mepham high school football scandal

Children have strived for years to make their parents, teachers and coaches proud of them. Ultimately, its gonnabe a civil case. Abner Louima sued the New YorkPolice Department for $155 million, eventuallysettling for $8.75 million. Since returning from camp, he has barely slept. The way they walked? The coaches would have to be everywhere at thesame time, says Dave Hill. After the coacheswent to sleep in their own cabin, at least threemembers of the team, ages 15, 16, and 17, allegedlyrubbed heat-producing mineral ice on broomsticks,pinecones, and golf balls and used those items topenetrate at least three freshman players while therest of the boys in the cabin all bore witness. And who you can expect to see performing and presenting. What about, say, having your head flushed in a toilet? "He was waiting for them [the coaches] to come in and save him, but no one came," says Carol's husband, Vinny. Theyre a beautiful family. Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. We love our community. The superintendent, while admonishing the team for notcooperating with the investigation, has also putforward a tidy defense of McElroy and the principal,Didden. "My son came forward, did something that he did not want to do. The coaches' lawyer and officials for the Bellmore-Merrick School District did not comment on the report's findings or its criticisms. Due to the poormoral character of your children, Kristina saysCaramore told the parents, this investigationis not moving forward. She stood up and askedDidden twice if any child had been threatened beforethe camp incidents. They had hoped that the three assailants (Phil Sofia, Ken Carney, and Tom Diasparra) would be tried as adults for the crimes. This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. For me, this challenge helped me develop as a person than will work harder and strive for the best in my academics. Moreover, they must spend money on equipment, clothing, and food (37). The emotional impact on him is unbelievable," adds Carol. And he's looking for something in the house to hurt himself.' According to the nine-page report, the culture of hazing and a lack of supervision and safeguards to protect students led to the sexual assaults that occurred in August while Mepham's varsity and junior varsity teams prepared for the season at a camp in Wayne County, Pa. Does heknow this for sure? Watch this highlight video of the Mepham (North Bellmore, NY) football team in its game Recap: Mepham vs. South Side 2022 on Oct 22, 2022. Research shows that 70% of kids drop out of sports for many reasons and not making the team is one. On September 17, the Bellmore-Merrick Central HighSchool District Board of Education canceledMephams football season. Rick Scott Is Unfortunately Right About Novak Djokovic. At this point, though, those feelings have mostly worn off, replaced by a different set of reactions, from weary resolve to dark humor. MaxPreps is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. 2022 Fall Boys Football New York: Long Island Division II. Sofia LaSpina has etched her name in Long Island history. Kids and adults are then forced to take a side on the issue for the good of the school and the safety of the children. "We have a clip of the JV football scrimmage," says McElroy, who believes it proves that there was nothing obviously wrong. Hazing scandal rocks high school | News, Sports, Jobs - Lawrence The school's 2003 football season was canceled amid allegations that three varsity football players sexually assaulted three . In recent years, the Pirates havent done aswell, losing roughly as many games as theyvewon, but the coach remains a local legendafather figure who welcomes players to his house forbarbecues with his teenage daughters in attendance.Its not surprising, then, that McElroy and theadministration would be the first stop on thewhos-to-blame tour. The police call what happened in August at thePirates five-day training camp a series ofAbner Louimastyle sex attacks (though,curiously, no student interviewed by police has evenmentioned Louimas name). Mepham High School football hazing case tore Long Island apart in 2003. OK. Some tryouts are not far by any means, in which the coaches pick from not the skill but by the way they know the student. "Yeah," says Cannestro. Mepham High School (North Bellmore, NY) Varsity Football Varsity Boys Football North Bellmore, NY FOLLOW TEAM 22-23 V. Football Home Schedule Roster Standings Rankings Photos Videos News More / Mepham High School Football Mepham Football OVERALL 10-2 0.83 Win % LEAGUE 8-1 2nd in League HOME6-0 AWAY3-1 NEUTRAL1-1 PF334 PA169 STREAK1L Also, sleep-away sports camps will no longer be authorized by the school district, Billig said. She says Didden said no twice.Thats when Vic stood up and called Didden aliar. One was sent to a boot camp, another to a juvenile treatment facility and the third returned home on probation. The third player in the Mepham HS hazing scandal was sentenced to probation after he made a deal with prosecutors and provided information. The three attackers were charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse after they sodomized the younger players with pine cones, golf balls and a broomstick in August at a football camp in Preston Park, Pa. Thats when Berger says Coach Mac lunged athimhis hand reaching the boys throat. This wasn't just something that happened when the lights went out.". In the meantime, experts say violent hazings in high schools are becoming more frequent. Waiting outside in front of the hearseis a police escort, to ward off the media. This is hard tosayI know he was a good coach and a lot of kidsliked him. Some parents and athletes believe equal playing time for all sports and activities is deserved all through their middle school and high school careers. 1999, McAlester High School, Oklahoma: A football player suffered a head injury after he was jumped by older teammates in a locker-room hazing. What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan shows just that. But these parents say the risk to their children was greater. Mepham victims file suitCharge Central District officials knew about The coaches let him go, the report says, ''because he was a good football player. JUDGE SLAMS MEPHAM HAZERS - New York Post School administrators, however, let him get on the bus anyway. ", "Did a parent come and complain to us? My sonthinks its just a bad thing that went too far,too fast., Andy mentions what some people are sayingthatwhat happened at camp was part of a pattern of hazingat Mepham. But other voices emerge at the meeting, corroboratingthe victims contention that hazing is a fact oflife at Mepham. "All of a sudden, you get this child who's been broken. Theres a no-cut policy. The coaches, who slept in a cabin away from their players, said they knew nothing of the violence until a parent complained to school officials. Parents are paying up on school meals again. The grand jury report did not state that sexual assault had been part of hazing at Mepham High School or at past football camps (there were two before 2003). Its all fun and games, saysMcDermott. We've received your submission. We're going to all the sports stores. Travis Barkers Finger Is Now the Enema of Blink-182 Fans. Relatives read from the books of Matthew and Wisdom.And then the linemanwhom classmates call abully, who would shove kids hed never even metinto lockers as they walked bystands suddenly,stepping out from his place in the front, and walksback eight rows to give a bear hug to his littlebrother, seated next to his mother (who was divorcedfrom the father). 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.) Dominick Novello #2, Mepham quarterback, throws a pass during a rain-filled Nassau County football Conference II semifinal against Long Beach at Shuart Stadium on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. "I don't want everything he's gone through to be just a waste. 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. "He was laying in bed with a big butcher knife in his hand 'cause he was scared. Should they also get paid the same amount even if another co-worker is better at their job? 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. She shouts out all the ladies (mothers and wives) in the room. Keep yourmouth shut, the letters read, andnothing will happen to you or your family.. Once rated one of the best academic high schools in the nation, Mepham High is now mired in scandal. He was benched for two years as the lawsuit creptthrough the legal system. Most students, the girls say, have not gotten caught up in the anger and recrimination that have divided their parents. At least one group of parents has decided they will continue to speak out. Michelle Yeoh Promises No Swearing, Only Tears During Best Lead Performance Win. Involuntary deviate sexualintercourse. Theyre big football players who look andact like football players, says Jesse.Big and aggressive., The lineman was yelled at a lot,remembers another boy. He was just frightened," says his father, Vinny. But its notthe only time I hear neighbors, even parents, floatthis notion. ''There's no question that they knew hazing had gone on for years, and they allowed it to go on,'' said Robert Kelly, a lawyer for two of the victims. I need to know for medical.' "We went out. Kristina and Vic Reichstein stand upand say their son, a freshman, was threatened by thelineman during practice in July and August. And he was very excited," recalls Patty. At Mepham High School on Long Island, the entire football season was canceled after players admitted to sadistically hazing fellow teammates. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. A pack of teenagers congregates across the street from Mepham High School, smoking their cigarettes and clowning. The boy, wearing a regulation backward baseball cap,is standing at the schools west entrance. Report Says Hazing Culture Led to Attacks On 3 Athletes Wesley?Wesley was a nasty rat bastard! Two of the kids are underclassmen, littlekids, he says. The transition to college is not a walk in the park, but add a rigorous summer conditioning program, two-a-days everyday, and the pressures of coaches you have yet to impress, and you have a recipe for disaster. The team did it along with some guidance from my assistant coach and the parents. Everyone laughs. Oct. 20, 2003. Berger says his friends persuaded him to stay off theteam. Although some parents claim that their child has felt so defeated by an unsuccessful tryout that they dont want to continue with the sport, this is not always what happens. As she accepts her Someone to Watch award on stage. On October 6, heannounced that that was his intention. . Anyplayer that wants to be on the football team can be onthe team. They feel a sense of guilt and shame that holds them back from saying anything and we see this is the Mepham High School Football case. A school divided Students split over Central board's decision to cancel As well as rebuking the attackers, the report criticizes the school system and the Pennsylvania judge who handled the cases. But my son says nobody knew he would cross theline., Andys son plays lacrosse. Mepham has big hill to climb against Garden City in battle of unbeatens Go to the back of theline.. When parents came to an emergency meeting on September16 with the principal and superintendent, they heardnot mea culpas but accusations. College football players should get paid to play because these players put themselves at risk for injury, college football is a job, not p.e, and it will help players adjust to college socially and economically. Watch this highlight video of the Mepham (North Bellmore, NY) football team in its game Recap: Mepham vs. Long Beach 2022 on Nov 4, 2022. He was one of four captains chosen by CoachMac his senior season. Most of the shit they did was pranks,like shaving cream, one Mepham boy tells me ona sunny Wednesday, a day before the funeral of thelinemans father. Nothing.". Jonathan Anderson gets one of the first qualities of great fashion that it has to feel a bit strange. Reichstein triedto stare the lineman down. Signup for our newsletter to get notified about our next ride. "I assumed he was homesick, so I said, 'Stick it out. According to the report, ''a lack of accountability appears to permeate the entire structure of the administration and running of this camp program.'' The public was barred from the hearing, but the penalties and the judges comments were disclosed by relatives of victims, lawyers and cops. "I had a personal conversation with one of the victims daily, and not once did he indicate to me that anything was wrong," says Cannestro. The guy grabbed me in front of the wholeteam, Berger says. 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. Into the locker! Soon after the first revelations of the attacks, the Reichsteins reached out to newspapers and television stations with their story. The coaches say they were staying in another cabin less than 50 yards from the players, and if anyone screamed, they would have heard it. says McElroy. Mineral ice and especially that he now had, from the first time, a cut," says Carol. My sons not. After Dax Shepard asked her about her musical chairs relationship situation. "He missed the whole first, basically, semester. Werent theyalready on the right track? "He was screaming. Mary explodes. Were happy as can be, said Carol, an aunt of one of the victims. What went wrong? Are you on crack? 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? When trying to become a professional athlete, one must start playing sports as early as possible (Ferguson 34).Playing sports comes with many sacrifices. Just because someone shows up and participates, doesnt not mean they deserve the same treatment as everyone else. His broad shoulders are slumpedand trembling as he walks the coffin down the aisle ofSaint Barnabas Church in Bellmore, Long Island. Bellmore Journal; Life Goes On but Is Altered After School Scandal On 10/29, the Mepham varsity football team won their away conference game against Sewanhaka (Floral Park, NY) by a score of 27-12. Relatives of the victims, 13 and 14 at the time of the attacks, expressed satisfaction at the outcome. Most are no longer talking about the issue publicly, tired of the maelstrom of feelings that is stirred each time. Including dishwasher-safe Japanese porcelain, two sets of French-made knives, and a sleek kettle. Subscriber Exclusive. The sentences are indeterminate, but will be reviewed every four months. Not a lot of kids are good enough to play in the top college sports programs in the country. Brackets for the 2023 NJSIAA State Wrestling Championships in Atlantic '', Report Says Hazing Culture Led to Attacks On 3 Athletes, https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/11/nyregion/report-says-hazing-culture-led-to-attacks-on-3-athletes.html. The issue spans to not only the professional level, but the high school and collegiate divisions as well. Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix have broken up after he allegedly cheated on her with Raquel Leviss. MEPHAM COACHES BOOTED IN HAZING SCANDAL - New York Post Mepham High School Football Coach Anthony Cracco's Sex Scandal Has Bellmore . Thursday, November 6, 2003 Posted: 1537 GMT (11:37 PM HKT) Story Tools. Did either coach notice anything on these children's faces? 10/08/2022. Meet the Long Island High Schooler Who Made History With a Touchdown Once in high school, senior athletes have scouts that come out to see them play. no.". "He said to him, 'Don't even think of sleeping at football camp. Conway could have sentenced the three including Phil Sofia, 17, and Ken Carney, 16 to juvenile jail until they turned 21 or he could have given them probation. "There's nothing anyone else could have done differently," adds Cannestro. He never judged us, saysDave Lohman, class of 94. When tryouts begin these individuals hope their skills and abilities will get them recognized by not only the coaches, but the returning players as well. His dadsaved his friends life that day. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. We dont beat guysup., Some of his old teammates have gathered to buy drinksfrom him. Athletes must commit time to practice and traveling. But the victims told their parents they were screaming at the top of their lungs. OK? display: none; asks McElroy. No," says McElroy. I am 13 years old and I am on the Friendswood junior high C-football team I am a second string slot receiver and starting strong safety and I 'm also a second string strong side linebacker it was our last game of the season,so we really wanted to go out on the win or a record for the season was one way in five losses and one tie,we hadn 't had a great season so we especially wanted to go out on a win. How could we have known?". In earlier interviews, the head coach, Kevin McElroy, and his four assistants have said they did not know about the attacks, and could have done nothing to prevent them. MINEOLA, N.Y. -- Mepham High School football coach Kevin McElroy said Tuesday he was "shocked" by allegations that members of his varsity squad sexually abused younger players and said he. "He was after my son morning, noon, and night. But for the victims' families, the report came as a vindication, they said. "The bottom line is, if we did anything wrong, we wouldn't be sitting here talking to you," says Cannestro. Ke Huy Quan Continues His Winning Streak at the Independent Spirit Awards. The issue of blame, however, continues to polarize parents and promises to loom larger as the criminal case moves ahead. However, some would argue to say high school football is too dangerous to keep around. Where does it end?". Nassau County Girl Scouts fundraise for victims of quake in Syria, Turkey at Masjid Hamza, Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions. The coach wentalong with canceling the season because he knew kidswere not coming forward. Anotherparent, Jim Rullo, delivers a prepared statement onbehalf of the victims families. A few blocks from school, Allie Pagano and Sarah Mirenda, both 14, stop at the local pizza shop, Luigi's, on their way home. Mepham victims file suitCharge Central District officials knew about Stats are entered by the coach or designated team statistician in the admin. "He came to me and said, 'I'm bleeding. He was riding the bus along with varsity members, who held him upside down. Trust me been there done that, the most regretted thing about school sports for many are tryouts. False imprisonment. Thelinemans fathers death on October 5created one delay in moving the case forward; otherdelays have been due to the attorneys effortsto bring the case back to juvenile status, and tonegotiate their clients surrender into custody. He suggests that broomsticks,golf balls, and pinecones are consistent withtraditional forms of hazing. CNN. Some have hired lawyers for their children. The sexual assaults that occurred last summer among members of a Long Island high school football team sprang from old traditions of violent hazing that coaches and school officials could not curb, according to a report handed up yesterday by a Pennsylvania grand jury. "Everybody says we should just know. The grand jury report did not state that sexual assault had been part of hazing at Mepham High School or at past football camps (there were two before 2003). When the victims came forward, the team closed ranks.Kids who were said to have witnessed the attacksrefused to talk, even though the longtime coach of thePirates, Kevin McElroyCoach Mac to anyone whoknows himwarned them that the season would endif they didnt come forward. In 1994, Wesley Bergerwas a Mepham freshman, a football player with a shelfof trophiesMVP for the peewee league,fastest-runner and best-tackler awards. He was 40 years old. A day later, the threeboys were suspended, and a student demonstrationerupted behind the schoolto the delight of theTV crews camped out there. 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 The incident angered the victim's mother, who. Hisfriend was a captain on the team, he maybe was gonnaget a scholarship. But rather, in my opinion, how could the coaches have known?" He said, 'Well, your son was just online and saying he can't take it anymore. The problem was with thekidsand with the parents who brought them upthat way., Sothe parents. When I was in ninth grade, says Lohman,my father died and my mother wanted to move toFlorida. All rights reserved. Nassau County Girl Scouts fundraise for victims of quake in Syria, Turkey at Masjid Hamza, Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions. ''We don't do it in front of them,'' the teenager said, referring to the victims. They speak ofbroomsticks, pinecones, and golf balls. It stated that, at the camp,. Ken Carney, 16, the ringleader of the attacks, was well-known by school administrators as a disciplinary problem. Touring the world with friends one mile and pub at a time; In the end, they will be left unprepared for life. On Bellmore Avenue, themain drag in town, a mile or so east of Mepham,Docs Pub serves as an unofficial class-reunionspace. It has been more than a month since school officials and prosecutors revealed that three older players were accused of sodomizing three freshmen with broomsticks, pine cones and golf balls in an attack in late August at a preseason football camp in Pennsylvania. It was horrible. One afternoon after practice, they air theirtheories, the chief one being that the lineman musthave been traumatized as a kid. Please enter valid email address to continue. Hes been introuble before, that kid. A day later, the threeboys were suspended, and a student. '', ''This is a wake-up call,'' said the father of one of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect his son. College athletics are oftentimes not as glamorous as one would think. Did I do anything to those kids?" L.I. Village Split Over Decision To Forfeit Game Over Hazing The victims didn't tell us. Before lastmonth, Mepham High was generally known as anabove-average school with a robust athletic program.Fathers and sons have played for the Mepham Pirates,and Saturday football games are huge social events.The players are the schools heroes: With thepossible exception of Roone Arledge, Mephamsmost famous alumnus has been star Pittsburgh Steelersrunning back Amos Zereoue. He even threatened teachers. Four days ago, hisfather died in his sleep. Still, they will be held accountable for what they did on some level, she added. Then it became a football school. All the while, older players watched and laughed. Not a wink. The parishioners sing Make Me aChannel of Your Peace. And then the younglineman, who charged onto the varsity squad hissophomore year at W.C. Mepham High SchoolHomeof the Piratesis in tears. 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. According to a local new report, two older students called the boy to the back of the bus and, in addition to the wedgie, punched the 13-year-old in the groin and stomach all as a part of an initiation ritual. Treat others with the respect that you wouldlike to receive. Act appropriately. You know, what could be going on? He said his surgery was a success, but he needs time to heal before he can tour again. "What constitutes a scream?" He never brought this incident toMcElroys attention; he must have brought it tothe JV coachs attention. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. We're checking it off. "He didn't go to school for a long time. There are the ugly jokes, the signs and buttons declaring neighborhood solidarity, and for some people, new-found activism. The Mepham-Garden City football game this week could be a juicy one. At first, shock and disbelief prevailed. I said, You wantto lock me in a locker and laugh for an hour, fine.But Im not down with urine, dude., At the beginning of his junior year, Berger says, heshowed up to start the season.

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