#inline-recirc-item--id-a617c056-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { "He was laying in bed with a big butcher knife in his hand 'cause he was scared. "All of a sudden, you get this child who's been broken. South Side. I dont evencare what they did.. Sports in Mepham isvery big.. We were afraid they would walk away with probation.. 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.'" I think hes adirtbag. "Not once. 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. Considering the college scholarships that can be provided, the countless generations of players in certain families, and the homecoming activities would be pointless without it. 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. 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. 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. Theyre sick of reporters, andtheyre worried about the lineman. The district's superintendent, Dr. Thomas Caramore, defended the decision in a letter to the community earlier this month, saying the principal spoke with the boy and the coach before camp, and there was no way of anticipating the attacks. They were later suspended from classes on September 18. 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. Are you on crack? Students ''don't know who to blame,'' said Allie. But for the victims' families, the report came as a vindication, they said. Everyone in the pews has heard how the father had beendevastated by the criminal charges his son was facing.Aggravated assault. The father died on October 5a daybefore news broke that the lineman may be tried as anadult for some 26 felonies stemming from events thattook place over several late nights in August atMephams football-training camp in Wayne County,Pennsylvania. } 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. They speak ofbroomsticks, pinecones, and golf balls. 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. Offscreen, he was one himself. 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. Most high school athletes across America share one common aspiration: play their sport at the next level in college. In the end, they will be left unprepared for life. Did I do anything to those kids?" Some say that although they are shocked and angry over the incident, they are torn over whether the alleged attackers, still juveniles, deserve long prison sentences -- which they would face if they are tried as adults, as the prosecution wants. However, earning your position, being undeserving of playing time, and coaches trying to win in their respected program are all issues that need to be thought of before people begin fighting for equal playing time. When parents came to an emergency meeting on September16 with the principal and superintendent, they heardnot mea culpas but accusations. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Privacy Policy and The coaches' lawyer and officials for the Bellmore-Merrick School District did not comment on the report's findings or its criticisms. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, Buster Murdaugh got 'very drunk' with dad 2 months after mom, brother murdered: source, I'm a professional cleaner ditch these 4 household products immediately, Shoeless Ariana Madix awkwardly tries to avoid cheating Tom Sandoval, Prince Harry was scared to lose Meghan Markle after fight that led to therapy, Prince Harry says psychedelics are fundamental part of his life, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant allegedly flashes gun at a strip club, Tom Sizemore And The Dangerous Burden of Desperation, Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss planned to tell Ariana Madix about affair. On September 17, the Bellmore-Merrick Central HighSchool District Board of Education canceledMephams football season. When a. Statistically showing, at least 100,000 college football players get hurt yearly. We love our community. 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. The public was barred from the hearing, but the penalties and the judges comments were disclosed by relatives of victims, lawyers and cops. But rather, in my opinion, how could the coaches have known?" "There's nothing anyone else could have done differently," adds Cannestro. At Mepham High School on Long Island, the entire football season was canceled after players admitted to sadistically hazing fellow teammates. Parents demanded:Shouldnt they have been there to stop theseboys? No one understands this better thanMark Alter, the lawyer for the alleged ringleader.The fact that its egregious allegationsdoes not necessarily mean its not a juvenilecase, says Alter. display: none; Were happy as can be, said Carol, an aunt of one of the victims. Wesley?Wesley was a nasty rat bastard! Regardless, I was all about making them the best well-rounded people before they head into the cruel world. Jonathan Anderson gets one of the first qualities of great fashion that it has to feel a bit strange. With FamousAmos on the squad, the team made the county playoffsall four years. They reallycouldnt do anything about it. At first, shock and disbelief prevailed. "Standing up and giving a 'rah, rah' when my son and the other boys are hurting in this way is so disrespectful. PARLIN, N.J. - The investigation at a New Jersey prep football powerhouse that has led to sex crime charges against seven teens prompted an almost unheard-of . *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. Mepham High School Football Tragedy 1056 Words | 5 Pages. 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. Bells toll. "What constitutes a scream?" The coaches are suing to get their jobs back. I'm grabbing all the medication out of my cabinet and looking for everything that I think he's gonna hurt himself. Theres no way youcant play me. And coming in, you expect it.Youre ready for it., From what I heard, the guys stuck his head inthe toilet, and that was it. A failure can be a downward spiral or a setback turning into a benefit. And he's looking for something in the house to hurt himself.' I should just sit there and go, 'Hmm, he's hazing him.' The issue spans to not only the professional level, but the high school and collegiate divisions as well. Hisfriend was a captain on the team, he maybe was gonnaget a scholarship. According to the report, ''a lack of accountability appears to permeate the entire structure of the administration and running of this camp program.'' It looks like a tasty treat for any high school football fan. All the while, older players watched and laughed. Tell us how you did it coach. These words were forced into my face with a camera lens almost resting against my cheeks (page 395). Ken Carney, 16, the ringleader of the attacks, was well-known by school administrators as a disciplinary problem. Hasnt hebeen through enough? No!! A day later, the threeboys were suspended, and a student demonstrationerupted behind the schoolto the delight of theTV crews camped out there. His broad shoulders are slumpedand trembling as he walks the coffin down the aisle ofSaint Barnabas Church in Bellmore, Long Island. But are they really fortunate? "The gastroenterologist said, 'What happened? It stated that, at the camp,. This has allowed more and more players to look to PEDs in order to gain an edge over their opponents. (Almost as prevalent is the idea, notconfirmed by police, that the linemans fathercommitted suicide. 1999, McAlester High School, Oklahoma: A football player suffered a head injury after he was jumped by older teammates in a locker-room hazing. 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. I ask. And you know, I'm panicking.". I need to see a doctor,'" says Carol. Sofia was sent to a boot camp, and Carney was sent to a juvenile detention center. 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. The issue of blame, however, continues to polarize parents and promises to loom larger as the criminal case moves ahead. 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. The Biden administrations policy of blocking unvaccinated people from the country continues to make little sense. Berger produced the requiredslip of paper. 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. Despite the linemans threats, noone could have anticipated what happened atcamp, Caramore told parents in a speech, adding thatwhatever happened wasnt hazing:None of us in Bellmore-Merrick has used thatterm to define what is, in fact, a brutalcrime., The hazing-or-not debate is a key factor in the legalbattles to come. All five lost their coaching positions. Subscriber Exclusive. However, it seems too important to let go. At this point, the victims would have already suffered numerous attacks. Dont eventhink about sleeping at camp, he said. ''It's got to end here. "He was absolutely screaming. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Thats when Berger says Coach Mac lunged athimhis hand reaching the boys throat. You may notstart, but youll be on the team.. By Michael Luo. Kids in the bunks didn't tell us. But it really happened., McElroys lawyer vehemently denies almost everyaspect of Bergers story. We're checking it off. At least one group of parents has decided they will continue to speak out. I cried," says Carol, who asked her friend, Jim Rullo, to make a speech on her behalf. Kristina and Vic Reichstein stand upand say their son, a freshman, was threatened by thelineman during practice in July and August. Those individuals who just made the team now deal with a problem that happens mainly from the. A few blocks from school, Allie Pagano and Sarah Mirenda, both 14, stop at the local pizza shop, Luigi's, on their way home. #inline-recirc-item--id-a617c056-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-a617c056-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { And people who might have had the chance to prevent this incident are not being held accountable.''. For a select number of fortunate athletes, that dream becomes a reality when they commit to a school and sign their letter of intent. CNN. Most students, the girls say, have not gotten caught up in the anger and recrimination that have divided their parents. That, thelineman says, is the kind of man his father was. 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. Its all fun and games, saysMcDermott. "He said to him, 'Don't even think of sleeping at football camp. 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. He had to tell people what happened to him," says Carol. Not, 'Coach, things aren't good over here.' ''Our issue is our children are being blamed,'' said Paule Pachter, one of the parents in the group. 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. ''They continue to try to bury this thing and pretend they did everything they could, and that's just not true.''. Everything Everywhere All at Once has won in every category they were nominated for. They had hoped that the three assailants (Phil Sofia, Ken Carney, and Tom Diasparra) would be tried as adults for the crimes. On the second day, the incidents became brutal. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Long Beach. He never judged us, saysDave Lohman, class of 94. Were more Jewish! another kidyells, laughing. Now the Reichsteins have written the stateDepartment of Education, demanding an investigation. The two boys join their sister tobring the Communion offerings forward as the mournerssing Be Not Afraid.. All rights reserved. When members of a high-school football team on Long Island were accused of sexual attacks, the community was appalled . 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). Many parents, especially those with children on the football team, have found it hard adjusting to their new reality in the center of a fishbowl. At last nights meeting, one player called the coaches caring role models, and team captain Dan Cosenza hugged McElroy. At middle schools, high schools and colleges across the country, everyone is arguing over whether or not students with failing grades should be allowed to play sports. More than 60 players attended the camp, including the boy's best friend Patty and Jimmy's son who was also just 13. display: block; MEPHAM COACHES BOOTED IN HAZING SCANDAL News MEPHAM COACHES BOOTED IN HAZING SCANDAL By Kieran Crowely November 6, 2003 5:00am Hugged by his team captain and cheered by supporters, Mepham. At 1:21 p.m. last Friday, the Mepham High School football and cheerleading squads should have rushed onto Mepham's field for a No," says McElroy. Coach Mac talked to my mom, convinced us tostay. Anyplayer that wants to be on the football team can be onthe team. OK? We got the ball first on kick off and we made a touchdown on the first few drives.On. Mineral ice and especially that he now had, from the first time, a cut," says Carol. What's more, before camp, parents Victor and Kristina Reichstein say Carney threatened their 13-year-old son. Yeah, that shit gotfreakin blown up. On 11/11, the Mepham varsity football team won their neutral playoff game against Long Beach (NY) by a score of 14-0. Go to the back of theline.. Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix have broken up after he allegedly cheated on her with Raquel Leviss. 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 . These parents are now lobbying for a national hazing law, one with severe penalties.

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