In a shutout victory against the Kingsley Stags in which the Benzie Central Huskies scored 17 goals, it was criticized for being unsportsmanlike. Sally Anscombe/Getty Images
One Michigan high school soccer team was criticized for scoring 17 goals against a losing opponent during a losing streak.
Kevin Hubbell was the star player and scored 16 goals in the first half.
The blowout was felt by parents and board members of the losing school as unsportsmanlike, uncalled for.
Northern Michigan's high school soccer team is being criticized for setting scoring records against a team that has lost all of its games. The winning coach apologized.
The Associated Press reported that the game was over with a 17-0 score at halftime. Kevin Hubbell, a Benzie Central star aged 17, scored 16 goals against the Kingsley. The Kingsley now has a record of 0-16 after several losses.
Hubbell's performance on that day set national and state records for the most high school goals. This was something he and his coach had discussed throughout the game, according to the Traverse City Record Eagle, a local newspaper.
However, most social media users weren't impressed with the feat and instead criticized the poor sportsmanship of the team and the bullying, according to the Record-Eagle. Hubbell should have been removed from the record before he set it.
Heather Bartelmay, a Kingsley board member, said that her son, who was part of the goalkeeping team, was "he was firing them off like a missile." According to The AP. "We hugged our boys and went over to them. It was all they needed. They were in pain.
Chris Batchelder (Benzie Central's coach) wrote a letter to Kingsley apologizing for his remarks and explaining that he wasn't trying to "humiliate" your players or your program. This was The AP.
According to the Record-Eagle, Kingsley coach Tim VanWingerden said that the shutout loss was "pretty disappointing".
"It was uncalled for to pursue a personal record at the expense of the dignity of another team. This is not the place for soccer. He said that soccer is a gentleman's game.
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Monday night saw the Kingsley board meet to discuss its response to the one-sided game. The AP was informed by Kevin Smith, the Kingsley superintendent of education, that although they didn't vote in a formal manner, they are considering writing a letter to Benzie Central.
Smith stated that high school sports should not degenerate into "Let's hang the most points possible" and take advantage of others when they're down.
Insider reached out to Benzie Central High School for clarification but they did not immediately reply.
Insider has the original article.
