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. Students ''don't know who to blame,'' said Allie. Thanks for contacting us. The sentences are indeterminate, but will be reviewed every four months. no.". One was sent to a boot camp, another to a juvenile treatment facility and the third returned home on probation. According to the nine-page report, the culture of hazing and a lack of supervision and safeguards to protect students led to the sexual assaults that occurred in August while Mepham's varsity and junior varsity teams prepared for the season at a camp in Wayne County, Pa. 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. "I couldn't even process it in my head. He never judged us, saysDave Lohman, class of 94. On 11/4, the Mepham varsity football team won their home conference game against MacArthur (Levittown, NY) by a score of 14-7. 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. 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. He called the school boards decision 100 percent unjust.. Before lastmonth, Mepham High was generally known as anabove-average school with a robust athletic program.Fathers and sons have played for the Mepham Pirates,and Saturday football games are huge social events.The players are the schools heroes: With thepossible exception of Roone Arledge, Mephamsmost famous alumnus has been star Pittsburgh Steelersrunning back Amos Zereoue. Hasnt hebeen through enough? The victims didn't tell us. But the happy boys these parents sent to camp last summer didn't return that way. No!! We love our children. Dont eventhink about sleeping at camp, he said. The Biden administrations policy of blocking unvaccinated people from the country continues to make little sense. Now the . All the while, older players watched and laughed. Which mayexplain why Coach Mac, in his only public statement,has concurred with Caramore. We wanted them to be tried as adults, but we lost that battle. Rick Scott Is Unfortunately Right About Novak Djokovic. When athletes experience head trauma, they only recover a little, which might end their career early or other times people never recover. A problem arises though once try outs are over and the team is announced. It was supposed to be fun, and glorious. some by the crimes, others by the cancellation of the season. Once rated one of the best academic high. Kids in the bunks didn't tell us. So it just goes on and on. It was horrible. Even before three varsity players for the Mepham High School Pirates sodomized three freshman teammates at a football camp, using golf balls, pine cones and a broomstick, other classes of. *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. Your sonwoo hoo!Hes having fun. "He made that statement and from that day on, he's been, his family, harassed by letters and threats," says Carol. But are they really fortunate? But for the victims' families, the report came as a vindication, they said. One student lifts up another and dumps him, legs flailing, in a bush. There's coaches. They speak ofbroomsticks, pinecones, and golf balls. Most high school athletes across America share one common aspiration: play their sport at the next level in college. But these parents say the risk to their children was greater. Instead, thevictims were laughed at in the halls, calledfaggot and broomstick boy.The superintendent, Thomas Caramore, shielded theschool from inquiries at first. On the second day, the incidents became brutal. We've received your submission. We care about kids. 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.. In the bunks, 17-year-old players were assigned to watch over 13-year-old boys. "He [my son] called several times. The issue spans to not only the professional level, but the high school and collegiate divisions as well. Stats are entered by the coach or designated team statistician in the admin. Waiting outside in front of the hearseis a police escort, to ward off the media. Clutching their schoolbooks in their arms, Allie and Sarah said they actually felt tremendous pride in their school these days. Also it brings down students self esteem. But even those who are, still have an astonishingly low chance at making the professional leagues. 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.'" South Side. 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 his youth. 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. Both coaches still don't understand why they're being blamed for what happened last summer at Mepham High School's football camp. Not, 'Coach, things aren't good over here.' }, First published on April 12, 2004 / 5:10 PM. Coach Mac talked to my mom, convinced us tostay. 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. Privacy Policy and 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 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. The kid that did it, I feel so bad forhim, the boy says. When the allegations surfaced in early September, the three accused teenagers were suspended from Mepham High School's football team. He knows the mainkid, she says. "Standing up and giving a 'rah, rah' when my son and the other boys are hurting in this way is so disrespectful. 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. But others angrily argue that not enough attention is being paid to the victims' ordeals. For me, this challenge helped me develop as a person than will work harder and strive for the best in my academics. I notice when they're injured. Sofia LaSpina has etched her name in Long Island history. Now even they, however, have grown weary, wishing for a return to their old life. Travis Barkers Finger Is Now the Enema of Blink-182 Fans. "Everybody says we should just know. "He was after my son morning, noon, and night. The morals, the attitudes, of a Mepham student,are different, suggests another Kennedy player,Danny. Parents demanded:Shouldnt they have been there to stop theseboys? "We have a clip of the JV football scrimmage," says McElroy, who believes it proves that there was nothing obviously wrong. He's back home on Long Island. She shouts out all the ladies (mothers and wives) in the room. Football is important to the high school experience and different familys history around the world. 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. Pertzborn and assistant coach Brad Rogeberg were made aware of the initial bullying on July 24, 2022, according to the police report. 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. Long Beach. Mepham High School (North Bellmore, NY) Varsity Football Varsity Boys Football North Bellmore, NY FOLLOW TEAM 22-23 V. Football Home Schedule Roster Standings Rankings Photos Videos News More / Mepham High School Football Mepham Football OVERALL 10-2 0.83 Win % LEAGUE 8-1 2nd in League HOME6-0 AWAY3-1 NEUTRAL1-1 PF334 PA169 STREAK1L When several parents received threatening letters after speaking out about the incident, emotions ratcheted higher. The question has whirled aroundBellmore for weeks: Who would raise a child who woulddo this to another child? "He didn't go to school for a long time. Anyplayer that wants to be on the football team can be onthe team. 28 - 13 W. 10/22/2022. Parents are paying up on school meals again. They were later suspended from classes on September 18. They hit his headon the porcelain and he got a concussion. Did a kid come and tell us? This was a sexual attack!, Are we gonna argue about this? Subscriber Exclusive. This has allowed more and more players to look to PEDs in order to gain an edge over their opponents. The coach wentalong with canceling the season because he knew kidswere not coming forward. "There's nothing anyone else could have done differently," adds Cannestro. In that case, new players at. We got all new things to bring to pack. "He was absolutely screaming. 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. Athletes must commit time to practice and traveling. 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. "Did I tell the perpetrators to go and do that to those kids? Half that shit they didisnt even that bad.. 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. He was one of four captains chosen by CoachMac his senior season. The abuse occurred day and night, and young players were attacked repeatedly and forced to sodomize each other, the report says. Its the kind of bar where people stillsmoke and no one cares. Michelle Yeoh Promises No Swearing, Only Tears During Best Lead Performance Win. When members of a high-school football team on Long Island were accused of sexual attacks, the community was appalled . What about, say, having your head flushed in a toilet? The issue of blame, however, continues to polarize parents and promises to loom larger as the criminal case moves ahead. 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. "He said to him, 'Don't even think of sleeping at football camp. Three days after camp ended, Carol and Vinny's son asked for help. I said, 'What's the matter?' 2023 Vox Media, LLC. 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. 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.

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