MSHSL investigating complaint towards St. Thomas swimming instruct’s actions at state meet

A complaint lodged in opposition to St. Thomas Academy’s nationally venerated swimming teacher over alleged wrong behavior at closing weekend’s national meet has triggered the pinnacle of the Minnesota State High School League to agenda a dialogue with faculty management Wednesday. The criticism related to 15-time country champion educate John Barnes follows his absence from leading his crew on the final day Saturday of the Class 1A meet on the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center, wherein the Cadets finished fourth. “There is some problem that occurred ultimate weekend” leading to the criticism, said Amy Nugent, a spokes­girl for St. Thomas who spoke on behalf of the all-boys Catholic faculty’s administrators.

Nugent started the criticism brought about Barnes now not coaching his athletes at some point of the meet’s final day. She noted the Minnesota State High School League had instructed the school there is a video showing that Barnes “acted inappropriately” on a preceding day on the meet. St. Thomas Academy Headmaster Matthew Mohs “doesn’t want to say whatever” about what the teacher may also have achieved “till he sees the video,” Nugent stated. Nugent additionally released an announcement from Mohs that stated: “There are discrepancies within the tales the college is listening to from the High School League (MSHSL) and dad and mom and athletes who had been in attendance on the nation meet closing weekend. We are taking the time to get all the statistics right now. We will realize extra quickly.”

League Executive Director Erich Martens and Mohs will speak the criticism in a telephone name Wednesday, Nugent said, adding that Barnes will now not take part in the call. Barnes remains the swimming coach at the Mendota Heights faculty, Nugent said. He additionally works for the school in alumni outreach. Barnes declined to remark Tuesday. In a quick phone name Monday with the Star Tribune, he stated he turned blind to any worries raised approximately him as a coach. Messages were left with several MSHSL officers requesting similar records approximately the criticism. In June 2018, Barnes changed into named Coach of the Year via the National High School Athletic Coaches Association from amongst seven finalists. He has coached 14 states identify teams at St. Thomas and one at Minnetonka. Barnes’ profession dual meet document thru the 2017-18 season stood at 144-three-1. He has coached eight qualifiers for Olympic trials, 15 national qualifiers, 36 junior countrywide qualifiers, 26 high college All-Americas, and World University Games gold medalists.