If such a policy had been in place, one of the attackers would not have been allowed at the camp, the report says. }, First published on April 12, 2004 / 5:10 PM. And his youth. For a select number of fortunate athletes, that dream becomes a reality when they commit to a school and sign their letter of intent. We're checking it off. Youve got some Janning to do! Research shows that 70% of kids drop out of sports for many reasons and not making the team is one. Most high school athletes across America share one common aspiration: play their sport at the next level in college. You know, what could be going on? Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix have broken up after he allegedly cheated on her with Raquel Leviss. 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. !Effin this, effinthatyoure not coming on my team,youre done, youre done, youredone! And I started screaming at him.. NEW 'REAGAN' DEBATE - GOP RIPS SHOWTIME FOR TAKING SERIES 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. Because if these attacks are acceptedas hazing, then the school is responsible. Touring the world with friends one mile and pub at a time; Heand a group of kids have me surrounded. Here's why food advocates are worried they cant afford it. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. Which mayexplain why Coach Mac, in his only public statement,has concurred with Caramore. mepham high school football scandal. At first, shock and disbelief prevailed. According to the report, ''a lack of accountability appears to permeate the entire structure of the administration and running of this camp program.'' The school also erred by putting the coaches in one cabin and leaving the players in other cabins, supervised only by an older teammate, the report says. When Patty and Jimmy's son came home, he told them he had been sodomized, too. These individuals hope to be part of something special, whether its achieving individual goals or team goals. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google With FamousAmos on the squad, the team made the county playoffsall four years. Reichstein triedto stare the lineman down. 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.) 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. ), I knew all those kids, saysanother boy, a JV player. Mary explodes. And he's looking for something in the house to hurt himself.' Mysons season has been completely fucked up! "He's victimized because I asked him to do a favor in this. During the recessional, he submits to a seeminglyendless succession of embracesmuch like theones he received from his former teammates last nightat the wake. They have become activists, who say that the incident is just part of a pattern of problems in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District. MaxPreps is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. 2022 Fall Boys Football New York: Long Island Division II. The issue spans to not only the professional level, but the high school and collegiate divisions as well. Husband of woman murdered with an ax convicted 40 years after her death Anotherparent, Jim Rullo, delivers a prepared statement onbehalf of the victims families. "He was screaming. Three days after camp ended, Carol and Vinny's son asked for help. Travis Barkers Finger Is Now the Enema of Blink-182 Fans. 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. And I know the family of one of theattackers. Not a wink. When I was in ninth grade, says Lohman,my father died and my mother wanted to move toFlorida. The report criticized the Wayne County judge, Robert Conway, for his decision not to move the attackers' cases from juvenile to adult court. Tryouts are the worst thing about sports, they bring nothing but more stress to your plate. So it just goes on and on. Hasnt hebeen through enough? It's the biggest week of the year for high school wrestling fans. Students ''don't know who to blame,'' said Allie. Parents are paying up on school meals again. His broad shoulders are slumpedand trembling as he walks the coffin down the aisle ofSaint Barnabas Church in Bellmore, Long Island. Then came the civil suit, settled for apaltry sum, to cover medical bills.Berger got threatening letters: Keep singing,Berger, and youll see.. I think the kids covered it up to saveCoach Mac and save their season., Tending bar at Docs is Rob McDermott, class of95. The emotional impact on him is unbelievable," adds Carol. 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. Theres a no-cut policy. In the end, they will be left unprepared for life. And I can't ever get that back from him," says Patty. Kids in the bunks didn't tell us. I think hes adirtbag. On a warm night in October,Mary Williams and her boyfriend, Andy Corcoran, bothMepham class of 1980, sit having a drink. 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. ''Despite these warnings and policies, the players all expected hazing to take place in one form or another at the camp,'' the report said. For me, this challenge helped me develop as a person than will work harder and strive for the best in my academics. But I justgot off the phone with the mother of one of thevictims, and she told me that were her bestadvocate. He said his surgery was a success, but he needs time to heal before he can tour again. South Side. All rights reserved. So, no., But, you know, says McDermott, ifthey wanted to do it? He did more for me than any coach ever. This is hard tosayI know he was a good coach and a lot of kidsliked him. Into the locker! At a school-board meeting onOctober 1, packed with camera crews and angry parents,Superintendent Caramore tries to explain that hazingsimply doesnt happen at Mephamthatfootball was canceled not because of what the boysallegedly did but because their teammates neverreported it. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Of course not. It would be the adventure of his life five days of intense football in the woods of Pennsylvania. They were carried outover several nights, with several victims, one of whomrequired surgery for his injuries. Everything Everywhere All at Once has won in every category they were nominated for. On Bellmore Avenue, themain drag in town, a mile or so east of Mepham,Docs Pub serves as an unofficial class-reunionspace. More than 60 players attended the camp, including the boy's best friend Patty and Jimmy's son who was also just 13. All the negative attention has galvanized them, they said. 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. What I know about the Berger incident isit did not involve hazing. Nothing.". They also understand they will need to sacrifice time, energy, and their social life in order to achieve these goals. "Am I an evil person? They demanded that the boy be barred from camp but were rebuffed, they said. I dont evencare what they did.. Students attend a pep rally at Mepham High School in Bellmore, N.Y. The victims didn't tell us. Once in high school, senior athletes have scouts that come out to see them play. 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). At least one group of parents has decided they will continue to speak out. Long Beach. It was supposed to be fun, and glorious. Some have hired lawyers for their children. They could be home as early as next month. 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. He previously suffered a brain aneurysm on February 18, and was ultimately taken off life support. He was 40 years old. Thanks for contacting us. He wrestled instead. Now the Reichsteins have written the stateDepartment of Education, demanding an investigation. But the grand jury did not find the coaches criminally negligent. "We have a clip of the JV football scrimmage," says McElroy, who believes it proves that there was nothing obviously wrong. JUDGE SLAMS MEPHAM HAZERS By Erin Calabrese January 15, 2004 5:00am A Pennsylvania judge imposed strong penalties yesterday on two teens who sexually abused younger players at a high school. During the first day of camp, the hazing was minor, such as one player smearing gel and powder into another's hair. at Garden City. Legendary football coach Joe Paterno was one of those who was fired, which shook up the coaching staff. He really was.". After all, theywerent just studentsthey wereathletes.. When a. Statistically showing, at least 100,000 college football players get hurt yearly. "Yeah," says Cannestro. When people talked aboutMepham, they talked about Famous Amos. 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. Bellmore Journal; Life Goes On but Is Altered After School Scandal, https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/20/nyregion/bellmore-journal-life-goes-on-but-is-altered-after-school-scandal.html. Once rated one of the best academic high. 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. But it really happened., McElroys lawyer vehemently denies almost everyaspect of Bergers story. Why wasn't there a coach sleeping in the cabins? Heresisted, and according to his version of events, heremembers a JV coach telling him to roll with it. It's a couple of days.' Before the 68 varsity and junior-varsity players left the Long Island communities of Bellmore and Merrick to attend the weeklong camp in Preston Park, Pa., coaches warned the team that hazing would not be tolerated, and spelled out the edict in a note sent home to players' parents. "What constitutes a scream?" 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. In this case the youth should be tried as adults because of the severity of the incident and the emotional and physical effect that it had on the victim, It was six o 'clock at the Friendswood junior high mustang field I was playing strong safety and I had to cover the extra receiver they brought out by the snap I was already beating my man and the next thing I know the ball was sailing my way straight to me. Most students, the girls say, have not gotten caught up in the anger and recrimination that have divided their parents. That boy was not hurt at camp, but other kids were. Oct. 20, 2003. "He came to me and said, 'I'm bleeding. According to her, Didden said he wouldinvestigate the incident. The football players were unfairly penalized by the sanctions that were placed on the team. Sofia was sentenced to the boot camp and Carney to the detention center both in Pennsylvania. A minivan with two others whizzes by, music blaring. "We went out. Dont eventhink about sleeping at camp, he said. ''People just want to move on,'' said one teenager, sucking on his cigarette. He taught us not to run away from ourproblems., How old were these kids, 16, 17? saysAndrew Longaro. Go to the back of theline.. Also it brings down students self esteem. "He said to him, 'Don't even think of sleeping at football camp. Involuntary deviate sexualintercourse. I think they hated me because I introduced the pull-up to their strength and conditioning program. Nor did he suspendthe three alleged perpetrators, and as a result, theywere allowed to walk the hallways of Mepham High fornearly two weeks. On 11/11, the Mepham varsity football team won their neutral playoff game against Long Beach (NY) by a score of 14-0. 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. Coaches, the report says, were oblivious to what was occurring. "Something happened in between those practices every single time, to my son. A few blocks from school, Allie Pagano and Sarah Mirenda, both 14, stop at the local pizza shop, Luigi's, on their way home. The coaches' lawyer and officials for the Bellmore-Merrick School District did not comment on the report's findings or its criticisms. "He was laying in bed with a big butcher knife in his hand 'cause he was scared. Hisfriend was a captain on the team, he maybe was gonnaget a scholarship. What's more, the 16-year-old ringleader of the assaults had his own history of disciplinary problems. 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. 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. display: none; The third player in the Mepham HS hazing scandal was sentenced to probation after he made a deal with prosecutors and provided information. He never judged us, saysDave Lohman, class of 94. Everyone should be so lucky.''. (CNN) -- Five football coaches at a Long Island high school lost their jobs Wednesday night in fallout from an alleged . And he stands where the priest stood and speaks,reading from crinkled sheets of paper rapidly, almostinaudibly, in a low monotone. Over the course of five days, their sons were brutally sodomized by their teammates. Many have lost sight of the fact that baseball players are not the only athletes that face this life threatening addiction. Since the scandal began, parents of students have squabbled among themselves and with members of the school administration over everything from the decision to cancel the football season to whether the school district could have prevented the incident. The problem was with thekidsand with the parents who brought them upthat way., Sothe parents. I was by far the besthalfback on the team, Berger says, now 23 butstill angry. The conversation easily shifts to a defenseof Coach Mac. 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. 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. And would you let it happen a second and third time? Youre old enough to knowwhat youre doing., I had some friends who were older, saysMcDermott. Theres no way youcant play me. 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. Mepham High School Football Coach Anthony Cracco's Sex Scandal Has Bellmore . 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. Weve been 0 and 8 since 1999!says James. Sofia was sent to a boot camp, and Carney was sent to a juvenile detention center. The coach wentalong with canceling the season because he knew kidswere not coming forward. When parents came to an emergency meeting on September16 with the principal and superintendent, they heardnot mea culpas but accusations. Everybody knew I got hazed in the lockerroom, he says. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { This story has been shared 140,209 times. I need to know for medical.' Correspondent Peter Van Sant reports. "I don't want everything he's gone through to be just a waste. } When members of a high-school football team on Long Island were accused of sexual attacks, the community was appalled . Touring the world with friends one mile and pub at a time; ut austin undergraduate majors Newsletter . That washazing! Oh, Loosey! Watch this highlight video of the Mepham (North Bellmore, NY) football team in its game Recap: Mepham vs. MacArthur 2022 on Nov 4, 2022. ''Our issue is our children are being blamed,'' said Paule Pachter, one of the parents in the group. On 10/22, the Mepham varsity football team won their home conference game against South Side (Rockville Centre, NY) by a score of 49-18. He triedseriously to treat him as a regular kid, like nothingever happened. A failure can be a downward spiral or a setback turning into a benefit. The two boys join their sister tobring the Communion offerings forward as the mournerssing Be Not Afraid.. The issue of blame, however, continues to polarize parents and promises to loom larger as the criminal case moves ahead. I'm grabbing all the medication out of my cabinet and looking for everything that I think he's gonna hurt himself. They bashed him in his head, over his back, his legs, his arms," recalls Patty, who says her son was assaulted at least 3-4 times a day. "These boys were like 6 feet 2 inches and 6 feet 4 inches, and roughly 250 lbs. 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. What we're saying is, I notice when somebody's limping. He quotes oneof the boys as saying, I will never trustanyone again. "He was robbed of his innocence. Coach Mac talked to my mom, convinced us tostay. Duct tape was yanked from the victims' bottoms and pubic areas, and two of the victims were forced to smear Mineral Ice on their testicles, and then kick each other there, the report says. It has been 11 years since three football players, ages 15 to 17, from Mepham High School in Bellmore, New York, were criminally charged with sodomizing teammates during a preseason. 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). He suggests that broomsticks,golf balls, and pinecones are consistent withtraditional forms of hazing. Half that shit they didisnt even that bad.. asks McElroy. During his career, the prolific actor inhabited an array of troubled characters. But these parents say the risk to their children was greater. Murdaugh defense team plans to appeal conviction Jonathan Anderson gets one of the first qualities of great fashion that it has to feel a bit strange. This guysstill the head coach., Its a fact of lifein Bellmore and Merrick that the farther south you go,the more money youll find. We're in education because we love kids.". 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. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. And my son said, 'They inserted a broomstick.'". They have criticized the coaches and school district for lax supervision, accusing Mepham officials of ignoring the long disciplinary record of one of the three attackers. But the happy boys these parents sent to camp last summer didn't return that way. ", Are they lying? maize high school basketball roster. Sometimes its hardto tell what bothers the people of Bellmore andMerrick moreallegations of sodomy or the abruptend of football season. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Decent football player, though.. ''It's got to end here. We love kids. At last nights meeting, one player called the coaches caring role models, and team captain Dan Cosenza hugged McElroy. The boy was a member of the 2007 Charlton County High School junior varsity golf team. Mepham High School Football Tragedy 1056 Words | 5 Pages. "Everybody says we should just know. OK. He told him to find a friend and never bealone. display: none; Trust me been there done that, the most regretted thing about school sports for many are tryouts.