On 10/29, the Mepham varsity football team won their away conference game against Sewanhaka (Floral Park, NY) by a score of 27-12. He's back home on Long Island. 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. The guy grabbed me in front of the wholeteam, Berger says. They had complained to the coach and the principal before football camp that their son, a freshman, had been bullied and threatened by one of the boys who was later charged in the attacks. Coach speaks out for first time on LI football team hazing allegations ''Despite these warnings and policies, the players all expected hazing to take place in one form or another at the camp,'' the report said. "Did I tell the perpetrators to go and do that to those kids? His dadsaved his friends life that day. It's the biggest week of the year for high school wrestling fans. And my son said, 'They inserted a broomstick.'". Those kids are running at full speed. Coach Mac talked to my mom, convinced us tostay. Terms of Service apply. Students have pushed their bodies to the limits, causing extreme injury that will hold them back from sports in the future. And his youth. "He was laying in bed with a big butcher knife in his hand 'cause he was scared. Mary explodes. We got the ball first on kick off and we made a touchdown on the first few drives.On. I don't have psychic skills. The Biden administrations policy of blocking unvaccinated people from the country continues to make little sense. 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). 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. ), I knew all those kids, saysanother boy, a JV player. During the first day of camp, the hazing was minor, such as one player smearing gel and powder into another's hair. 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. Just because someone shows up and participates, doesnt not mean they deserve the same treatment as everyone else. 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. MaxPreps is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. 2022 Fall Boys Football New York: Long Island Division II. Whos going to give him thatmoney now? Everything Everywhere All at Once has won in every category they were nominated for. Full speed," says McElroy. 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. Sofia LaSpina has etched her name in Long Island history. Many have lost sight of the fact that baseball players are not the only athletes that face this life threatening addiction. Mepham Football team - Long Island High School Sports - Newsday He taught us not to run away from ourproblems., How old were these kids, 16, 17? saysAndrew Longaro. The parents are organizing to demand that the school administration be held accountable for allowing the incident to occur, they said. 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. 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. 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. He went to camp but didntstay in the fated cabin. Scandal at New Jersey High school reopens hazing debate Weve been 0 and 8 since 1999!says James. Source: Football players to be tried as juveniles - CNN Offscreen, he was one himself. And you know, I'm panicking.". 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. Hed just beat upon peoplehed be walking by andboom! Theres a no-cut policy. We said, 'Are they hurting you?' Meet the Long Island High Schooler Who Made History With a Touchdown Regardless, I was all about making them the best well-rounded people before they head into the cruel world. Mepham victims file suitCharge Central District officials knew about There are the ugly jokes, the signs and buttons declaring neighborhood solidarity, and for some people, new-found activism. And McElroy neverprevented him from playing on the varsity team. Pertzborn and assistant coach Brad Rogeberg were made aware of the initial bullying on July 24, 2022, according to the police report. Go to the back of theline.. It involved a fight amongteenage boys. 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? Mepham victims file suitCharge Central District officials knew about Was there anything that indicated they were injured or traumatized? Students moved from one cabin to another without the coaches' knowing, the report says. 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. He was one of four captains chosen by CoachMac his senior season. The sentences are indeterminate, but will be reviewed every four months. 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. "He was robbed of his innocence. "He's one of the victims.". I told him what hazing was, he says.I did not explain to him that hazing wasgolf balls, broomsticks, and pinecones.Reichsteins son was unharmed; three otherfreshmen werent so lucky. "You didn't monitor him very carefully, obviously," says Patty of what happened to her 13-year-old son. 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. Other players laughed, the report said. "They couldn't be further from the truth," says Cannestro. The grand jury criticizes the school district for not providing adequate supervision during the weeklong camp, and says the district should adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward violent behavior. The issue of blame, however, continues to polarize parents and promises to loom larger as the criminal case moves ahead. Were doing this so they donthave to., In July, when Reichsteins son, an incomingfreshman, showed up for football practice, a junior onthe teamthe linemanstarted calling himand some of the other boys pussy,faggot, and cocksucker.Reichstein went to McElroy. I believe that exclusive tryouts should be held for children because they are extremely good for their mental health in three ways: tryouts teach kids humility, in that they arent always going to be selected, they help kids learn to work harder, and they boost kids confidence. That, thelineman says, is the kind of man his father was. No. And I know the family of one of theattackers. We got all new things to bring to pack. He said his surgery was a success, but he needs time to heal before he can tour again. The morals, the attitudes, of a Mepham student,are different, suggests another Kennedy player,Danny. 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. Hes the man of the family now. 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. You know, what could be going on? Please enter valid email address to continue. "He didn't go to school for a long time. *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. And the report provides the most detailed glimpse yet into the weeklong football camp and the assaults that took place in two cabins last summer. False imprisonment. Theyre a beautiful family. 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. But even those who are, still have an astonishingly low chance at making the professional leagues. "They had bags of ice and they were bashing it all over his body until the bags broke. This has allowed more and more players to look to PEDs in order to gain an edge over their opponents. It devastated us. "These boys were like 6 feet 2 inches and 6 feet 4 inches, and roughly 250 lbs. But it wasn't until Jan. 11, after a possible sexual assault that occurred the previous week, that the high school's school resource officer, Kim Wood, was made aware of the "ongoing harassment behavior toward a student/member of the varsity football team . Most are no longer talking about the issue publicly, tired of the maelstrom of feelings that is stirred each time. "Yeah," says Cannestro. This guysstill the head coach., Its a fact of lifein Bellmore and Merrick that the farther south you go,the more money youll find. Dont eventhink about sleeping at camp, he said. A player tried to flush his head in a urinal. But the school district, which canceled the football season last fall, has now, after seeing the grand jury report, relieved the coaches of their teaching positions at Mepham. But my son says nobody knew he would cross theline., Andys son plays lacrosse. "He's victimized because I asked him to do a favor in this. When trying to become a professional athlete, one must start playing sports as early as possible (Ferguson 34).Playing sports comes with many sacrifices. A minivan with two others whizzes by, music blaring. But other voices emerge at the meeting, corroboratingthe victims contention that hazing is a fact oflife at Mepham. Anger, fear in wake of Mepham attacks Parents afraid after football He previously suffered a brain aneurysm on February 18, and was ultimately taken off life support. Five football coaches at the center of the Mepham High School sexual abuse scandal will not be allowed to coach the team next year, the Bellmore-Merrick school board said on Wednesday. MEPHAM PARENTS TO PLOT ACTION - New York Post These towns lost seventeenpeople in the World Trade Center attacks.Theyre places whose kids go to college locallyand then settle here and raise families. CNN. Criminal coercion. In 1994, Wesley Bergerwas a Mepham freshman, a football player with a shelfof trophiesMVP for the peewee league,fastest-runner and best-tackler awards. I should just sit there and go, 'Hmm, he's hazing him.' College athletics are oftentimes not as glamorous as one would think. Watch this highlight video of the Mepham (North Bellmore, NY) football team in its game Recap: Mepham vs. MacArthur 2022 on Nov 4, 2022. A problem arises though once try outs are over and the team is announced. Everybody knew I got hazed in the lockerroom, he says. He said no," recalls Carol. Students attend a pep rally at Mepham High School in Bellmore, N.Y. Who? Mepham High School Football Scandal - nymag.com asks McElroy. Nor did he suspendthe three alleged perpetrators, and as a result, theywere allowed to walk the hallways of Mepham High fornearly two weeks. One afternoon after practice, they air theirtheories, the chief one being that the lineman musthave been traumatized as a kid. Mepham High School (North Bellmore, NY) Varsity Football - MaxPreps.com But it really happened., McElroys lawyer vehemently denies almost everyaspect of Bergers story. On 11/4, the Mepham varsity football team won their home playoff game against Elmont Memorial (Elmont, NY) by a score of 14-7. They did not come to help me.Rullo quotes the parent of that child as blamingprincipal John Didden, who did not protect mychild., Four days later, Rullo and two other parents who spokereceive identical profanity-laced letters in the mail,warning that if they keep speaking out, theyllalso get the broomstick treatment. No. These parents are now lobbying for a national hazing law, one with severe penalties. Did I do anything to those kids?" The boy was a member of the 2007 Charlton County High School junior varsity golf team. L.I. Village Split Over Decision To Forfeit Game Over Hazing A day later, the threeboys were suspended, and a student. When parents came to an emergency meeting on September16 with the principal and superintendent, they heardnot mea culpas but accusations. Husband of woman murdered with an ax convicted 40 years after her death 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. Mineral ice and especially that he now had, from the first time, a cut," says Carol. Most students, the girls say, have not gotten caught up in the anger and recrimination that have divided their parents. The problem was with thekidsand with the parents who brought them upthat way., Sothe parents. Football: State record broken in Holy Spirit's Thanksgiving win over Atlantic City Football 2022-2023 - NJ.com If you do something wrong, youd better go home and pack your toothbrush because youll pay the consequences, he told the teen. By the end of three exciting days in Atlantic City, 14 champions will emerge at the NJSIAA/Rothman Orthopaedics State . 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. Subscriber Exclusive. That was until Berger started practicethe August before his freshman year. He cites essays abouthazing from the Internet, including an academic paperby Elizabeth Allan of the University of Maine thatincludes in a long list of hazing activitiessexual simulation and sexual assault., The conduct took place in a juvenilesetting, Alter argues. 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. On 11/11, the Mepham varsity football team won their neutral playoff game against Long Beach (NY) by a score of 14-0. ''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. ''Our issue is our children are being blamed,'' said Paule Pachter, one of the parents in the group. Kevin Minnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com | Dec 7, 2022. So, no., But, you know, says McDermott, ifthey wanted to do 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. 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. Reichstein triedto stare the lineman down. The crime scene evidence that convicted Alex Murdaugh It stated that, at the camp,. At Mepham High School on Long Island, the entire football season was canceled after players admitted to sadistically hazing fellow teammates. If such a policy had been in place, one of the attackers would not have been allowed at the camp, the report says. But rather, in my opinion, how could the coaches have known?" "The kid who just made the tackle," says Cannestro, identifying one of the players on the tape. Legendary football coach Joe Paterno was one of those who was fired, which shook up the coaching staff. "Everybody says we should just know. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Correspondent Peter Van Sant reports. High schools on Long Island have led a crackdown on rough-housing since the 2003 Mepham High School football training camp hazing scandal rocked the nation. Bellmore Journal; Life Goes On but Is Altered After School Scandal One was sent to a boot camp, another to a juvenile treatment facility and the third returned home on probation. Ke Huy Quan Continues His Winning Streak at the Independent Spirit Awards. Anotherparent, Jim Rullo, delivers a prepared statement onbehalf of the victims families. The coaches, who supervised the trip, say that they had no idea any of this was happening during the camp. He says the coach started yelling.Hes like, No! Colleges and the NCAA can make money selling jerseys and other souvenirs that might include the likeness of players, yet the actual players never receive a cent. Why wasn't there a coach sleeping in the cabins? 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. "We're not suggesting anything about injuries. "He was waiting for them [the coaches] to come in and save him, but no one came," says Carol's husband, Vinny. On the second day, the incidents became brutal. What LAppartement 4F Co-owner Ashley Coiffard Put on Her Wedding Registry. Kevin McElroy, the man in charge of the football camp and Mepham High School's head coach, has remained silent for the last six months. He told him to find a friend and never bealone. 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. The Bellmore-Merrick school boards decision not to rehire the coaches next year has taken a stake and driven it right through the heart of the community again, said head coach Kevin McElroy. What went wrong? Instead, they were treated as juveniles. 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 benched for two years as the lawsuit creptthrough the legal system. Yeah, that shit gotfreakin blown up. I think they hated me because I introduced the pull-up to their strength and conditioning program. Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix have broken up after he allegedly cheated on her with Raquel Leviss. He had to tell people what happened to him," says Carol. "He was after my son morning, noon, and night. But at a hearing in Honesdale, Pa., President Judge Robert Conway barred 16-year-old Tom Diasparra from returning to the Bellemore, L.I., high school and warned him to watch his step. They demanded that the boy be barred from camp but were rebuffed, they said. display: none; Dominick Novello, Mepham battle through tough conditions to advance to It is understandable that everyone can not make the team but it is a terrible thing to cut children by telling them they did not have enough room on the team or are not ready to be on it. "There were no screams. On Bellmore Avenue, themain drag in town, a mile or so east of Mepham,Docs Pub serves as an unofficial class-reunionspace. My father was agreat man, he begins, and tells a story of howhis dad once saw a crashed, burning car, pulled overand ran to help, and discovered that the guy trappedin the passengers seat was a friend. 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. Kristina and Vic Reichstein stand upand say their son, a freshman, was threatened by thelineman during practice in July and August. Also, sleep-away sports camps will no longer be authorized by the school district, Billig said. Did you know that depending on the sport, students who play sports in college most likely have less than a 2% chance of becoming professional athletes? 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. That blond buzzcut, the baby face, the meager beginnings of agoateehes only 16, too young to beburying his father. Mepham High School football head coach Anthony Cracco says LaSpina is the perfect role model for anyone who wants to just play because she worked hard and never got discouraged, adding there's a . However, some would argue to say high school football is too dangerous to keep around. A Pennsylvania judge imposed strong penalties yesterday on two teens who sexually abused younger players at a high school football camp sentencing one to a military-style boot camp and the other to a juvenile detention center. The coaches would have to be everywhere at thesame time, says Dave Hill. I went to summerschool with them. The lineman, he says,was always starting fights. Report Says Hazing Culture Led to Attacks On 3 Athletes Imagine your best friends making the school soccer team and you getting cut, because your not ready or there is no room.
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