mepham high school football scandal

He was dyingto play for the Pirateshed gotten AmosZereoues autograph when Zereoue visited hisjunior high. In 1994, Wesley Bergerwas a Mepham freshman, a football player with a shelfof trophiesMVP for the peewee league,fastest-runner and best-tackler awards. But rather, in my opinion, how could the coaches have known?" The report criticized the Wayne County judge, Robert Conway, for his decision not to move the attackers' cases from juvenile to adult court. 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. "Something happened in between those practices every single time, to my son. Sports in Mepham isvery big.. Subscriber Exclusive. 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 It stated that, at the camp,. Wesley?Wesley was a nasty rat bastard! 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. What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan shows just that. At this point, though, those feelings have mostly worn off, replaced by a different set of reactions, from weary resolve to dark humor. 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. 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. As we mentioned earlier, the freshmans mother mentioned to coach McElroy the fact that the upperclassman was calling her son those insulting names. They could be home as early as next month. Michelle Yeoh Promises No Swearing, Only Tears During Best Lead Performance Win. (Almost as prevalent is the idea, notconfirmed by police, that the linemans fathercommitted suicide. 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.'" "He said to him, 'Don't even think of sleeping at football camp. "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. 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. . A failure can be a downward spiral or a setback turning into a benefit. We were afraid they would walk away with probation.. Moreover, they must spend money on equipment, clothing, and food (37). says Cannestro. Legendary football coach Joe Paterno was one of those who was fired, which shook up the coaching staff. 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. Vic and Kristina have done The Early Show and20/20. The coaches also showed 48 Hours a tape never before made public - one they say was recorded on the last day of camp. 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. mepham high school football scandal. The coach told Bergerhe needed a physical. ''We don't do it in front of them,'' the teenager said, referring to the victims. Most students, the girls say, have not gotten caught up in the anger and recrimination that have divided their parents. Relatives of the victims, 13 and 14 at the time of the attacks, expressed satisfaction at the outcome. He was just frightened," says his father, Vinny. "He's victimized because I asked him to do a favor in this. Also, sleep-away sports camps will no longer be authorized by the school district, Billig said. Instead, they were treated as juveniles. 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. West Jersey Football League all-stars: United Division, 2022. I notice when they're injured. Kristina and Vic Reichstein stand upand say their son, a freshman, was threatened by thelineman during practice in July and August. 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. That decision ''let down and insulted the victims and their families,'' the report says. A perfect example would be a 13-year-old Georgia student riding a school bus received a wedgie during a school hazing incident so painful that his mother took him to the emergency room. "He's one of the victims.". Theres no way youcant play me. Once each school year, older Mepham students would beat up younger ones on school grounds in a ritual called ''Freshman Friday,'' the grand jury found. "We're not suggesting anything about injuries. During the first day of camp, the hazing was minor, such as one player smearing gel and powder into another's hair. That was until Berger started practicethe August before his freshman year. We said, 'Are they hurting you?' }, First published on April 12, 2004 / 5:10 PM. 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. A minivan with two others whizzes by, music blaring. Four days ago, hisfather died in his sleep. His dadsaved his friends life that day. And one of the leaders selected joined with two other varsity players to sodomize these children. There's supervision, like any other school event.". 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. The guy grabbed me in front of the wholeteam, Berger says. On a warm night in October,Mary Williams and her boyfriend, Andy Corcoran, bothMepham class of 1980, sit having a drink. A day later, the threeboys were suspended, and a student. The two boys join their sister tobring the Communion offerings forward as the mournerssing Be Not Afraid.. 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. Who doyou think you are? said the lineman, accordingto Reichsteins son. Meanwhile, Nassau police on Monday found a found a cache of weapons near the school including baseball bats and golf clubs. ), I knew all those kids, saysanother boy, a JV player. In an earlier proceeding, the three attackers, charged as juveniles, admitted to the assaults. All the negative attention has galvanized them, they said. "We're not animals. ''It's got to end here. Hasan Minhaj Brings His Powerpoints and Power Suits to Independent Spirit Awards. Watch this highlight video of the Mepham (North Bellmore, NY) football team in its game Recap: Mepham vs. MacArthur 2022 on Nov 4, 2022. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, The crime scene evidence that convicted Alex Murdaugh, How a tragic boating crash is connected to the family of Alex Murdaugh, Murdaugh defense team plans to appeal conviction, Husband of woman murdered with an ax convicted 40 years after her death. And I know the family of one of theattackers. Students ''don't know who to blame,'' said Allie. 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. 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 . Nassau County Girl Scouts fundraise for victims of quake in Syria, Turkey at Masjid Hamza, Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions. Everything Everywhere All at Once has won in every category they were nominated for. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. The coaches would have to be everywhere at thesame time, says Dave Hill. 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. I heard the kidliked it.. I was by far the besthalfback on the team, Berger says, now 23 butstill angry. Now when they talk about Mepham, they use the wordssodomy and hazing. 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. 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. When parents came to an emergency meeting on September16 with the principal and superintendent, they heardnot mea culpas but accusations. However, it seems too important to let go. Here's why food advocates are worried they cant afford it. Mephamsstudent body is pulled from the northern part of thecommunity, where there are $50,000-a-year jobs and theschool parking lot is dominated by Chevys and Fords. The answer to all those questions is no.". School administrators, however, let him get on the bus anyway. This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. Full speed," says McElroy. 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. Travis Barkers Finger Is Now the Enema of Blink-182 Fans. This guysstill the head coach., Its a fact of lifein Bellmore and Merrick that the farther south you go,the more money youll find. No. The conversation easily shifts to a defenseof Coach Mac. Because if these attacks are acceptedas hazing, then the school is responsible. Were happy as can be, said Carol, an aunt of one of the victims. According to the report, ''a lack of accountability appears to permeate the entire structure of the administration and running of this camp program.'' Three days after camp ended, Carol and Vinny's son asked for help. The boy, wearing a regulation backward baseball cap,is standing at the schools west entrance. She shouts out all the ladies (mothers and wives) in the room. ", Patty says her son also hasn't recovered from the ordeal: "About a month ago, I had gotten a call from a neighbor. 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. Everybody knew I got hazed in the lockerroom, he says. They speak ofbroomsticks, pinecones, and golf balls. Andbecause we were the group with Amos, our team isetched in his memory.. 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. Bells toll. I should just sit there and go, 'Hmm, he's hazing him.' some by the crimes, others by the cancellation of the season. 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. At last nights meeting, one player called the coaches caring role models, and team captain Dan Cosenza hugged McElroy. "He came to me and said, 'I'm bleeding. A pack of teenagers congregates across the street from Mepham High School, smoking their . On October 6, heannounced that that was his intention. 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. MaxPreps is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. 2022 Fall Boys Football New York: Long Island Division II. Doyou know who I am?, The freshman, trying to show a little backbone,replied: This is America. "He was laying in bed with a big butcher knife in his hand 'cause he was scared. What we're saying is, I notice when somebody's limping. ''Our parents are being blamed. 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. Three varsity players are charged by Pennsylvania authorities with sodomizing three junior varsity players with broomsticks, pine cones and golf balls. The star lineman towersover most of the other pallbearers. It's a couple of days.' Then it became a football school. "The question should not be the coaches should have known. 10/08/2022. They also understand they will need to sacrifice time, energy, and their social life in order to achieve these goals. 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. The boy was a member of the 2007 Charlton County High School junior varsity golf team. Berger sayshe got up and called his dad, who went straight to thecoaches. ''They continue to try to bury this thing and pretend they did everything they could, and that's just not true.''. What's more, before camp, parents Victor and Kristina Reichstein say Carney threatened their 13-year-old son. Thanks for contacting us. How could we have known?". And he stands where the priest stood and speaks,reading from crinkled sheets of paper rapidly, almostinaudibly, in a low monotone. Parents demanded:Shouldnt they have been there to stop theseboys? Treat others with the respect that you wouldlike to receive. Act appropriately. When people talked aboutMepham, they talked about Famous Amos. They were carried outover several nights, with several victims, one of whomrequired surgery for his injuries. Its all fun and games, saysMcDermott. The crime scene evidence that convicted Alex Murdaugh Jason Statham and Aubrey Plaza do not seem like a match made in action-comedy-chemistry heaven, but it somehow works. 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. Berger produced the requiredslip of paper. 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. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. "Everybody says we should just know. But he wonders whether whathappened at camp could have been prevented if hehadnt settled his lawsuit. It was just too outrageous," says Jimmy. The incident angered the victim's mother, who. Still, they will be held accountable for what they did on some level, she added. Including intelligent heated gloves, soothing foot rollers, and classic cabbage-shaped servingware. Its the kind of bar where people stillsmoke and no one cares. At this point, the victims would have already suffered numerous attacks. It devastated us. For many years, people have been debating about whether sports teams for kids should have selective tryouts. What LAppartement 4F Co-owner Ashley Coiffard Put on Her Wedding Registry. ''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. Gavin Roman broke the state record for most catches in a season during Holy Spirit's 63-34 rivalry win against Atlantic City in Absecon. 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. 18 - 35 L. 10/15/2022. 28 - 13 W. 10/22/2022. For a select number of fortunate athletes, that dream becomes a reality when they commit to a school and sign their letter of intent. They had hoped that the three assailants (Phil Sofia, Ken Carney, and Tom Diasparra) would be tried as adults for the crimes. His broad shoulders are slumpedand trembling as he walks the coffin down the aisle ofSaint Barnabas Church in Bellmore, Long Island. Reichstein triedto stare the lineman down. He never judged us, saysDave Lohman, class of 94. Berger says his friends persuaded him to stay off theteam. How Tyrel Jackson Williams Brought TikTok Cringe to, Its sort of a newer version of the L.A. actor ride that Kyle is on the first two seasons, but its worse.. We got the ball first on kick off and we made a touchdown on the first few drives.On. Carol said it appeared Conway had sentenced Sofia to the boot camp because he disliked the teens attitude. David Woycik, a lawyer for the victims, said, My clients were relieved that [Sofia and Carney] will be out of the community and off the streets and they are pleased the judicial system worked to a certain extent.. "They have to be lying.". 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. One afternoon after practice, they air theirtheories, the chief one being that the lineman musthave been traumatized as a kid. 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. "He was screaming. Touring the world with friends one mile and pub at a time; ut austin undergraduate majors Newsletter . This story has been shared 140,209 times. He said his surgery was a success, but he needs time to heal before he can tour again. ''Our issue is our children are being blamed,'' said Paule Pachter, one of the parents in the group. That, thelineman says, is the kind of man his father was. And he's looking for something in the house to hurt himself.' He never brought this incident toMcElroys attention; he must have brought it tothe JV coachs attention. These parents are now lobbying for a national hazing law, one with severe penalties. Jonathan Anderson gets one of the first qualities of great fashion that it has to feel a bit strange. Our community is being blamed. ", "Did a parent come and complain to us? And who you can expect to see performing and presenting. The priest declares that the father had nothingbut life ahead of him. 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. 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. Are you on crack? Involuntary deviate sexualintercourse. 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 . He taught us not to run away from ourproblems., How old were these kids, 16, 17? saysAndrew Longaro. 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. That kid wassick! says a player named Rob. So, no., But, you know, says McDermott, ifthey wanted to do it? A player tried to flush his head in a urinal. says McElroy. And people who might have had the chance to prevent this incident are not being held accountable.''. You may notstart, but youll be on the team.. All the while, older players watched and laughed. The football players were unfairly penalized by the sanctions that were placed on the team. Those individuals who just made the team now deal with a problem that happens mainly from the. I don't have psychic skills. How a tragic boating crash is connected to the family of Alex Murdaugh Go ahead. 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. Youre old enough to knowwhat youre doing., I had some friends who were older, saysMcDermott. If three victims getanything close to that much each, it would devastatethe school districts budget. Adds Jesse: Mepham kids say,Youre from Kennedy, and punch us.Theyre the bully school, the physical school.Even in middle school, we knew which kids were goingto Mepham and which to Kennedy..

Pga Expert Picks: Sleepers, Anne Boleyn Costume Six The Musical, Auburn Citizen Obituaries, Articles M