BASKETBALL Division I football recruit McGarry disciplined by Poland committee

He will miss three games for two arrests within 24 hours.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
POLAND -- Two alcohol-related arrests within 24 hours have resulted in a three-game suspension for Poland High senior basketball player Dan McGarry.
McGarry, a 6-foot-6 center for the Bulldogs (11-3, 8-1), sat out Friday's loss against Alliance.
He also will not play next Tuesday against Canfield (13-3, 9-1) and against Howland next Friday.
McGarry, 18, signed a letter of intent for a football scholarship with Michigan State University on Wednesday.
Incidents
According to police reports, he was arrested twice on Jan. 31.
A few hours after the Bulldogs' game at Niles, McGarry was pulled over by police around 3 a.m. and charged with driving under the influence.
The patrolman's report said McGarry was observed driving left of center and "jerking" his car on U.S. route 224. His breath-analysis test registered 0.122. The legal limit in Ohio is 0.08 for adults and 0.02 for those younger than 21.
That evening, McGarry was one of 18 Poland High seniors arrested at a party at a Struthers residence where a police report indicated minors in possession of alcohol and suspected marijuana.
Five 18-year-olds in attendance, including McGarry, were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Dr. Robert Zorn, superintendent of Poland Schools, said Friday that McGarry received a two-game penalty for the DUI charge, according to the school's athletic department participation form.
He was suspended for a third game for the Struthers arrest.
Code of conduct
The participation form that all student-athletes and their parents are required to sign reads in part, that participants must "refrain from the use of alcohol-tobacco-drugs.
"Any participant involved in the possession, use of drugs, alcohol or tobacco will be suspended for two contests for any sport except football in which case the suspension will be for one contest under the provisions of O.R.C. 3313.66 and Board of Education Policy #5270 and #5280.
"The student also must attend an assessment program at an approved drug/alcohol treatment center or tobacco awareness workshop before reinstatement to the team."
The Poland policy also states that a second violation will result in a 90-day exclusion from athletic participation and the rules apply 12 months a year.
Robert Rostan, Poland High principal; Myron Stallsmith, athletic director; and Mark Covell, assistant principal, determined that McGarry's second arrest did not violate the participation form.
However, Zorn said the athletic administration committee felt McGarry deserved punishment for displaying "poor judgment" by attending the party, so they added the third game.
"The second charge is not a drinking charge," Zorn said.
Policy
Unlike some schools where attendance at a party where drugs and alcohol are present constitutes a violation, the Poland participation form does not contain such a clause.
Rostan said he expects Poland administrators will recommend the participation form be revised by next year to include an attendance penalty.