The Mascenic Regional School District will not compete against the Hindale School District for the remainder of the school year, following an alleged comment made during a recent soccer game.
In a Sept. 24 letter, Mascenic Superintendent Liz Pogorzelski said that after “careful consideration, meaningful dialogue, and ongoing reflection,” the district decided to remove Hinsdale from its athletic schedules for 2025-26.
The decision stems from a comment allegedly made by a Hinsdale student during a Sept. 10 soccer game. In her letter, Pogorzelski said the remark “targeted open wounds, personal experiences, and collective challenges faced by a family within our school and the larger community.”
According to a statement issued by the Hinsdale School District, the district was informed on Wednesday that the Mascenic School District would seek permission from the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association to cancel matches for the rest of the school year.
Hinsdale Superintendent David Ryan said the two districts had been working toward a resolution.
“We are dismayed by this request and were working as recently as today with Mascenic school and district officials to find a resolution and schedule a facilitated mediation process to generate dialogue and understanding between the two teams,” said Ryan. “However, we respect Mascenic’s decision and only hope that we will be able to restore a healthy and competitive rivalry with them in the near future.”
Pogorzelski declined to comment on what was said, but said it was a “derogatory, inappropriate comment, that further opened wounds that we already have” about an “emotive issue for our community.”
Ryan said Hinsdale conducted an “exhaustive” investigation, including a review by high school administrators and consultation with the NHIAA executive director, but that “no evidence was found to support Mascenic’s claim as it was reported.”
“Our investigation into the claim of an inappropriate comment about a Mascenic player’s family member concluded with no evidence supporting it. However, the emotional impact that a comment like the one that was alleged would have on the family, Mascenic players, and their community does not escape us, and we are truly sorry for the grief and sorrow the entire Mascenic school community has endured since the loss of a community member. For that reason, we only wish for healing and peace in their time of grief,” Ryan said.
Pogorzelski said there were steps taken with Hinsdale to address the issue, including meetings between the districts’ athletic directors and principals. She said the conversations were “productive” and that they were geared toward an eventual reconciliation. Cancelling games for the remainder of the year still seemed the right call as tensions were high, Pogorzelski said.
“As wounds heal, some of those reconciliatory ideas we may be ready to look at, and get them back on our schedule. But for now, we made the decision to take the best care of our kids,” Pogorzelski said, of the decision not to schedule any further games with Hinsdale this year.
Pogorzelski said Mascenic will forfeit its Oct. 6 boys’ soccer game against Hinsdale. The district has requested not to be scheduled against Hinsdale in basketball, baseball and softball.
An ongoing issue
Pogorzelski said this has not been the only issue involving derogatory comments on the sports field and that it is not always the opposing team at fault.
“This is a problem, and we’re addressing it,” Pogorzelski said.
On Tuesday, the district sent a letter home to parents on the issue, signed by Mascenic Principal Greg Pickering.
“Unfortunately, we have received several reports from visiting communities regarding the nature of our hospitality at sporting events. Specifically, there have been troubling accounts that some of their student-athletes have been treated in undignified ways, including instances of body shaming and bigoted remarks by members of our student section,” Pickering wrote.
Pickering called for “collective responsibility” and said the district is investigating specific complaints and taking steps to address the issue. He asked parents to continue the conversation at home.
On Wednesday, the district held an assembly with the student body to talk about the district’s values and sportsmanship. Pogorzelski said students were reminded that the respect expected in classrooms also applies to athletic events.
“[Pickering] talked about what our citizenship values are, and how the behaviors of a small portion of our student body are reflecting on our community. It gives us a bad reputation, and it harms others,” Pogorzelski said. “We love student support, but it can be done in a way that’s appropriate and doesn’t demean others.”
She said the district has also spoken with the Booster Club about education efforts and may bring in an outside speaker to talk with students about the issue.
“Sportsmanship is a tenant of athletic events, and we take it seriously, going both ways,” Pogorzelski said.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.