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Pole vaulter arrested in runner’s beating
Tuesday, November 7, 2006

A Kansas University pole vaulter has been arrested for aggravated battery in connection with a beating last week that sent one of his teammates to the hospital.

John K. McDonald, 19, a sophomore from Hays, is due in court for a first appearance Nov. 17. He was booked into jail Friday and later released on bond in connection with the beating of KU middle-distance and cross-country runner Tyler Kelly, who told police he was attacked and beaten by a group of men about 3:15 a.m. Oct. 28 outside his home in the 4700 block of Ranch Court.

KU associate athletics director Jim Marchiony said Monday afternoon that McDonald had been suspended from the team.

Kelly's mother said the beating happened after her son had been out with other KU cross-country runners celebrating their performance in the Big 12 championships. He suffered injuries that included a concussion and a broken cheekbone, his parents said.


http://www2.kusports.com/news/2006/oct/ ... ss_country

KU runner beaten near home, police say
Posted Tuesday, October 31, 2006
A Kansas University cross-country runner went to the hospital after being beaten by a group of men early Saturday outside his home in west Lawrence.
Tyler Kelly, 22, was injured in the beating between 3 a.m. and 3:15 a.m. in the 4700 block of Ranch Court, according to a police report. There were five suspects, according to the report, and three were listed as acquaintances of Kelly’s.
Lawrence Police said they could not yet identify the suspects publicly and that the case was under investigation.
Kelly’s mother, Pallas Kelly, said her son had been out with a group of teammates Friday night celebrating their performance in the Big 12 conference championships. When they came home, a carload of men drove up and said they were looking for one of Tyler Kelly’s friends. According to the story her son has relayed, she said, the men eventually began shoving her son, then pushed him up against a car and started hitting him.
According to a police report, the suspects were believed to be under the influence of alcohol. Kelly suffered injuries including a broken cheekbone.

rainbowgirl28 wrote:KU associate athletics director Jim Marchiony said Monday afternoon that McDonald had been suspended from the team.

I would just cut him. According to the KU website ( http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/c-tr ... ohn00.html ) his PR is only 15-7.25. They just brought in a ton of stud vaulters, so I am assuming he is a walk-on. When you're a 15-7 walk-on at a school like KU, you gotta stay outta trouble if you want to stay on the team.

But that is just my opinion, and obviously we don't know the full story.

If they don't exactly need him, they are probably just waiting until there is a conviction. That way they have a concrete reason to get rid of him. Because how bad does the school look if he is proven innocent and they prejudged him. That sounds like a big fat lawsuit if I have ever herd of one.

SKOT wrote:If they don't exactly need him, they are probably just waiting until there is a conviction. That way they have a concrete reason to get rid of him. Because how bad does the school look if he is proven innocent and they prejudged him. That sounds like a big fat lawsuit if I have ever herd of one.

I would imagine the team has a handbook with team guidelines and penalties for breaking them. I know when I was at Georgia, they made it clear that if you were a walk-on, and you caused any problems at all, you were off the team.

But yeah, it makes sense to just suspend until you know the whole story and things are resolved legally.

Red wine won't deal with him he will be gone. KU has a code of conduct and have in the past let several athletes go for arrests. Even a stud QB for the football team. Hope he thinks it was worth it. Sounds like a dumb move to me.

I dont' think it should matter if he is a walk on or not.....if you assult your teammate and send them to the hospital, you should be gone.

Prior opinions make it look as though you only get rid of the walk ons. What if he were on scholarship? He shouldn't be judged until all is known.

full ride or walk on, treat everyone the same- there must be equality and integrity to every program. NO one member of the team shall be treated better than another.


and yes, they should wait to hear the full story first, but there is no excuse to beating the crap our of a teammate...

can't we all just get along?!

bjvando wrote:full ride or walk on, treat everyone the same- there must be equality and integrity to every program. NO one member of the team shall be treated better than another.

Agreed.

Doesn't DI penalize a track program whatever amount of money a scholarship athlete is on if that athlete doesn't complete their degree at that school due to grades or behavior problems? In other words, if a scholarship athlete fails out or is expelled for behavior and therefore doesn't graduate from that university, is that university docked their scholarship money for a period of time?

If that's the case as I've heard it, I could see how some universities would aim to rehabilitate their scholarship athletes more than their walk-ons.

I may not know this thoroughly but each sport has something called the APR Rating.

The APR rating is a point system that is determined by a scholarship athlete returning each semester and staying eligible. If a scholarship athlete is ineligible and drops out of school the next semester then you get no points...
This is a nightmare for track and field programs because of the high numbers you need to fill a team.

Most coaches that I know don't base their integrity on this point system. The university may think other wise because they need to look good in the point system....

That is where the politics begin.... which is the worst part about being a college coach......

bjvando wrote:I may not know this thoroughly but each sport has something called the APR Rating.

The APR rating is a point system that is determined by a scholarship athlete returning each semester and staying eligible. If a scholarship athlete is ineligible and drops out of school the next semester then you get no points...
This is a nightmare for track and field programs because of the high numbers you need to fill a team.

Most coaches that I know don't base their integrity on this point system. The university may think other wise because they need to look good in the point system....

That is where the politics begin.... which is the worst part about being a college coach......

Yup, that's what I was getting at - didn't know if was points, thought it was scholarship money, but same concept.

Still, a coach shouldn't base their integrity on that points system like you say, but you can also get some insight into how scholarship athletes would take precedent because of the politics involved unfortunately.

http://www.cstv.com/sports/c-track/uwire/111606aaa.html

Pole vaulters suspended because of assault allegationsOne suspect will appear in court this Friday; member of track team who was attacked suffered a concussion, broken cheek bone


By Jack Weinstein University Daily Kansan
November 16, 2006

Lawrence, KS (CSTV U-WIRE) -- A bloodstain on the pavement outside his home serves as a reminder to Tyler Kelly of a violent incident he told police he experienced there almost two weeks ago.

Sophomore pole vaulter John McDonald was arrested on suspicion of aggravated battery and released on a $10,000 bond in connection with the beating of Kelly, a teammate of McDonald's, about 3:15 a.m. Oct. 28. The district attorney has not formally brought charges against him.

McDonald will make his first appearance in Douglas County District Court on Friday.

At least one other person has been arrested in connection with the case. Forest Park, Ill., sophomore Greg Krupa was also arrested and charged with aggravated battery in connection with the incident and was later released on a $3,000 bond.

An Athletics Department administrator said two other members of the track team had been suspended in connection with the incident. Freshman pole vaulter Jordan Scott and sophomore pole vaulter Ryan Hayes have been suspended, the administrator said. It has not been confirmed whether they were arrested.

According to the police report, Kelly was attacked by five men outside his home in the 4700 block of Ranch Court. The fifth person is not yet known, but the police report said he was likely unknown to Kelly.

Kelly was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital following the attack to receive treatment for a concussion and other injuries sustained during the fight. He had surgery to repair a broken cheekbone Nov. 8. His head and face are still swollen, said his father, Albert Kelly.

"He lost a lot of blood," Albert said. "He could have died."

Tyler was found outside his home by his roommate Tyson Willoughby, 2006 graduate. Willoughby didn't witness the attack, but was asleep at the time and spoke with police when they arrived.

Associate Athletics Director Jim Marchiony said McDonald had not been dismissed from the team, but was suspended indefinitely. Marchiony added that the department did not plan to make a statement about the incident until the police investigation was complete. Coach Stanley Redwine declined to comment.

McDonald declined to comment, referring questions to his attorney, Michael S. Holland Sr., who also declined to comment. Neither Scott nor Hayes could be reached for comment.

Krupa will make his first appearance in court on Jan. 23. Krupa could not be reached for comment, but his attorney, John C. Johnson, said he didn't know enough about the case to comment.

"I haven't talked with him enough to make a statement," he said.

Despite his injuries, Tyler competed this past weekend in the Cross Country Midwest Regional Championships in Minneapolis, finishing 93rd out of 135.

Albert said his son willed himself to compete because the end of his son's career was nearing and the competition was one of the last times Tyler would get to run. Kelly said his son was lucky not to be in worse shape.

"We're delighted we're planning Tyler's future instead of his funeral," he said.


http://northeastkansas.cox.net/cci/news ... atearticle

Second Arrest in Runner's Beating
11-17-2006 3:40 AM
(Lawrence, KS) -- KU cross-country runner Tyler Kelly continues his recovery after a vicious beating nearly three weeks ago. Several men jumped Kelly as he arrived home after a night of celebrating with friends. He suffered a broken cheekbone and a concussion. A fellow student athlete has been arrested for his alleged role in the attack. Nineteen-year-old John McDonald, a pole-vaulter from Hays, was charged with aggravated battery. He'll make his first appearance in court today. Another student, Gregory Krupa, had been arrested earlier.<