"They couldn't be further from the truth," says Cannestro. 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. And people who might have had the chance to prevent this incident are not being held accountable.''. Pertzborn and assistant coach Brad Rogeberg were made aware of the initial bullying on July 24, 2022, according to the police report. 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. Children have strived for years to make their parents, teachers and coaches proud of them. This has allowed more and more players to look to PEDs in order to gain an edge over their opponents. Now the Reichsteins have written the stateDepartment of Education, demanding an investigation. Now the . A pack of teenagers congregates across the street from Mepham High School, smoking their cigarettes and clowning. More than 60 players attended the camp, including the boy's best friend Patty and Jimmy's son who was also just 13. And one of the leaders selected joined with two other varsity players to sodomize these children. As we mentioned earlier, the freshmans mother mentioned to coach McElroy the fact that the upperclassman was calling her son those insulting names. some by the crimes, others by the cancellation of the season. There are the ugly jokes, the signs and buttons declaring neighborhood solidarity, and for some people, new-found activism. 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 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. No. Touring the world with friends one mile and pub at a time; Everyone in the pews has heard how the father had beendevastated by the criminal charges his son was facing.Aggravated assault. What we're saying is, I notice when somebody's limping. 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. Parents demanded:Shouldnt they have been there to stop theseboys? After Dax Shepard asked her about her musical chairs relationship situation. The football players were unfairly penalized by the sanctions that were placed on the team. 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.. The way they walked? I was by far the besthalfback on the team, Berger says, now 23 butstill angry. The sentences are indeterminate, but will be reviewed every four months. 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 "You didn't monitor him very carefully, obviously," says Patty of what happened to her 13-year-old son. Hasan Minhaj Brings His Powerpoints and Power Suits to Independent Spirit Awards. That decision ''let down and insulted the victims and their families,'' the report says. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. Coach Mac talked to my mom, convinced us tostay. MINEOLA, N.Y. -- Mepham High School football coach Kevin McElroy said Tuesday he was "shocked" by allegations that members of his varsity squad sexually abused younger players and said he. The public was barred from the hearing, but the penalties and the judges comments were disclosed by relatives of victims, lawyers and cops. 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. And he was very excited," recalls Patty. According to her, Didden said he wouldinvestigate the incident. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Full speed," says McElroy. In that case, new players at. 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. Wesley?Wesley was a nasty rat bastard! "Something happened in between those practices every single time, to my son. "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. Decent football player, though.. And would you let it happen a second and third time? A day later, the three alleged victims are stillhaving broomsticks thrown at them from cars in theparking lot. "We went out. Expect to be held accountablefor your choices and actions. Be truthful.From The Mepham Way, Mepham HighSchools honor code, 48 MINUTES OF HELL, A LIFETIME TO REMEMBERSlogan on a Mepham Pirates football T-shirt. He really was.". 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. 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. A problem arises though once try outs are over and the team is announced. What about, say, having your head flushed in a toilet? But it wasn't until Jan. 11, after a possible sexual assault that occurred the previous week, that the high school's school resource officer, Kim Wood, was made aware of the "ongoing harassment behavior toward a student/member of the varsity football team . At this point, the victims would have already suffered numerous attacks. I believe that exclusive tryouts should be held for children because they are extremely good for their mental health in three ways: tryouts teach kids humility, in that they arent always going to be selected, they help kids learn to work harder, and they boost kids confidence. He quotes oneof the boys as saying, I will never trustanyone again. The issue of blame, however, continues to polarize parents and promises to loom larger as the criminal case moves ahead. 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. 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. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. Oh, Loosey! Im theprincipal, he said, and Illdecide who can go on the trip. The lineman wasallowed to go to camp. Criminal coercion. But its notthe only time I hear neighbors, even parents, floatthis notion. 10 /r/oldmenvssluts2, 2023-02-07, 11:04:47 California makes flag football a girls' high school sport 56 /r/california , 2023-02-05, 17:36:57 . The coaches would have to be everywhere at thesame time, says Dave Hill. Terroristicthreats. "And if you had a broomstick stuck up your rectum, you'd be screaming and fighting forever to make sure that didn't happen, wouldn't you? The father died on October 5a daybefore news broke that the lineman may be tried as anadult for some 26 felonies stemming from events thattook place over several late nights in August atMephams football-training camp in Wayne County,Pennsylvania. "He came to me and said, 'I'm bleeding. asks McElroy. Everyone laughs. The 15-year-old wide receiver became the first female football player in Long Island history to score a touchdown Saturday night, when. McElroy and his coaching staff claim they had no responsibility for a vicious alleged hazing incident at a training camp in Pennsylvania in August. 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. He told him to find a friend and never bealone. 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. Berger produced the requiredslip of paper. It's the biggest week of the year for high school wrestling fans. Kids in the bunks didn't tell us. }, First published on April 12, 2004 / 5:10 PM. NEW! The two boys join their sister tobring the Communion offerings forward as the mournerssing Be Not Afraid.. On September 17, the Bellmore-Merrick Central HighSchool District Board of Education canceledMepham's football season. He strokes his sisters hair withone hand and slides an arm around his brothersshoulders. Over the course of five days, their sons were brutally sodomized by their teammates. "He said to him, 'Don't even think of sleeping at football camp. The star lineman towersover most of the other pallbearers. But the school board was unswayed by the coaches defenders. 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 And he told us that they were keeping them up. The crime scene evidence that convicted Alex Murdaugh They reallycouldnt do anything about it. No!! October 11, 2014 / 7:28 PM / AP. Sometimes its hardto tell what bothers the people of Bellmore andMerrick moreallegations of sodomy or the abruptend of football season. You could just seehe had so much anger in him. They were later suspended from classes on September 18. Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix have broken up after he allegedly cheated on her with Raquel Leviss. display: none; Coaches, the report says, were oblivious to what was occurring. Know what is expected andacceptable. Be responsible. However, some would argue to say high school football is too dangerous to keep around. High school coaches should not be required to give equal playing time to all players who make the team. He was 40 years old. But one kid whogot it in the shitter, hes just like afag., Yeah, he says. 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. We're in education because we love kids.". With FamousAmos on the squad, the team made the county playoffsall four years. Many have lost sight of the fact that baseball players are not the only athletes that face this life threatening addiction. 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. Nassau County Girl Scouts fundraise for victims of quake in Syria, Turkey at Masjid Hamza, Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions. Berger sayshe got up and called his dad, who went straight to thecoaches. All the while, older players watched and laughed. Moreover, they must spend money on equipment, clothing, and food (37). So it just goes on and on. That hasnt satisfied parents whocomplain about the lost scholarships, the deflatedhomecoming celebration, and the fund-raisers for othersports, all of which depend on football and are nowruined, theyre saying, because of a couple ofmessed-up kids. Both coaches still don't understand why they're being blamed for what happened last summer at Mepham High School's football camp. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Theyre sick of reporters, andtheyre worried about the lineman. When people talked aboutMepham, they talked about Famous Amos. Go to the back of theline.. On 11/4, the Mepham varsity football team won their home playoff game against Elmont Memorial (Elmont, NY) by a score of 14-7. Are you on crack? Since returning from camp, he has barely slept. Theres fury and finger-pointingandopportunityon all sides in this corner of LongIsland. "He was laying in bed with a big butcher knife in his hand 'cause he was scared. I think the kids covered it up to saveCoach Mac and save their season., Tending bar at Docs is Rob McDermott, class of95. But the victims told their parents they were screaming at the top of their lungs. Mysons season has been completely fucked up! How could we have known?". Where does it end?". Theyre investigating the possibility that some students were planning to attack their schoolmates. 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. 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. Thats when Berger says Coach Mac lunged athimhis hand reaching the boys throat. Because if these attacks are acceptedas hazing, then the school is responsible. Whether its being in thelocker room, making sure everybodys on the samepage, rallying the troops, or making sureeveryones focused on the task at hand., How do you weed out the undisciplined players?On any high-school team, the seniors give you alittle bit of a hard time, he says. The boy was a member of the 2007 Charlton County High School junior varsity golf team. Theyre a beautiful family. That blond buzzcut, the baby face, the meager beginnings of agoateehes only 16, too young to beburying his father. Students moved from one cabin to another without the coaches' knowing, the report says. Long Beach. The coach wentalong with canceling the season because he knew kidswere not coming forward.