Maxwell Pileski, an Oconto Falls sophomore, was suspended for running onto the school's football field during its homecoming game in a banana costume, Oct. 5, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
OCONTO FALLS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — In what’s being called “BananaGate,” four students in the Oconto Falls School District are currently serving a three-day suspension.
“We just wanted to show off our school spirit in a way that we thought would make people laugh,” said Maxwell Pileski.
Last Friday night, during the Panthers’ homecoming game, the four ran onto the football field wearing banana outfits and carrying signs saying “Go Panthers.”
“We picked a time when there was not a play going on. We did it during the change of the quarter so that we weren’t interrupting anything. We didn’t destroy anything obviously. The gate was left open, so we didn’t even climb or hop a fence at all. We just walked on to the field and walked off,” said Maxwell Pileski.
Sophomore Maxwell Pileski is one of the students in trouble. He says school officials said nothing about the prank Friday night.
However, at the homecoming dance the following night, he was pulled out by the principal and questioned by him and police. Something his father says was a little excessive.
“I thought that could have easily been handled by a simple phone call and a meeting at the school and then I might have even been okay with the punishment but I think they did it purposely to embarrass and humiliate them in front of their peers at the homecoming dance,” said Scott Pileski.
Several parents in the district said either the students didn’t deserve to be punished or that the punishment didn’t fit the crime. They often described the prank as harmless.
“I think you’d have to ask who the victims were of this and I don’t see if there are any,” said Scott Pileski.
By missing school, Pileski isn’t able to participate in some extracurriculars this week, including his cross-country meet. It’s unclear what the other unidentified pranksters might also be missing.
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