mm 34 32 Ruben high school football team on the gridiron in a friday night matchup against Melrose. There is no indication in the report that the investigator, Patrick Hanley, a former state and county prosecutor, asked Belcher, Duran, or Callanan about the purported lack of training. The Globe reported on Saturday that the freshman said he was attacked in a locker room and grabbed by the genitals in an incident caught on video following a September game. The Couceles family reported the assault to police in October. It gets me emotional every time I have to talk about this.". The Globe is not identifying the player who alleges he was kicked in the head because a Middlesex Superior Court judge sealed the case in October, citing student privacy concerns. Hearing In Woburn Football Assault Case Postponed The probable cause hearing initially scheduled for Tuesday will not take place until March, the attorney for the THE TEAM IS FORFEITING THE REST OF THE SEASON. THIS IS VIDEO OF THE ALLEGED HAZING INCIDENT IN THE FOOTBALL LOCKROOM. "It's just so wrong how they're handling it. It did explain that additional details were not released because of the ages of those involved. It's a shame. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. I didn't like what I saw," said student Elliot Batista. 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. >> WANT TO GET STUDENTS -- STUDENT ATHLETES AND ADULT LEADERS IN A ROOM AND START TALKING ABOUT HOW TO BEAT HUMAN BEINGS. Just no, they're kids temperament, that stuff. In a statement shared Wednesday evening, Fiorentini said he received a call from Haverhill Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Marotta, briefing him on a hazing incident at the high school. Instead, Belcher instructed the traumatized player to return to the field for 35 more minutes of contact drills, his complaint states. I wish to be unequivocal in the fact that I join every member of the WPS administration in condemning physical and sexual violence in all forms," Crowley said. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. "The school official, superintendent, the principal, vice principal, coaches they all should [face] consequences.. I also told the principal, who didnt stop him.. Web7 students face charges in alleged Woburn HS hazing attack 2,940 views Apr 14, 2022 Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old football But in recent years, perhaps spurred on by the random, gutless behavior enabled by social media, hazings descended into outright physical and psychological abuse, encouraged or ignored in some cases by adults in leadership positions. 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.. We hadnt been winning a lot of games and I thought he might turn things around.. Crowley said they have reached out to the Couceles family. CNN A high school near Pennsylvanias capital has canceled its upcoming football season over reports of hazing by members of the schools football team. His new school joined in seeking the waiver and injunction. THE MAYOR GOES ON TO SAY IM CONCERNED THIS HAPPENED, AND CONCERNED BY REPORTS THAT OTHER STUDENTS STOOD BY AND DID NOT INTERVENE. Callanan is leaving after the school year to become the director of academic achievement at Reading Memorial High School. "This is an active and ongoing investigation. REPORTER: THE FOOTBALL STADIUM AND LOCKER ROOM IS 10 MINUTES OFF-CAMPUS. Asked to cite an inaccuracy, Callanan did not respond. Seven Woburn students charged in alleged locker room assaults on former football player, Read the original report: After Woburn football player endures multiple alleged assaults, parents left outraged by official response. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time. Black News Hour presented by The Boston Globe. 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. Now, five years into Belchers coaching career at Woburn, the culture of his program and the school districts supervision of the former Boston College football standout are under scrutiny. Seven teenagers are facing criminal charges in I JUST THINK ITS AWFUL. Woburn High made no substantive efforts to curtail the bullying, they stated. In the most disturbing incident, the parent said, her son was a freshman when four older teammates attacked him in a school hallway after Belcher allegedly encouraged stronger players to toughen up those perceived as weaker. But conflicting witness statements prevented Nelson from establishing who groped Coucelos, he stated. I wasnt there to protect my son," Couceles shared. 2 Player of the Year, High school roundup: Vinny D'Urso, Lowell Catholic blank Haverhill, 1-0, MVC boys basketball: Tewksbury's Ryan Cuvier named Div. PF343 PA206 STREAK2W. Johnathan Coucelos (center) and his family have helped drive the scrutiny of Woburn's football program. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! The county district attorney has indicated it will join local police in the investigation. March 1, 2022 Greater Boston. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. In response, Woburn school superintendent Matt Crowley issued a statement that said, I was informed by the High School administration that there was one allegation of bullying made against Coach Jack Belcher. Woburn likes to cover things up, said Kevin Coucelos, Johnathans father and a lifelong resident. It was very nasty. The middlesex county district attorney's office The Rams released him in training camp before he was drafted by the Boston Breakers of the fledgling United States Football League. But all these adults need to go.. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The court is expected to decide in early March whether charges are warranted. Morning Weather It was disgusting. But that disappointment pales in comparison to the disturbing allegations leveled at members of the Haverhill High School football team. "It was gross. Coucelos, who is 14, told Jim Braude on Greater Boston Monday that his life has changed drastically since the attack, and the harassment has not stopped. No one was against it, Hanley described the player as saying. Woburn Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Matthew Crowley sent a letter to the community on Tuesday to provide an update on the "troubling situation involving the WMHS athletics program that has been covered in the news recently. The Globe's most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. I'm Peter Iliopoulos, WCVB News Center five, Okay. The Woburn Police Department received a complaint Wednesday involving members of a Woburn High School sports team regarding an incident earlier in the "Saturday's statement did not provide details about the nature of the allegation and did not specifically mention the football team. Its hard on all of us.. 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 investigation found Coucelos also was assaulted in his Spanish classroom by a former football player who accused him of snitching and was punched in a school bathroom by a student who chided him for not defending himself more forcefully during the locker room assault. An inexperienced and ill-trained volunteer assistant football coach failed to inform his supervisors at Woburn Memorial High School after a 14-year-old freshman player, Johnathan Coucelos, reported last fall that he was jumped by teammates in a locker room, according to an independent investigators report obtained by the Globe. Three years later, he became the head coach at Bedford High School. It was dirty. The Woburn High School football team was on the field Friday night against Melrose High School but off the field, an investigation is underway. It was very nasty," said student Felix Molina. "We need to determine how this happened and what we can do so that this never happens again," Fiorentini said. A parent who asked not to be identified said her son, who graduated in 2021, was bullied on the practice field, in the locker room, and elsewhere in the school by his football teammates. "They haven't given my son or even us any support whatsoever," Kevin Coucelos said. Haverhill High School students who saw the video said the lewd acts shown on that video happened in the locker room of the school's football stadium, Trinity Stadium. 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. Seven Massachusetts students charged in connection with alleged assaults on high school football teammate. Severe Weather Alerts "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe. After News Of Anti-Semitism On Duxburys Football Team, Where Does The Town Go From Here? Police are investigating and members of the teams coaching staff have been placed on administrative leave. It hurts him to this day. "We acknowledge and support the student and family that had the strength to come forward to report this deeply troubling matter," Woburn Superintendent of Schools Matt Crowley told the Globe. Police seek charges against seven students after Woburn locker room incident, After Woburn football player endures multiple alleged assaults, parents left outraged by official response. 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 September 2021. "The Woburn Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are currently investigating the incident. He was harassed by a number of different students, said Hahn. A hazing investigation at Woburn Memorial High School has led to charges against seven high school students. }Customer Service. That week, the Woburn Police Department and Middlesex District Attorney announced they were investigating the incident. Officials in Woburn said Saturday that authorities are investigating a complaint received earlier in the week involving members of a Woburn High School sports team. Whats more, the family says, no school employee has publicly accepted responsibility for the trauma, while the students answer to criminal charges. Last spring, several schools across the state were faced with the emergence of hazing incidents on their athletic teams, some resulting in criminal charges against athletes and ties cut with coaches, athletic directors, and top administrators. He says there needs to be more accountability. One football player was accused of indecent assault for allegedly yanking down Johnathans pants and touching his genitals in the locker room episode. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. (CNN) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. 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. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. The moments before were obstructed from view by the crowd gathered around. "This is an active and ongoing investigation. 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). LEAGUE 4-1 2nd Middlesex - Liberty. "I lost half of my friends. Video shows alleged hazing incident that ended Haverhill football team's season, THE UNIVERSITY -- THE VIDEO YOU WILL SEE IS HIGHLY DISTURBING. Many Woburn residents have expressed anger that Belcher permitted three of the alleged assailants, including the player facing a possible indecent assault charge, to remain on the football team through a prestigious Thanksgiving week game at Fenway Park. I think the parents need to take action. The Woburn case is one of numerous violent incidents in high school sports over the last year that have captured the attention of government officials, civil rights groups, and student safety organizations. The student who grabbed him in the classroom, he said, was a former Woburn football player. Incidents like these have no place in our community, the superintendent added. 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. #ada-button-frame { Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.". Hazing in sports has long served as sort of an initiation rite, juvenile for the most part, not demeaning and vicious in nature. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office also said they were notified about the allegations by police and are participating in the investigation. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. Unlike Callanan, who told Hanley she feels terrible for Johnathan, Belcher expressed less empathy, saying he was aware of Coucelos before the attack in a negative way, as a pain in the neck or wise-guy.. PARENTS ARE NOW REVISITING BASIC RIGHTS AND WRONGSAT HOME. He should have been fired., The Globe asked Belcher and other school officials to comment. Now, police are filing criminal charges against seven students accused of the assault. Lowell Highs annual Thanksgiving Day football game against Haverhill has been canceled due to an alleged hazing incident involving Haverhill players that was Join us. 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 The Middlesex County District Attorney's office says Woburn police notified them about the allegations and are investigating. Its AWFUL asked to cite an inaccuracy, callanan did not respond from Sanditon on Passport... 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