The Glacier High School wrestling program is at the center of another lawsuit linked to allegations of sexual assault and hazing in 2022.

A complaint filed Dec. 16 in Yellowstone County District Court by former Glacier student and member of the school’s wrestling team Cody Vergeront, 19, accuses Kalispell Public Schools and two former employees of negligence, specifically “... through their negligent hiring, training, retention and supervision, permitted a culture of sexual assault, sexual harassment and hazing to fester within [the school's] wrestling program.” 

Named as defendants in the complaint are Kalispell Public Schools, Glacier High School’s former Activities Director and Assistant Principal Mark Dennehy and former Glacier High School head wrestling coach Ross Dankers. In 2025, Dankers resigned as head coach after 12 years with the district, and Dennehy retired after 18 years.  

The complaint alleges that “Kalispell School District No. 5 Superintendent Matthew Jensen has determined that a ‘pattern of inappropriate behavior violating’ [district] policies regarding sexual harassment and hazing existed within the Glacier High School Wrestling Program during the 2021-2022 school year.” 

"Under the guise of ‘initiation,’ numerous Glacier High School Wrestling Program students who made the varsity wrestling team were sexually harassed and hazed by fellow Glacier High School Wrestling Program students,” the complaint states, quoting students who reported being subjected to the hazing during a Title IX investigation conducted by Kalispell Public Schools. 

The suit alleged that during the 2021-22 school year, when the wrestling team was traveling to competitions, high school administrators, coaches and volunteers failed to adequately supervise students. The complaint outlines multiple alleged failures, including: not ensuring regular check-ins with students; not assigning specific coaches or volunteers to supervise specific students; failing to encourage group activities in common or public areas; not diligently looking out for inappropriate behavior; failing to maintain a visible adult presence where students gathered; not requiring hotel doors to remain cracked during waking hours; failing to conduct regular hotel room checks; inadequately considering student safety when assigning hotel rooms; lacking a detailed written supervision plan; and failing to train students, coaches and volunteers on sexual harassment and hazing prevention. 

CENTRAL TO the lawsuit is the night of Feb. 10, 2022, when Vergeront was allegedly sexually assaulted in a Billings hotel room by teammates. The wrestling team was in Billings to compete in the 2022 Montana High School Association Wrestling State Championship tournament. 

At about 9:55 p.m., Vergeront was allegedly assaulted in a hotel room assigned to the team captain while attempting to weigh himself on a scale in preparation for the next day’s competition. 

The complaint alleged that a student wrestler reportedly held Vergeront down on the bed while another teammate, who was only wearing underwear, positioned himself behind Vergeront and began thrusting, his genitals making contact with the plaintiff’s buttocks. That student then positioned himself in front of Vergeront, who was still being held down, and grabbed his arms, pulling him toward him. The student then reportedly pulled down his underwear, placing his genitals on Vergeront’s head and face. 

According to the complaint, no high school administrator, coach, or volunteer investigated the commotion, which happened behind closed doors. 

The assault was reportedly recorded on video that was turned over to school district officials during Title IX investigations the district conducted in 2023. 

The lawsuit also alleged a separate incident of sexual harassment and hazing occurred earlier that evening, around 6:32 p.m., and involved another student wrestler. The incident was also reportedly recorded on video and is in the school district’s possession. 

The suit seeks compensatory and exemplary damages and any other relief the court deems equitable for expenses incurred for medical treatment for injuries Vergeront sustained; mental and emotional distress; the inconveniences, limitations and loss of enjoyment of life and normal activities; and lost wages and loss of earning capacity. 

Bliven Law Firm in Kalispell is representing Vergeront. 

“Cody Vergeront is a young man who -- despite how uncomfortable it can be to invite public attention to such a painful experience -- has decided to courageously stand up for what is right in order to promote safety for current and future students,” Avery Field, associate attorney at Bliven Law Firm, said in a statement to the Inter Lake. “That is what this lawsuit is about for Cody: making sure other students in Kalispell don't suffer from the same 'pattern’ of hazing and sexual harassment that KSD5 says existed within the wrestling program during Cody's time at Glacier High School. We could not be more proud of Cody for using his voice to stand up for the safety of others.” 

Kalispell Public Schools officials did not respond to a request for comment. 

ON JAN. 8, a motion to dismiss and a brief in support of the defendant’s motion to dismiss “for failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted,” were filed in Yellowstone District Court by attorneys for the defendants, Elizabeth O’ Halloran and Kevin Twidwell, of Kaleva Law Office, which has represented the school district in other legal matters. 

“Defendants Dennehy and Dankers are statutorily immune from the personal liability alleged in plaintiff’s complaint, given that all alleged conduct occurred in the course and scope of their duties as Kalispell School District employees," the brief states. 

A separate Title IX-related lawsuit filed in federal court on Jan. 7, 2025, by former Glacier High School wrestling parent Kirk Nance and his son, Clifford, remains pending.  It also names the school district, Dennehy and Dankers as defendants, in addition to Garrett Melton and Sara Cole, who served as the school district's Title IX Coordinator at the time. 

Bliven Law Firm is representing the Nances, who are seeking a jury trial and compensation for damages. The Nances’ complaint alleged that district employees were motivated to retaliate against them to “prevent them from learning more about the ‘pattern’ and culture of sexual assaults and sexual harassment that existed within the Glacier High School wrestling team,” in addition to protecting themselves from negative publicity, their jobs and the alleged perpetrators of the assaults, so they could remain eligible to compete. The complaint outlines how the district reportedly retaliated by barring them from practices, team buses and hotels. 

High school administrators, including Dennehy, have dealt with hazing and assault allegations before. In 2011-12, a highly publicized incident on a freshman football team bus that involved as many as eight victims resulted in two students receiving six months’ probation for misdemeanor assault in youth court and another student admitting guilt to a reduced charge of misdemeanor disorderly conduct. 

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].