The owner of the store posted a sign in his window earlier this month: ''We are Bellmore. He gave his son a cellphone. College athletics are oftentimes not as glamorous as one would think. They feel a sense of guilt and shame that holds them back from saying anything and we see this is the Mepham High School Football case. 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. His broad shoulders are slumpedand trembling as he walks the coffin down the aisle ofSaint Barnabas Church in Bellmore, Long Island. No," says McElroy. When several parents received threatening letters after speaking out about the incident, emotions ratcheted higher. Not like Wesley Berger, Vic says.Hes overexposed.. Moreover, they must spend money on equipment, clothing, and food (37). at Garden City. 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. 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. He had to tell people what happened to him," says Carol. A few blocks from school, Allie Pagano and Sarah Mirenda, both 14, stop at the local pizza shop, Luigi's, on their way home. Coaches, the report says, were oblivious to what was occurring. He was benched for two years as the lawsuit creptthrough the legal system. We've received your submission. Everyone should be so lucky.''. Trust me been there done that, the most regretted thing about school sports for many are tryouts. He cites essays abouthazing from the Internet, including an academic paperby Elizabeth Allan of the University of Maine thatincludes in a long list of hazing activitiessexual simulation and sexual assault., The conduct took place in a juvenilesetting, Alter argues. He strokes his sisters hair withone hand and slides an arm around his brothersshoulders. 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. Signup for our newsletter to get notified about our next ride. "Did I tell the perpetrators to go and do that to those kids? 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. But other voices emerge at the meeting, corroboratingthe victims contention that hazing is a fact oflife at Mepham. 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. Kids and adults are then forced to take a side on the issue for the good of the school and the safety of the children. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. She shouts out all the ladies (mothers and wives) in the room. They were later suspended from classes on September 18. "They couldn't be further from the truth," says Cannestro. Tell us how you did it coach. These words were forced into my face with a camera lens almost resting against my cheeks (page 395). Mysons season has been completely fucked up! One of the attackers was allowed to attend camp despite a history of disciplinary problems and not having a permission slip. McElroy and his coaching staff claim they had no responsibility for a vicious alleged hazing incident at a training camp in Pennsylvania in August. Most of the shit they did was pranks,like shaving cream, one Mepham boy tells me ona sunny Wednesday, a day before the funeral of thelinemans father. 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. Which mayexplain why Coach Mac, in his only public statement,has concurred with Caramore. There were no screams like that.". And his youth. L.I. Village Split Over Decision To Forfeit Game Over Hazing This wasn't just something that happened when the lights went out.". "The kid who just made the tackle," says Cannestro, identifying one of the players on the tape. At last nights meeting, one player called the coaches caring role models, and team captain Dan Cosenza hugged McElroy. "They have to be lying.". At first, shock and disbelief prevailed. It was supposed to be fun, and glorious. We got all new things to bring to pack. The coaches also showed 48 Hours a tape never before made public - one they say was recorded on the last day of camp. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. '', ''This is a wake-up call,'' said the father of one of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect his son. The coaches' lawyer and officials for the Bellmore-Merrick School District did not comment on the report's findings or its criticisms. We have more wealthy backgrounds, saysDanny. 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. That blond buzzcut, the baby face, the meager beginnings of agoateehes only 16, too young to beburying his father. At this point, the victims would have already suffered numerous attacks. Hedoesnt have a senior season to put on hiscollege application., This guy comes to my job, says Andy.He says, Oh, Im in Mephamnow, maybe I should shove a pinecone up myass! I said, Thats notfunny. These guys on the team are gonna beharassed the rest of their fuckin lives., My son knows one of the boys who wasattacked, Mary says sadly. Reichsteins wife,Kristina, then begged Didden to make an example of thelineman. West Jersey Football League all-stars: United Division, 2022. 28 - 13 W. 10/22/2022. "We're not suggesting anything about injuries. I want to bepart of the team.. "He was waiting for them [the coaches] to come in and save him, but no one came," says Carol's husband, Vinny. Experts: Parents and coaches must be vigilant to curb hazing in teen Some parents and athletes believe equal playing time for all sports and activities is deserved all through their middle school and high school careers. Not a wink. 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. Afew miles awaysouth of Sunrise Highway, down bythe blue water of East BayBMWs and Lexuses fillthe lot at the rival high school, John F. Kennedy.This was Amy Fishers high schoolthe richschool. 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. But one kid whogot it in the shitter, hes just like afag., Yeah, he says. Whos going to give him thatmoney now? NEW! And don't you dare tell,'" says Kristina, who lobbied to get Carney thrown off the trip. More than 60 players attended the camp, including the boy's best friend Patty and Jimmy's son who was also just 13. Regardless, I was all about making them the best well-rounded people before they head into the cruel world. McElroy hadnothing to do with this kid, Joe Rosenthalsays. A pack of teenagers congregates across the street from Mepham High School, smoking their cigarettes and clowning. Dont eventhink about sleeping at camp, he said. That was until Berger started practicethe August before his freshman year. And who you can expect to see performing and presenting. At least one group of parents has decided they will continue to speak out. CNN. We got the ball first on kick off and we made a touchdown on the first few drives.On. Mepham High School Football Scandal - nymag.com You could just seehe had so much anger in him. ''People just want to move on,'' said one teenager, sucking on his cigarette. A captain is anextension of the coaching staff, he says,slipping into present tense to talk about his team.What the coaches dont control, thecaptains control. Doyou know who I am?, The freshman, trying to show a little backbone,replied: This is America. Gavin Roman broke the state record for most catches in a season during Holy Spirit's 63-34 rivalry win against Atlantic City in Absecon. But then come the off-color jokes about broomsticks and pine cones from his friends. Mepham High School (North Bellmore, NY) Varsity Football - MaxPreps.com It was horrible. 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 . Keep yourmouth shut, the letters read, andnothing will happen to you or your family.. "He's one of the victims.". Sports in Mepham isvery big.. "What constitutes a scream?" And coming in, you expect it.Youre ready for it., From what I heard, the guys stuck his head inthe toilet, and that was it. The boy, wearing a regulation backward baseball cap,is standing at the schools west entrance. 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. I am 13 years old and I am on the Friendswood junior high C-football team I am a second string slot receiver and starting strong safety and I 'm also a second string strong side linebacker it was our last game of the season,so we really wanted to go out on the win or a record for the season was one way in five losses and one tie,we hadn 't had a great season so we especially wanted to go out on a win. What LAppartement 4F Co-owner Ashley Coiffard Put on Her Wedding Registry. We've received your submission. Once in high school, senior athletes have scouts that come out to see them play. Here's why food advocates are worried they cant afford it. When the allegations surfaced in early September, the three accused teenagers were suspended from Mepham High School's football team. display: block; Nassau County Girl Scouts fundraise for victims of quake in Syria, Turkey at Masjid Hamza, Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions. A problem arises though once try outs are over and the team is announced. You may notstart, but youll be on the team.. Not a lot of kids are good enough to play in the top college sports programs in the country. I think hes adirtbag. The team did it along with some guidance from my assistant coach and the parents. Not, 'Coach, things aren't good over here.' So it just goes on and on. We said, 'Are they hurting you?' Sofia was sent to a boot camp, and Carney was sent to a juvenile detention center. When members of a high-school football team on Long Island were accused of sexual attacks, the community was appalled . The priest declares that the father had nothingbut life ahead of him. "He's victimized because I asked him to do a favor in this. On October 6, heannounced that that was his intention. MEPHAM COACHES BOOTED IN HAZING SCANDAL - New York Post 10/08/2022. The coaches, who supervised the trip, say that they had no idea any of this was happening during the camp. According to her, Didden said he wouldinvestigate the incident. The district's superintendent, Dr. Thomas Caramore, defended the decision in a letter to the community earlier this month, saying the principal spoke with the boy and the coach before camp, and there was no way of anticipating the attacks. But I justgot off the phone with the mother of one of thevictims, and she told me that were her bestadvocate. Instead, they were treated as juveniles. They have criticized the coaches and school district for lax supervision, accusing Mepham officials of ignoring the long disciplinary record of one of the three attackers. "I assumed he was homesick, so I said, 'Stick it out. Youve got some Janning to do! Hed just beat upon peoplehed be walking by andboom! What about the boys who were raped? Four days ago, hisfather died in his sleep. On 10/29, the Mepham varsity football team won their away conference game against Sewanhaka (Floral Park, NY) by a score of 27-12. What I know about the Berger incident isit did not involve hazing. All rights reserved. The crime scene evidence that convicted Alex Murdaugh The group, which calls itself Mepham Parents 4 Change, consists of eight families, but says it is quickly gathering support. "These boys were like 6 feet 2 inches and 6 feet 4 inches, and roughly 250 lbs. "Yeah," says Cannestro. This is a sore pointfor Mary. . After bullying allegations, Middleton coach allowed to resign with The abuse occurred day and night, and young players were attacked repeatedly and forced to sodomize each other, the report says. 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. October 11, 2014 / 7:28 PM / AP. 18 - 35 L. 10/15/2022. Including intelligent heated gloves, soothing foot rollers, and classic cabbage-shaped servingware. 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. But its notthe only time I hear neighbors, even parents, floatthis notion. School administrators, however, let him get on the bus anyway. In the southern reachesof Long Island, nestled between the bucolic SouthernState Parkway and the fast-food joints and cardealerships on Sunrise Highway, the four small townsof Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick, and NorthMerrick make up a solid community of working- andmiddle-class families.