Lake Travis lineman Carter Mannon, center of peanut scandal, has transferred to Vandegrift
Lake Travis offensive lineman Carter Mannon, whose peanut allergy caused a stir when two teammates stuffed his gear with peanuts last fall, has transferred to Vandegrift.
The move was made for safety reasons, his mother told the American-Statesman on Thursday.
"We feel like a fresh start for our family is going to be a big step in healing from this situation," Shawna Mannon said. "We have three kids, so we are considering how this has impacted the girls as well. Carter has been welcomed by his new school with open arms. It has been a refreshing transition so far."
It's the second straight year that a Lake Travis player has transferred to Vandegrift; former Cavaliers offensive lineman Jacob Henry — who recently accepted a scholarship to wrestle at Oklahoma — played his senior season for the Vipers last fall.
How it all started: last fall's peanut allergy incident
The peanut allergy incident at Lake Travis unfolded in October when two of Mannon's teammates one day reportedly asked the sophomore if he could die from exposure to peanuts and he replied that could go into anaphylactic shock and, yes, it could kill him.
The next day, Mannon discovered scattered peanuts in his football locker as well as in his jersey and his shoes. He developed hives on his arm before he noticed the peanuts in his gear, and the teammates reportedly had videotaped themselves placing the peanuts in his locker.
Mannon's mother reported the incident, and the two players were suspended for two games. The matter was brought up to the Lake Travis school board, but no further action was taken.
Lake Travis ISD: no more action to be taken
The incident sparked anger within the community and has gained widespread attention. People magazine wrote a story about it on its website this week.
More: Stony Point, Lake Travis enter regionals in basketball
The Lake Travis school district, which said it worked with other law enforcement agencies, ruled that it was not a case of bullying.
Shawna Mannon shared an email that a district spokesperson wrote to her in December regarding punishment of the players who had spread the peanuts. One of those players, a junior, had already received dozens of offers to play college football.
"I conclude that bullying, as defined by law and LTISD policy, has not occurred," the email said. "When questioned, Carter indicated that he was frustrated by these alleged actions against him, but that he was not afraid to attend school or go to football practice. (One of the teammates) and Carter share a class together, and Carter said that he did not want a scheduling change."
Carter Mannon enrolled at Vandegrift on Tuesday.
Recently, an Orangebloods report revealed that one of the schools that had offered the teammate a scholarship — Texas — had backed away from its recruitment of him because Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian had been unaware of the peanut incident when the scholarship was offered.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Lake Travis football player Carter Mannon transfers to Vandegrift
