"They had bags of ice and they were bashing it all over his body until the bags broke. The star lineman towersover most of the other pallbearers. 18 - 35 L. 10/15/2022. Then it became a football school. Wesley?Wesley was a nasty rat bastard! Heresisted, and according to his version of events, heremembers a JV coach telling him to roll with it. When I was in ninth grade, says Lohman,my father died and my mother wanted to move toFlorida. McElroy was practically a secondfather to Zereoue when the running back moved to ahome for wayward boys in Bellmorearriving, toMephams good fortune, at the start of hishigh-school career. Days later, the school wentahead with its annual pep rally, in a gesture ofsupport for Coach Mac and the sidelined Pirates. Bells toll. Your sonwoo hoo!Hes having fun. Stats are entered by the coach or designated team statistician in the admin. We were afraid they would walk away with probation.. Instead, thevictims were laughed at in the halls, calledfaggot and broomstick boy.The superintendent, Thomas Caramore, shielded theschool from inquiries at first. Try as they might to rid themselves of it, students, parents and other residents are finding that the incident is now woven into the fabric of life here. "Standing up and giving a 'rah, rah' when my son and the other boys are hurting in this way is so disrespectful. Because the National Football League sits on a higher platform, they bring in an exceptional amount of money compared to that, However, whenever hazing involves assaulting the victim, then it goes to another level. The fact thatthese studies show the prevalence of this conduct inmany hazing situations supports a conclusion thattheres no reason to believe that this wouldhave occurred outside of such a setting, or abelief that such conduct would reoccur., Besides, he notes, the juvenile-justice systemaffords kids a second chance. It is in the best interests of our students and the success of our program that the present coaches not be re-appointed, said Bellmore-Merrick school-board member Norbert Billig. But others angrily argue that not enough attention is being paid to the victims' ordeals. Because if these attacks are acceptedas hazing, then the school is responsible. Did either coach notice anything on these children's faces? West Jersey Football League all-stars: United Division, 2022. What's gonna come out of this is another parent is gonna say, 'Oh, I'm gonna make sure there's no hazing at my school.'" Everything Everywhere All at Once has won in every category they were nominated for. Hugged by his team captain and cheered by supporters, Mepham HSs head football coach was fired last night and his four assistants got the boot, too. Students should not have to tryout for school sports. His broad shoulders are slumpedand trembling as he walks the coffin down the aisle ofSaint Barnabas Church in Bellmore, Long Island. After bullying allegations, Middleton coach allowed to resign with A minivan with two others whizzes by, music blaring. Into the locker! Since returning from camp, he has barely slept. Throughout September, a question hung in the air:Would Wayne County district attorney Mark Zimmer trythe boys as adults, which would mean that each couldface up to twenty years in prison? He was riding the bus along with varsity members, who held him upside down. Most students, the girls say, have not gotten caught up in the anger and recrimination that have divided their parents. He strokes his sisters hair withone hand and slides an arm around his brothersshoulders. Reichstein called Didden, whose reply, according toReichstein, was that there was no hazing at Mepham,because if there were, wed cancelfootball season. (Didden and his attorney didnot return repeated calls.) At Mepham High School on Long Island, the entire football season was canceled after players admitted to sadistically hazing fellow teammates. In the case of my four month concussion, there are residual mental and physical problems. Please enter valid email address to continue. Also, sleep-away sports camps will no longer be authorized by the school district, Billig said. Kevin Minnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com | Dec 7, 2022. In my mind, the school made a major error innot suspending these three allegedperpetrators, says Robert Kelly, an attorneyfor two victims. Coach speaks out for first time on LI football team hazing allegations The team did it along with some guidance from my assistant coach and the parents. some by the crimes, others by the cancellation of the season. Touring the world with friends one mile and pub at a time; ut austin undergraduate majors Newsletter . 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Mepham High School Football Coach Anthony Cracco's Sex Scandal Has Bellmore . It looks like a tasty treat for any high school football fan. That blond buzzcut, the baby face, the meager beginnings of agoateehes only 16, too young to beburying his father. Sofia LaSpina has etched her name in Long Island history. Mary explodes. When parents came to an emergency meeting on September16 with the principal and superintendent, they heardnot mea culpas but accusations. The Mepham-Garden City football game this week could be a juicy one. Here's why food advocates are worried they cant afford it. Student athletes are not getting the opportunity to play multiple sports during the year, because they are expected to spelize in one sport and focus on it year round, leaving no opportunity to play other sports or do other activities. "What constitutes a scream?" I need to see a doctor,'" says Carol. Michelle Yeoh Promises No Swearing, Only Tears During Best Lead Performance Win. They reallycouldnt do anything about it. But rather, in my opinion, how could the coaches have known?" On a warm night in October,Mary Williams and her boyfriend, Andy Corcoran, bothMepham class of 1980, sit having a drink. He was just frightened," says his father, Vinny. ), I knew all those kids, saysanother boy, a JV player. A grand jury report later described how they used duct tape to pull off their children's pubic hair, how they forced them and another boy they sodomized to kick each other in the groin, and then threatened to beat and kill all of them if they told anybody. Sofia was sentenced to the boot camp and Carney to the detention center both in Pennsylvania. Due to the amount of padding they have to wear, football players can easily disguise their size therefore keeping them from receiving scrutiny from the public. Pertzborn and assistant coach Brad Rogeberg were made aware of the initial bullying on July 24, 2022, according to the police report. If they have failing grades as well, the colleges are sending their students into the world without a real chance at becoming professional athletes, and without an actual education. Webuilt a very good tradition with our team, and we justwant to make sure that anyone who wants to fit in onthe team knows about the tradition.. ", "Did a parent come and complain to us? 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''These assaults appear to have grown out of a history of hazing both at the football camp and at Mepham High School itself,'' the report says. The Mepham High School football season was eventually cancelled and the three upperclassman were charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated assault, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, terroristic threats, criminal coercion, simple assault, reckless endangering of another person, ethnic intimidation, and criminal conspiracy. Judge Robert J. Conway chose to try the accused as juveniles. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. He triedseriously to treat him as a regular kid, like nothingever happened. maize high school basketball roster. What's more, the 16-year-old ringleader of the assaults had his own history of disciplinary problems. Go ahead. (Almost as prevalent is the idea, notconfirmed by police, that the linemans fathercommitted suicide. Theres fury and finger-pointingandopportunityon all sides in this corner of LongIsland. Scandal at New Jersey High school reopens hazing debate "He's victimized because I asked him to do a favor in this. As well as rebuking the attackers, the report criticizes the school system and the Pennsylvania judge who handled the cases. Watch this highlight video of the Mepham (North Bellmore, NY) football team in its game Recap: Mepham vs. Long Beach 2022 on Oct 15, 2022, Watch this highlight video of the Mepham (North Bellmore, NY) football team in its game Recap: Mepham vs. Sewanhaka 2022 on Oct 29, 2022. What LAppartement 4F Co-owner Ashley Coiffard Put on Her Wedding Registry. Why wasn't there a coach sleeping in the cabins? When the school board canceled the football season and suspended the coaches, the community actually split -- between those who supported the victims' families, and those who wanted to save the coaches and the season. "Yeah," says Cannestro. The public was barred from the hearing, but the penalties and the judges comments were disclosed by relatives of victims, lawyers and cops. He was 40 years old. Rullo, now a community activist for change in his school district, says he received numerous letters and phone calls, including one that said that he and his family would die. In practice, theyd put meon the B squad and Id tear up the Asquad. He says he stayed on the team for twoyears but was allowed on the field only once,returning a kickoff 50 yards. Life goes on in Bellmore, despite the sex-abuse scandal involving members of the high school football team that has roiled this Long Island community. Rick Scott Is Unfortunately Right About Novak Djokovic. Go to the back of theline.. ''They continue to try to bury this thing and pretend they did everything they could, and that's just not true.''. At Mepham High School on Long Island, the entire football season was canceled after players admitted to sadistically hazing fellow teammates. Instead, they were treated as juveniles. Doyou know who I am?, The freshman, trying to show a little backbone,replied: This is America. Parents are paying up on school meals again. Dangerous Minds - CBS News Even before three varsity players for the Mepham High School Pirates sodomized three freshman teammates at a football camp, using golf balls, pine cones and a broomstick, other classes of football players had hazed new members by beating them and dunking their heads into toilets, the report said. And I know the family of one of theattackers. "The bottom line is, if we did anything wrong, we wouldn't be sitting here talking to you," says Cannestro. Treat others with the respect that you wouldlike to receive. Act appropriately. Was there anything that indicated they were injured or traumatized? Youre old enough to knowwhat youre doing., I had some friends who were older, saysMcDermott. But my son says nobody knew he would cross theline., Andys son plays lacrosse. "The question should not be the coaches should have known. Yet to place responsibilityon any adult, coach or parent, means at leastpartially acquitting the kids; to suggest that someoneshould have stopped them is to believe that they couldhave been stopped. Long Beach. asks McElroy. Of course this thing escalated tosodomy, Berger says. "My son came forward, did something that he did not want to do. Know what is expected andacceptable. Be responsible. He wrestled instead. Dont eventhink about sleeping at camp, he said. Are you on crack? In the southern reachesof Long Island, nestled between the bucolic SouthernState Parkway and the fast-food joints and cardealerships on Sunrise Highway, the four small townsof Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick, and NorthMerrick make up a solid community of working- andmiddle-class families. The kid that did it, I feel so bad forhim, the boy says. But one kid whogot it in the shitter, hes just like afag., Yeah, he says. Two of the kids are underclassmen, littlekids, he says. We're in education because we love kids.". 10/08/2022. What about the boys who were raped? There's coaches. Sofia LaSpina first Long Island female football player to score TD says McElroy. "They have to be lying.". Mepham High School Football Case Study | ipl.org The Bellmore-Merrick Board of Education voted unanimously tonight to cancel this year's football season at a Long Island high school that had been reeling from allegations that three older. Mepham High School Football Scandal - Nymag - New York Magazine It stated that, at the camp,. The abuse occurred day and night, and young players were attacked repeatedly and forced to sodomize each other, the report says. Children have strived for years to make their parents, teachers and coaches proud of them. No. We're checking it off. "He made that statement and from that day on, he's been, his family, harassed by letters and threats," says Carol. Reichsteins wife,Kristina, then begged Didden to make an example of thelineman. This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. Legendary football coach Joe Paterno was one of those who was fired, which shook up the coaching staff. High school coaches should not be required to give equal playing time to all players who make the team. 10 /r/oldmenvssluts2, 2023-02-07, 11:04:47 California makes flag football a girls' high school sport 56 /r/california , 2023-02-05, 17:36:57 . We as coaches donot see this incident as hazing, he said,but as a criminal act., Coach Mac has an attorney, Joseph Rosenthal, who isshifting the blame right back to the parents.The coach is a very dedicated, sincereperson, the lawyer says. He used to play in the minor leagues and the team loved him because of his dedication to their lives and his credibility at baseball. We've received your submission. ''Despite these warnings and policies, the players all expected hazing to take place in one form or another at the camp,'' the report said. Everyone in the pews has heard how the father had beendevastated by the criminal charges his son was facing.Aggravated assault. A pack of teenagers congregates across the street from Mepham High School, smoking their . Jason Statham and Aubrey Plaza do not seem like a match made in action-comedy-chemistry heaven, but it somehow works. The group, which calls itself Mepham Parents 4 Change, consists of eight families, but says it is quickly gathering support. He had his little list. !Effin this, effinthatyoure not coming on my team,youre done, youre done, youredone! And I started screaming at him.. This is a sore pointfor Mary. ''Our issue is our children are being blamed,'' said Paule Pachter, one of the parents in the group. He's back home on Long Island. The coaches, however, say that, in attempt to deal with Carney's threats to another member of the team, they put Reichstein's son in the cabin closest to them, and asked an upperclassman to keep an eye on both boys. How could we have known?". Tryouts are the worst thing about sports, they bring nothing but more stress to your plate. The guy grabbed me in front of the wholeteam, Berger says. And my son said, 'They inserted a broomstick.'". Soon after the first revelations of the attacks, the Reichsteins reached out to newspapers and television stations with their story. According to the report, two of the attackers held down one of the freshmen while the third sodomized the freshman with a broomstick coated with Mineral Ice, a pain-relieving ointment. Should a person get paid just for showing up for there a job and not actually doing anything?