are pursuing criminal charges against the coach, seeking justice for the distress and physical harm their children endured. The LISD maintains that this punishment was against the district’s policies, and stresses that they will adhere to their protocols and applicable laws in addressing the issue.