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Marble Falls school officials say they provide safe environment for athletes; lawsuit claims otherwise

MARBLE FALLS — School officials said they provide a safe environment for athletes, despite claims in a federal lawsuit filed by a former football player who says the Marble Falls district didn’t protect him from repeated head injuries.

“Regardless of a potential lawsuit, Marble Falls (Independent School District) works diligently to provide a safe school and competitive athletic environment for all kids,” Superintendent Rob O’Connor said Sept. 17. “The district, our teachers and our coaches constantly review safety procedures to ensure the safest environment possible on our campuses and for our student athletes.”

O’Connor’s response came in the wake of a lawsuit filed by former Mustang Blake Alan Ripple in an Austin federal court Sept. 7. Ripple, 20, claims MFISD and former head coach and athlete director Cord Woerner showed little regard for his health and safety, resulting in more than 30 concussions that have left him permanently disabled.

The school district has yet to receive official notification of the lawsuit, O’Connor said.

Meanwhile, the superintendent is cautioning against anyone rushing to judgment.

In addition, O’Connor has notified the School Board of the pending legal action, which is filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.

“A potential lawsuit will not change the board’s long-term practice of supporting ongoing professional development for our teachers, coaches and trainers so they can continue to provide a safe environment for our students, student athletes and performers,” O’Connor said. “We ask all community members not to pass judgment until the district is notified and a thorough due process investigation can be completed.”

According to the suit, Ripple, at one time a lineman for the Mustangs, National Honor Society student and Academic All-District, “is unable to live independently, let alone go to college.”

The lawsuit claims that head injuries and headaches during games and training were not addressed by Woerner and the school district, contributing to permanent disability.

The lawsuit claims MFISD “covered up” facts; failed to adequately investigate the injuries; retaliated against Ripple; and failed to adequately work with Ripple in regard to his education after he was injured.

The injuries began Oct. 23, 2009 during the last few minutes of a game against Lampasas when Ripple suffered a head injury during helmet-to-helmet contact, the lawsuit states. After the game ended, Ripple’s parents raised concerns with an athletic trainer over their son’s injury but were told the youth “would be fine after taking a shower,” according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also claims that despite his parents sharing concerns about their son’s condition from 2009 through the 2010 football season, school officials failed to protect Ripple and instead exposed him to more injuries. The athlete’s physical condition deteriorated and he could no longer attend classes his senior year, instead completing his academic studies through homebound services before graduating in 2011, the lawsuit claims.

On Jan. 6, 2012, Woerner announced he was no longer the district’s athletic director and was named the director of special programs.

Todd Dodge took over Feb. 1 as the new athletic director and head football coach for the Mustangs.

Ripple is being represented by Martin Cirkiel of Cirkiel & Associates of Round Rock.

 

daniel@thepicayune.com