On a sweltering September afternoon in Indianapolis, what began as a routine majorette team practice at Warren Central High School ended in a trip to the emergency room for several students and a wave of outrage from parents. The incident, which left at least two freshmen with second-degree burns and serious blisters on their hands and feet, has sparked calls for accountability and sweeping changes to athletic safety protocols at the school.
Trinity Peagler, a 14-year-old freshman and competitive dancer since childhood, was among those most severely affected. According to her parents, Travis and Stacey Peagler, Trinity was excited to join the majorette team and had been thriving in her first weeks of high school—until the events of Thursday, September 18, 2025. That day, temperatures soared, with the air registering around 86 degrees Fahrenheit, but the surface of the outdoor track, according to estimates from FOX50/CBS4’s Weather Authority, likely reached between 110 and 140 degrees.
Trinity’s father, Travis, described the shock he felt when he picked his daughter up after practice. “I’m like, ‘how did your hands get like that?’” he recalled in an interview with FOX59/CBS4. “She said, ‘well the coach had us doing bear crawls but she made me do extra because I got three Fs on my report card.’” Photos shared by the family show Trinity’s hands covered in large, painful blisters—evidence of what doctors at Riley Hospital for Children would later diagnose as second-degree burns. Trinity was also treated for heat exhaustion, compounding her ordeal.
The Peaglers, both deeply upset, have spoken out about the physical and emotional toll the incident has taken on their daughter. “Now she’s questioning like, ‘Is this my fault? I feel bad.’ That’s what’s going through her head,” said Stacey Peagler, highlighting the psychological scars left behind. “Watching her go through this much pain has been heartbreaking for us as parents,” Travis Peagler added in a statement to 13News.
Trinity’s injuries are not isolated. Ronnisha Banks, another parent, reported that her freshman daughter suffered similar burns on her hands and blisters on her feet. Banks described her reaction upon seeing her child’s injuries: “I was livid. I just couldn’t believe it,” she told 13News. The aftermath has extended into the classroom, with Banks noting, “She can’t do school work the way she needs to.”
The practice in question involved bear crawls—a physically demanding exercise—performed on the scorching asphalt track. What made matters worse, according to the families, was that some students, like Trinity, were singled out for extra laps as punishment for their academic performance. “This isn’t discipline. It’s child abuse,” Travis Peagler asserted. “These are young girls. They’re not training to be a Navy SEAL or Army Ranger, and even their hands don’t look like that.” As a former 82nd Airborne Division soldier, Peagler emphasized, “I went through airborne training in the military, and I’ve never seen kids pushed like this.”
Stacey Peagler said that when she sent photos of her daughter’s injuries to the coach, the response was underwhelming. The coach, according to Stacey, replied that “other teams were doing it” and later sent a link to parents on how to treat blisters, rather than an apology or explanation. Such responses have only fueled frustration and demands for systemic change.
Both affected families have since taken steps to seek accountability. The Peaglers have hired an attorney and sent a letter of representation to the school district, though no formal legal action has been filed yet. Banks reported the incident to the Indiana Department of Child Services, and a police report was filed on the night of the incident. As of now, no arrests or charges have been made public.
The school district, MSD of Warren Township, responded with a statement acknowledging the gravity of the situation: “We are aware of an incident during last week’s dance team practice involving a conditioning drill on the track that resulted in several students sustaining blisters to their hands from the surface. We are taking this matter very seriously, conducting an active investigation, and remain in close contact with students and families to support their recovery. The safety and well-being of our student-athletes will always be our top priority, and we remain committed to listening to our students and families as we learn from this incident.”
Despite these assurances, the families remain unsatisfied. “We want answers, accountability and stronger safety measures so this never happens again,” Travis Peagler told 13News. “We don’t want to see no parent have to go through what we’re going through right now.” Banks echoed this sentiment: “When stuff happens like this, we have to stand up.”
In the wake of the incident, questions abound. How could such a dangerous drill be allowed to proceed in extreme heat? Why weren’t alternative, safer conditioning exercises considered? And what protocols, if any, are in place to protect students from heat-related injuries during outdoor practices?
Experts in youth athletics have long warned about the risks of heat exposure and strenuous activity on hot surfaces. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heat-related illnesses are a leading cause of sports-related injuries among young athletes, especially during late summer and early fall. Many school districts now implement heat guidelines, including monitoring surface temperatures, providing adequate hydration, and scheduling practices during cooler parts of the day. Whether Warren Central High School’s policies met these standards—or were enforced on the day in question—remains unclear as the district’s investigation continues.
The Peaglers and Banks families hope their ordeal will prompt broader changes, not just at Warren Central but throughout Indiana schools. “We’re not just fighting for our daughters,” Travis Peagler said. “We’re fighting so no child has to suffer like this again.”
As Trinity faces a recovery that doctors say could take up to six months—and possibly longer if there are lasting effects—the community is left to grapple with the balance between discipline, achievement, and the fundamental duty to keep children safe. The story has become a rallying point for parents and advocates demanding that student safety never be compromised in the name of athletic rigor or academic pressure.
For now, the investigation continues, and families wait for answers, determined that their children’s pain will lead to meaningful change. The scars—both physical and emotional—remain a stark reminder of what’s at stake when safety protocols fall short.
