(Corning, Iowa) – The Superintendent of the Southwest Valley Community School District posted a statement on social media, Monday, with regard to an alleged racial slur spoken during a high school football game against Earlham last Friday night. During the reported incident, Earlham High School Quarterback Darrell Matchem said Southwest Valley players uttered a racial slur against him. Matchem was ejected when he yelled at the other players. In addition, at the conclusion of the football game accusations were made of inappropriate and aggressive fan and spectator behavior. Southwest Valley won the game, 15-13. After the allegations came into the spotlight, the Iowa High School Athletic Association was notified.

Southwest Valley Superintendent Chris Fenster said on social media, “The Southwest Valley School District has conducted multiple interviews with people closest to the situation. We did not discover any more evidence to report to Earlham Administration or the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The Southwest Valley District would like everyone to know that we have good, positive students, and this type of behavior is never tolerated. We are a proud school district that will never condone treating people because of race, gender, sexual orientation with anything but respect, dignity, and kindness. We will continue to work with Earlham and investigate any new information that would surface. We are proud of our student-athletes, fans, and communities for allowing the administration to investigate the incident and reach our conclusion.”

On Saturday, Fenster and Earlham Interim Superintendent Tony Alysworth issued a joint statement, saying “The Earlham and Southwest Valley school administration are both aware of and actively investigating multiple concerns stemming from the Earlham vs Southwest Valley football game on October 1, 2021. Toward the end of the football game, an Earlham football player reported that an inappropriate racial slur was directed at him by a member of the Southwest Valley team. Additionally, at the conclusion of the football game accusations were made of inappropriate and aggressive fan and spectator behavior.The administration from the Earlham and Southwest Valley schools have been in touch and are working cooperatively to investigate these matters. The Iowa High School Athletic Association was notified and both schools are committed to working through these serious matters in accordance with school and district policy.