Since returning from camp, he has barely slept. Life goes on in Bellmore, despite the sex-abuse scandal involving members of the high school football team that has roiled this Long Island community. The public was barred from the hearing, but the penalties and the judges comments were disclosed by relatives of victims, lawyers and cops. Why wasn't there a coach sleeping in the cabins? Because if these attacks are acceptedas hazing, then the school is responsible. Clutching their schoolbooks in their arms, Allie and Sarah said they actually felt tremendous pride in their school these days. Everyone should be so lucky.''. Now the . "He made that statement and from that day on, he's been, his family, harassed by letters and threats," says Carol. That blond buzzcut, the baby face, the meager beginnings of agoateehes only 16, too young to beburying his father. One of the attackers was allowed to attend camp despite a history of disciplinary problems and not having a permission slip. "Everybody says we should just know. Long Beach. 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. Mepham Football team - Long Island High School Sports - Newsday A pack of teenagers congregates across the street from Mepham High School, smoking their cigarettes and clowning. Heand a group of kids have me surrounded. Go to the back of theline.. No!! "The kid who just made the tackle," says Cannestro, identifying one of the players on the tape. "You didn't monitor him very carefully, obviously," says Patty of what happened to her 13-year-old son. They reallycouldnt do anything about it. He's back home on Long Island. Terroristicthreats. Coach Mac talked to my mom, convinced us tostay. But critics say their mistakes started early. For many years, people have been debating about whether sports teams for kids should have selective tryouts. "He's victimized because I asked him to do a favor in this. Did either coach notice anything on these children's faces? When I was in ninth grade, says Lohman,my father died and my mother wanted to move toFlorida. I told him what hazing was, he says.I did not explain to him that hazing wasgolf balls, broomsticks, and pinecones.Reichsteins son was unharmed; three otherfreshmen werent so lucky. We dont beat guysup., Some of his old teammates have gathered to buy drinksfrom him. A player tried to flush his head in a urinal. In my mind, the school made a major error innot suspending these three allegedperpetrators, says Robert Kelly, an attorneyfor two victims. On 10/29, the Mepham varsity football team won their away conference game against Sewanhaka (Floral Park, NY) by a score of 27-12. 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. 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. Mepham High School Football Scandal - Nymag - New York Magazine 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 strokes his sisters hair withone hand and slides an arm around his brothersshoulders. It would be the adventure of his life five days of intense football in the woods of Pennsylvania. They were later suspended from classes on September 18. I should just sit there and go, 'Hmm, he's hazing him.' Of course this thing escalated tosodomy, Berger says. Mepham High School Football Case Study | ipl.org Thelinemans fathers death on October 5created one delay in moving the case forward; otherdelays have been due to the attorneys effortsto bring the case back to juvenile status, and tonegotiate their clients surrender into custody. Football: State record broken in Holy Spirit's Thanksgiving win over I said, 'What's the matter?' The coach told Bergerhe needed a physical. Tryouts are the worst thing about sports, they bring nothing but more stress to your plate. Wesley?Wesley was a nasty rat bastard! 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. On 11/4, the Mepham varsity football team won their home playoff game against Elmont Memorial (Elmont, NY) by a score of 14-7. Thanks for contacting us. Full speed," says McElroy. "The question should not be the coaches should have known. 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. Anger, fear in wake of Mepham attacks Parents afraid after football "We're not suggesting anything about injuries. Did I do anything to those kids?" .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { 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. Not a wink. 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. 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. . We got the ball first on kick off and we made a touchdown on the first few drives.On. This has allowed more and more players to look to PEDs in order to gain an edge over their opponents. Every year parents and students of local schools can come and enjoy seeing kids of their community playing football, which could make a player's future bright, and a grandparent proud. Hes dangerous, hes terrifying, hes an extra in, How to Watch the 2023 Oscars Celebrate All 23 Categories Live Again. Mysons season has been completely fucked up! Oct. 20, 2003. I dont evencare what they did.. The crime scene evidence that convicted Alex Murdaugh But rather, in my opinion, how could the coaches have known?" 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. 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. ''They continue to try to bury this thing and pretend they did everything they could, and that's just not true.''. 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. We have more wealthy backgrounds, saysDanny. 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. He was benched for two years as the lawsuit creptthrough the legal system. The coaches would have to be everywhere at thesame time, says Dave Hill. We're going to all the sports stores. Although some parents claim that their child has felt so defeated by an unsuccessful tryout that they dont want to continue with the sport, this is not always what happens. He wrestled instead. He taught us not to run away from ourproblems., How old were these kids, 16, 17? saysAndrew Longaro. Anyone can read what you share. We were afraid they would walk away with probation.. 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. High schools on Long Island have led a crackdown on rough-housing since the 2003 Mepham High School football training camp hazing scandal rocked the nation. 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. And who you can expect to see performing and presenting. The coaches also showed 48 Hours a tape never before made public - one they say was recorded on the last day of camp. You may notstart, but youll be on the team.. He was 40 years old. Now even they, however, have grown weary, wishing for a return to their old life. Four days ago, hisfather died in his sleep. Meet the Long Island High Schooler Who Made History With a Touchdown Then it became a football school. Research shows that 70% of kids drop out of sports for many reasons and not making the team is one. 1999, McAlester High School, Oklahoma: A football player suffered a head injury after he was jumped by older teammates in a locker-room hazing. "I don't want everything he's gone through to be just a waste. Mepham High School (North Bellmore, NY) Varsity Football - MaxPreps.com "I couldn't even process it in my head. 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. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. "The bottom line is, if we did anything wrong, we wouldn't be sitting here talking to you," says Cannestro. If you do something wrong, youd better go home and pack your toothbrush because youll pay the consequences, he told the teen. When parents came to an emergency meeting on September16 with the principal and superintendent, they heardnot mea culpas but accusations. Dont eventhink about sleeping at camp, he said. "Standing up and giving a 'rah, rah' when my son and the other boys are hurting in this way is so disrespectful. I ask. Thepurported ringleader, according to police, was thelineman. Mepham has big hill to climb against Garden City in battle of unbeatens Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix have broken up after he allegedly cheated on her with Raquel Leviss.
