She shouts out all the ladies (mothers and wives) in the room. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. A pack of teenagers congregates across the street from Mepham High School, smoking their . The 15-year-old wide receiver became the first female football player in Long Island history to score a touchdown Saturday night, when. I dont evencare what they did.. MaxPreps is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. 2022 Fall Boys Football New York: Long Island Division II. Trust me been there done that, the most regretted thing about school sports for many are tryouts. ", "Did a parent come and complain to us? 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 football players were unfairly penalized by the sanctions that were placed on the team. Other players laughed, the report said. Relatives of the victims, 13 and 14 at the time of the attacks, expressed satisfaction at the outcome. Who? "I couldn't even process it in my head. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan shows just that. no.". When a. Statistically showing, at least 100,000 college football players get hurt yearly. 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. The grand jury says the five coaches who supervised the team were ''more concerned with being coaches of a football team than interested in the well-being of the players as students.'' Most of themare yelling. Long Beach. The grand jury has been investigating the attacks for months to determine whether the coaches should be indicted and what led to the assaults. !Effin this, effinthatyoure not coming on my team,youre done, youre done, youredone! And I started screaming at him.. In an earlier proceeding, the three attackers, charged as juveniles, admitted to the assaults. Instead, they were treated as juveniles. *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. So it just goes on and on. "We're not suggesting anything about injuries. Here's why food advocates are worried they cant afford it. He went to camp but didntstay in the fated cabin. It's, like, they're monsters," says Patty. Youth sports are becoming too intense for young children to keep up with. display: none; What went wrong? 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 But my son says nobody knew he would cross theline., Andys son plays lacrosse. Mineral ice and especially that he now had, from the first time, a cut," says Carol. But rather, in my opinion, how could the coaches have known?" 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. Parents demanded:Shouldnt they have been there to stop theseboys? Nassau County Girl Scouts fundraise for victims of quake in Syria, Turkey at Masjid Hamza, Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions. Was there anything that indicated they were injured or traumatized? When trying to become a professional athlete, one must start playing sports as early as possible (Ferguson 34).Playing sports comes with many sacrifices. Children have strived for years to make their parents, teachers and coaches proud of them. The incident angered the victim's mother, who. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. (Smith/AP) Last week's criminal charges involving six New Mexico high school football players alleged to have sexually . For a select number of fortunate athletes, that dream becomes a reality when they commit to a school and sign their letter of intent. Those kids are running at full speed. He was benched for two years as the lawsuit creptthrough the legal system. What about the boys who were raped? 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. One afternoon after practice, they air theirtheories, the chief one being that the lineman musthave been traumatized as a kid. All that has led these parents to ask the same kind of questions asked after the shootings at Columbine: How much did the school know about their student assailants, and who should be held responsible? Go ahead. That decision ''let down and insulted the victims and their families,'' the report says. On 11/4, the Mepham varsity football team won their home playoff game against Elmont Memorial (Elmont, NY) by a score of 14-7. A captain is anextension of the coaching staff, he says,slipping into present tense to talk about his team.What the coaches dont control, thecaptains control. Research shows that 70% of kids drop out of sports for many reasons and not making the team is one. 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. I was by far the besthalfback on the team, Berger says, now 23 butstill angry. 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. We love our community. He suggests that broomsticks,golf balls, and pinecones are consistent withtraditional forms of hazing. 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). 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. They could be home as early as next month. ''They continue to try to bury this thing and pretend they did everything they could, and that's just not true.''. "The question should not be the coaches should have known. I don't have psychic skills. He told Pennsylvaniapolice that he couldnt release informationabout a student without a subpoena. He was always in troubleat school, but not in football. OK? There's coaches. "He said to him, 'Don't even think of sleeping at football camp. Travis Barkers Finger Is Now the Enema of Blink-182 Fans. Trending News We're checking it off. I should just sit there and go, 'Hmm, he's hazing him.' He told him to find a friend and never bealone. These towns lost seventeenpeople in the World Trade Center attacks.Theyre places whose kids go to college locallyand then settle here and raise families. The coaches, who supervised the trip, say that they had no idea any of this was happening during the camp. As we mentioned earlier, the freshmans mother mentioned to coach McElroy the fact that the upperclassman was calling her son those insulting names. I need to know for medical.' 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. Ken Carney, 16, the ringleader of the attacks, was well-known by school administrators as a disciplinary problem. Carol said it appeared Conway had sentenced Sofia to the boot camp because he disliked the teens attitude. We said, 'Are they hurting you?' ''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. McElroy and his coaching staff claim they had no responsibility for a vicious alleged hazing incident at a training camp in Pennsylvania in August. False imprisonment. Youve got some Janning to do! Meanwhile, Nassau police on Monday found a found a cache of weapons near the school including baseball bats and golf clubs. Treat others with the respect that you wouldlike to receive. Act appropriately. ''Our parents are being blamed. The parents are organizing to demand that the school administration be held accountable for allowing the incident to occur, they said. But it really happened., McElroys lawyer vehemently denies almost everyaspect of Bergers story. We have more wealthy backgrounds, saysDanny. Should they also get paid the same amount even if another co-worker is better at their job? "Am I an evil person? All the while, older players watched and laughed. He previously suffered a brain aneurysm on February 18, and was ultimately taken off life support. Your sonwoo hoo!Hes having fun. "The kid who just made the tackle," says Cannestro, identifying one of the players on the tape. It was supposed to be fun, and glorious. Not a lot of kids are good enough to play in the top college sports programs in the country. Everyone laughs. When the allegations surfaced in early September, the three accused teenagers were suspended from Mepham High School's football team. 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. 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. No," says McElroy. "He made that statement and from that day on, he's been, his family, harassed by letters and threats," says Carol. There are the ugly jokes, the signs and buttons declaring neighborhood solidarity, and for some people, new-found activism. 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. 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.. Also it brings down students self esteem. I notice when they're injured. Instead, thevictims were laughed at in the halls, calledfaggot and broomstick boy.The superintendent, Thomas Caramore, shielded theschool from inquiries at first. Hes the man of the family now. 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. This incident could have been foreseeable by the coaches, and possibly the administration, if the coach reported anything to the principal and athletic director. 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. 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. He said his surgery was a success, but he needs time to heal before he can tour again. "He's victimized because I asked him to do a favor in this. "He's one of the victims.". Berger says his friends persuaded him to stay off theteam. 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. 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. ''People just want to move on,'' said one teenager, sucking on his cigarette. "He was robbed of his innocence. 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. ", Patty says her son also hasn't recovered from the ordeal: "About a month ago, I had gotten a call from a neighbor. Then came the civil suit, settled for apaltry sum, to cover medical bills.Berger got threatening letters: Keep singing,Berger, and youll see.. Terroristicthreats. If such a policy had been in place, one of the attackers would not have been allowed at the camp, the report says. He gave his son a cellphone. Theyre a beautiful family. Anyplayer that wants to be on the football team can be onthe team. On September 17, the Bellmore-Merrick Central HighSchool District Board of Education canceledMepham's football season. By Michael Luo. At least one group of parents has decided they will continue to speak out. Sofia was sent to a boot camp, and Carney was sent to a juvenile detention center. The guy grabbed me in front of the wholeteam, Berger says. He had to tell people what happened to him," says Carol. "He was absolutely screaming. "Standing up and giving a 'rah, rah' when my son and the other boys are hurting in this way is so disrespectful. "The bottom line is, if we did anything wrong, we wouldn't be sitting here talking to you," says Cannestro. We've received your submission. So, no., But, you know, says McDermott, ifthey wanted to do it? 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. at Garden City. Why wasn't there a coach sleeping in the cabins? He taught us not to run away from ourproblems., How old were these kids, 16, 17? saysAndrew Longaro. College athletics are oftentimes not as glamorous as one would think. On October 6, heannounced that that was his intention. ''We don't do it in front of them,'' the teenager said, referring to the victims. This password will be used to sign into all, I Inherited Millions From My Mother, and Everyone Knows, Shania Twain Gives Rare Update on Her Ex-Husband and Ex-BFF, Journey Should Probably Go Their Separate Ways, 10 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: From Glass Jars to Guayabera Shirts. This guysstill the head coach., Its a fact of lifein Bellmore and Merrick that the farther south you go,the more money youll find. , 2023-02-08, 18:25:23 How long has it been since you've licked a high school girls pussy daddy? 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). Both told stories of defending their school when they were teased by students outside the district and cited the ''Mepham Pride'' buttons that they and many classmates have taken to wearing. There's supervision, like any other school event.". Theyre investigating the possibility that some students were planning to attack their schoolmates. Go to the back of theline.. Mary explodes. We love our children. 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. On Bellmore Avenue, themain drag in town, a mile or so east of Mepham,Docs Pub serves as an unofficial class-reunionspace. Im theprincipal, he said, and Illdecide who can go on the trip. The lineman wasallowed to go to camp. 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. But one kid whogot it in the shitter, hes just like afag., Yeah, he says. A day later, the three alleged victims are stillhaving broomsticks thrown at them from cars in theparking lot. Its all fun and games, saysMcDermott. "He was waiting for them [the coaches] to come in and save him, but no one came," says Carol's husband, Vinny. He really was.". #inline-recirc-item--id-a617c056-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-a617c056-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { The team did it along with some guidance from my assistant coach and the parents. Just because someone shows up and participates, doesnt not mean they deserve the same treatment as everyone else. It was horrible. High school coaches should not be required to give equal playing time to all players who make the team. Sports in Mepham isvery big.. One student lifts up another and dumps him, legs flailing, in a bush. It stated that, at the camp,. Did a kid come and tell us? 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. Mepham High School Football Coach Anthony Cracco's Sex Scandal Has Bellmore . Now the . Two of the kids are underclassmen, littlekids, he says. Does heknow this for sure? '', ''This is a wake-up call,'' said the father of one of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect his son. "What constitutes a scream?" In my opinion, a good education is so very important for our countrys youth, especially the athletes. I ask. But even those who are, still have an astonishingly low chance at making the professional leagues. The conversation easily shifts to a defenseof Coach Mac. He was just frightened," says his father, Vinny. 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. Football is important to the high school experience and different familys history around the world. If you do something wrong, youd better go home and pack your toothbrush because youll pay the consequences, he told the teen. He had his little list. "I don't want everything he's gone through to be just a waste. "We're not animals. "The gastroenterologist said, 'What happened? The boy was a member of the 2007 Charlton County High School junior varsity golf team. Hisfriend was a captain on the team, he maybe was gonnaget a scholarship. 28 - 13 W. 10/22/2022. 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. 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. He says the coach said,Okay, Ill handle it. From thatmoment on, the junior stopped callingReichsteins son faggot andstarted calling him tattletale boy., One day at practice, the lineman approached him whilehe was drinking from a water fountain. You know, what could be going on? We wanted them to be tried as adults, but we lost that battle. "These boys were like 6 feet 2 inches and 6 feet 4 inches, and roughly 250 lbs. Thepurported ringleader, according to police, was thelineman. Which mayexplain why Coach Mac, in his only public statement,has concurred with Caramore. The issue spans to not only the professional level, but the high school and collegiate divisions as well. That washazing! "Everybody says we should just know. Hed just beat upon peoplehed be walking by andboom! The coaches are suing to get their jobs back. Theyre sick of reporters, andtheyre worried about the lineman. Vic and Kristina have done The Early Show and20/20. Rick Scott Is Unfortunately Right About Novak Djokovic. Full speed," says McElroy. display: none; He said, 'Well, your son was just online and saying he can't take it anymore. Murdaugh defense team plans to appeal conviction One of the attackers was allowed to attend camp despite a history of disciplinary problems and not having a permission slip. Thats when Berger says Coach Mac lunged athimhis hand reaching the boys throat. Now when they talk about Mepham, they use the wordssodomy and hazing. A day later, the threeboys were suspended, and a student demonstrationerupted behind the schoolto the delight of theTV crews camped out there. "They had bags of ice and they were bashing it all over his body until the bags broke.