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Hell Week" Takes On New Meaning For Maryland Family

For millions of teenagers across the country the first week of tryouts for fall high school sports teams, often in summer heat and humidity, is known simply as "Hell Week." But for Kevin Lawler of Severna Park, Maryland, Hell Week will be as long as it takes to convince county administrators to let his daughter, Linda, a sophomore at the local high school, play for the soccer team from which she was cut last week.

His Daughter Cut, Disabled Marine Begins Picketing

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When he learned that Linda, after trying out with 53 other girls, had not made the team, Lawler, a disabled Marine veteran suffering from congestive heart failure, began picketing in front of Severna Park High School on Monday, August 21. He intends to picket four hours a day until the school agrees to re-think how it runs its athletic program.

Time To Re-Think Priorities?

County Supervisor of Athletics, Marlene Kelly, was quoted in a local paper as citing budgetary constraints as the reason all students wanting to play for their school couldn't be accommodated. Lawler isn't buying. "We spend more money on building prisons in this country than on athletic programs," Lawler said. "If a kid wants to work hard on an athletic team, why deny them a chance? It's time our nation re-thinks its priorities; active kids in a structured environment after school should be a top priority."

Sharing Stories

When Lawler began picketing, he said he felt very alone. But lately, parents have been stopping to thank him and to share heartbreaking stories of their own kids being cut from high school teams and how it affected their self-esteem.

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