ELKHORN, Wis. (AP) -- A Wisconsin school district is investigating after racist taunts were directed at female high school soccer players during a recent game, including references to Donald Trump's vow to clamp down on illegal immigration from Mexico.
A small group of Elkhorn students shouted racial slurs at minority players from Beloit during the game Thursday night, including chanting, "Donald Trump, build that wall," according to Beloit Memorial coach Brian Denu.
Denu told WISC-TV that some of the players left the game, saying the taunts may have come from a small number of students, but they made a huge impact.
"I could just see the hurt and pain on their faces and know that this was obviously something that they hadn't seen before," Denu said. "You know, it was from a small pocket of the Elkhorn fans, but those words are things you can't take back."
Denu said he and other coaches consoled players during and after the game
"Seeing the impact on those kids is something I'll never forget as a coach," he said, adding that this isn't behavior he would expect to see in 2016.
JV soccer athletes shared what they went through while in the stands.
"Saying comments like, 'Donald Trump, build that wall,'" Vania Perez, Beloit Memorial High School JV soccer player said.
"'Go back to your country,' and just calling us idiots and we're stupid," said Kassumy Montil.
Elkhorn district administrator Jason Tadlock said officials have confirmed some students on the sidelines were yelling offensive comments and that the matter is being investigated.
Students in Indiana and Iowa have recently been admonished for similar chants at high school games in apparent support of the Republican presidential candidate's campaign promise to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent immigrants from entering the country illegally.
