", "The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. AT LEAST ONE PERSON IS WEARING A HAVERHIL FOOTBALL SHIRT. WOBURN Not many high school football teams had to start this Fall II spring football season like Woburn by playing the caliber of talent that Melrose and Reading has. #ada-button-frame { He was attacked in the bathroom. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The player who was initially hopeful about Belcher said the team engaged in a ritual in 2019 in which one player each week got jumped by his teammates and whacked with foam rollers. I also told the principal, who didnt stop him.. Contests & Promotions. But all these adults need to go.. On Sept. 25, 2018, three years to the day before the Coucelos incident, a 15-year-old Woburn player was kicked so hard in the head by a teammate that he stumbled, dazed, from the practice field and vomited, he stated in a civil case pending before the state Supreme Judicial Court. Video shows alleged hazing incident that ended Haverhill football team's season, THE UNIVERSITY -- THE VIDEO YOU WILL SEE IS HIGHLY DISTURBING. After News Of Anti-Semitism On Duxburys Football Team, Where Does The Town Go From Here? THE MAYOR GOES ON TO SAY IM CONCERNED THIS HAPPENED, AND CONCERNED BY REPORTS THAT OTHER STUDENTS STOOD BY AND DID NOT INTERVENE. #ada-button-frame { But off the field, an investigation is underway, Sources tell News Center Five Police are investigating whether a juvenile was hazed and sexually assaulted at the school in an incident involving the football team. How many examples of this appalling behavior will it take to preempt the next hazers in waiting? April 14, 2022, 10:11 p.m. He played two seasons for the Breakers after they moved to New Orleans and Portland. "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.". Woburn police are seeking assault charges in Lowell Juvenile Court against seven Woburn students, including five football players, for the alleged locker room attack and two subsequent incidents in which Johnathan was the alleged victim. Run by Black journalists at The Boston Globe, Black News Hour, a new radio program, delivers reliable news that connects with our community and expands on deeper issues impacting our city. Belcher also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. >> WANT TO GET STUDENTS -- STUDENT ATHLETES AND ADULT LEADERS IN A ROOM AND START TALKING ABOUT HOW TO BEAT HUMAN BEINGS. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The family also asked Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association to take action against Woburn school officials for allegedly violating MIAA rules on hazing, fighting, and sportsmanship, among others. "I am alarmed, concerned and frankly disgusted by what I have been told and by the video that I was shown," Fiorentini said in a statement Wednesday night. Multiple investigations are being undertaken. "I fully support the superintendents actions in cancelling the Thanksgiving game, suspending those involved and conducting a full investigation. They have known for years they have a bully coaching our kids and they havent done anything to stop him, Kevin Coucelos, Johnathans father, said. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. Moving forward, he said all of the districts coaches will be required to undertake extensive supplemental training. Hahn said a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Lowell Juvenile Court was moved to March. The MIAA rejected the request, saying it does not investigate internal complaints involving member schools. He instills hard work, with strict rules, respect for team members and respect for adults at all times. The committee will likely go into an executive session in order to determine the next steps that should be taken in the hazing investigation. Something needs to be said, something to be done. An alleged hazing incident is under investigation at the high school in Woburn, Massachusetts. A hazing investigation at Woburn Memorial High School has led to charges against seven high school students. He said one punched him several times in a school bathroom, and the other entered his Spanish classroom, grabbed him by the shirt, and warned him not to snitch. Today and every day, I urge every member of our community to be kind to one another and do everything in their power to be part of making our community kinder and stronger. Hire A Woburn Area Pro To Get A Head Start On Spring Cleaning. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Couceles says a student pulled down his sons pants and groped his genitals. Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.. Nelson also determined the groping did not meet the narrow definitions of sexual misconduct under the Title IX law. Haverhill High School is shutting down all football activities, canceling all future practices and forfeiting the Thanksgiving Day game, due to an alleged hazing incident involving some members of the school's team. ", The teen was joined by his parents Kevin and Jeanny and his lawyer Peter Hahn, who said the school failed Coucelos. Andrews, a 2020 graduate of Endicott College, indicated his football experience was limited to Pop Warner and high school. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. He hasnt left his room, he has barely eaten," Couceles said of his son. Black News Hour presented by The Boston Globe. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. The student said he felt ill and experienced a lingering headache, but he did not seek treatment from the team athletic trainer for fear of being further characterized as weak. It was very nasty," said student Felix Molina.The Haverhill High School football stadium and locker room are located approximately 10 minutes off campus.Police are investigating and members of the teams coaching staff have been placed on administrative leave.Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said Thursday that he supported hiring an outside firm to conduct the investigation. It doesn't feel the same anymore to be out in public," he said. What happened to that boy in the locker room was heinous, said Lee Wilson, whose son Logan played for Belcher and graduated in 2020. Its also heinous that Belcher kept those kids on the team.. Marotta said the investigation is ongoing and significant material was uncovered Wednesday, impacting the direction of the investigation and the entire school community. "It's just so wrong how they're handling it. A hearing is scheduled before the Supreme Judicial Court in April on the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Associations appeal of a lower court injunction that permitted the former Woburn player to compete this year for another MIAA schools football and basketball teams after the MIAA denied his waiver request for a fifth year of eligibility. Somehow, ganging up or picking on someone half ones size has come to symbolize the kind of toughness required to be successful on a football field, basketball court or hockey rink. REPORTER: THEY ARE KICKING OFF THAT PROGRAM DECEMBER 8, EVOLVING -- INVOLVING THE MASS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS AND SOCIETY GROUP. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. PF343 PA206 STREAK2W. James Austin's son is on the football team. "A freshman getting dragged down on the floor, them pulling down his pants and pulling down the other dude's pants and humping him in the face. "The Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students. Woburn school officials were aware of alleged bullying in the high school football program for several years before 14-year-old freshman Johnathan Coucelos was attacked by a swarm of teammates in the locker room last fall, according to court records and interviews with former players and parents. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). After months of waiting, the case is expected to be heard in juvenile court next month. Woburn School Superintendent Matthew Crowley issued a statement saying Coucelos was unjustly assaulted by other members of the football team. He wrote that Woburn is committed to providing enhanced training for athletic staff to ensure safe participation in athletics for all of our students., Crowley maintained that Woburns football coaches were aware of the prohibitions against bullying and hazing prior to the school year. In April, seven Woburn High School students were charged after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates in Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. Wilson said he wasnt surprised by news of bullying in Belchers program. They stated in their civil complaint that they reported the incident to the principal, Jessica Callanan, soon after it occurred. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. "As school leaders, we acknowledge and have offered support to the student and family that had the strength to come forward to report this deeply troubling matter," the superintendent wrote. Then I saw it boil over into the locker room because it caused kids to literally hate each other and fight off the field.. Instead, Belcher instructed the traumatized player to return to the field for 35 more minutes of contact drills, his complaint states. The middlesex county district attorney's office says woburn police notified them about the allegations, and are investigating. "Very heartbroken.. PARENTS ARE NOW REVISITING BASIC RIGHTS AND WRONGSAT HOME. At the conclusion of the Title IX investigation, a second investigation, in the form of an administrative review and policy analysis will be conducted by a second outside agency, a firm headed by former Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety and Security Daniel Bennett, Former State Police Colonel Kerry Gilpin and Attorney John Benzan. "We need to determine how this happened and what we can do so that this never happens again," Fiorentini said. "It was pretty nasty, making us look bad. Woburn Police have assigned a detective to the case. Danvers school committee faces harsh questions after report calls response to high school hazing into question, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. "It was pretty nasty, making us look bad. "I share in the collective shock and outrage regarding this incident.". "The Woburn Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are currently investigating the incident. WOBURN, MA The family of a Woburn 14-year-old who said he was threatened, punched and sexually assaulted in a school locker room is criticizing Woburn Public Schools, Woburn police and the Middlesex District Attorney's Office for lack of action on the incidents, according to a Boston Globe report. The court is expected to decide in early March whether charges are warranted. I don't think any town or any school is immune from it. Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved., Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said in a statement shared on Facebook Wednesday night that he was alarmed, concerned, and frankly disgusted by the video and that this can never be allowed to occur again., He said the boys involved in the incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team., I fully support the superintendents actions in cancelling the Thanksgiving game, suspending those involved and conducting a full investigation, he said in the statement. Breaking News LEAGUE 4-1 2nd Middlesex - Liberty. It's really not a bad school.". Parents of the boy who allegedly was kicked in 2018 also faulted the school administration. Just no, they're kids temperament, that stuff. The player alleges Woburn head coach Jack Belcher instigated the kick by encouraging older teammates to in Belchers words toughen up younger ones. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. Woburn Memorial Football. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office has said they have been notified of the incident by woburn police. It's not good for our school. An investigation into that incident found players violated the school and athletic code of conduct, but that the actions did not legally rise to the level of bullying or hazing. All of those charged are students at Woburn Memorial High School. His parents made that decision to withdraw him from the school because it was no longer safe for him to be there. Last September, Johnathan Coucelos had just finished dressing in the freshman locker room when he got jumped by about a dozen teammates, a video recording shows. TONIGHT IS THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING HERE AT HAV. He added, "I used to wake up and go out with half of my friends and now I'm just locked up in my room and finally going into a different school. The Woburn hazing accusations are the latest in a series of troubling charges of inappropriate behavior within high school athletic programs in Greater Boston. A Woburn family is seeking charges against teenagers accused of assaulting their son in a high school locker room last fall. Attempts to reach Belcher, Duran, and Andrews were unsuccessful. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. But, the former student said, he soon became disturbed by Belchers coaching methods, which he described as abusive. READINGS MATT BLASI (83) reaches to make a catch before Woburns Travis Kanoni (4) can move in. I FEEL BAD. Police Investigating Woburn High School Team Incident - Woburn, MA - Officials did not specify the team, but WCVB reported Friday that the football team was Asked to cite an inaccuracy, Callanan did not respond. 7 students face charges in alleged Woburn HS hazing attack April 14, 2022, 10:11 PM Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old But former players and parents allege bullying became routine under Belcher, who has posted a 29-20 record at Woburn. "I urge patience as we are all eager to view the results, myself included.". Johnathan Coucelos (center) and his family have helped drive the scrutiny of Woburn's football program. When I first saw it, I thought it was just a form of competition, he said. The only game left on the 2022 Haverhill High football schedule was the Thanksgiving rivalry game against Lowell High School. THE TEAM IS FORFEITING THE REST OF THE SEASON. Seven teenagers are facing criminal charges in No one ever came in and checked when things got loud or out of hand.. In 1983, Belcher was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the ninth round of the NFL Draft. The two teams were scheduled to play in Haverhill at 10 a.m., the time all high-school games are played on that season-ending day for most teams. Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta notified parents Wednesday that the school department is looking into misconduct involving some members of the high school football team. Crowley did not provide details of the 2019 allegation. Callanan said in an e-mail, I can reaffirm that I acted appropriately throughout my handling of the familys claims and that much of the information provided to you to date, and which you have printed, is inaccurate.. Bullying and hazing happen when you pit players against each other like he does, Wilson said. It was dirty. On Sept. 25, 2018, three years to the day before the Coucelos incident, a 15-year-old Woburn player was kicked so hard in the head by a teammate that he stumbled, dazed, from the practice field and vomited, he stated in a civil case pending before the state Supreme Judicial Court. While school officials told the Globe their response was "comprehensive and thorough" and the DA's Office said there is an ongoing investigation, the family said it is outraged at what they say was relatively light school discipline against the football players involved in the assault and the lack of any criminal charges at those they say are responsible for the assault and ensuing harassment. Hahn said he provided notice to the city and school district about their intent to sue. The matter has also been referred to the Haverhill Police Department for further investigation, according to the school officials' message. What happens when providers turn to medication first? "The matter has also been referred to the Haverhill Police Department for further investigation, according to the school officials' message. Ten football captains six seniors and four juniors circulated a letter to news outlets, saying they were not trying to minimize any allegations that are being investigated by the proper people., In fact, we all condemn bullying of any kind, the captains wrote. Two players were suspended from school for two weeks over the incident, but while one quit the team, the other continued playing football during his suspension, the family said. "We are committed to a thorough, multifaceted fact finding operation, and we pledge to be forthcoming regarding the results of those investigations and to enact their findings and recommendations., "As these investigations remain active and ongoing, we will continue to allow that process to unfold," he added. >> WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE VIDEO? 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