Andrews, a 2020 graduate of Endicott College, indicated his football experience was limited to Pop Warner and high school. The three-year initiative is called Transforming Narratives of Gun Violence. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. It took a big toll on him, very big toll.. All rights reserved, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of New Hampshire: An NBC10 Boston Original, Crash Causes Injuries, Lane Closure on I-95 in Peabody, Tracking the Next Hit of Wintry Weather Headed to New England, Due Late Week, Even After Investigation, Stoneham Cop Hasn't Paid Dime of Rent to New Landlord, FIRST ALERT: As Snow Continues to Fall, Weekend Storm Promises More for Boston, JetBlue Plane, Private Jet Have Close Call' at Boston's Logan Airport: FAA. He should have been fired., The Globe asked Belcher and other school officials to comment. (CNN) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. THIS IS VIDEO OF THE ALLEGED HAZING INCIDENT IN THE FOOTBALL LOCKROOM. In 13 seasons there, Belcher went 78-63 and was named the Globes coach of the year in 2008, after guiding his team to a 10-2 record and the league title. Crowley said in his most recent statement to the Globe that the school district also will make certain that the investigators are aware of this past, unsubstantiated allegation regarding Coach Belcher to ensure that they are provided with any and all context necessary for a full and fair investigation.. 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. The student who grabbed him in the classroom, he said, was a former Woburn football player. CNN A high school near Pennsylvanias capital has canceled its upcoming football season over reports of hazing by members of the schools football team. How will the Mass. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. Kevin Couceles says cellphone video shared on social media shows his then 14-year-old son being assaulted in the locker room after a football game last It was very nasty," said student Felix Molina.The Haverhill High School football stadium and locker room are located approximately 10 minutes off campus.Police are investigating and members of the teams coaching staff have been placed on administrative leave.Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said Thursday that he supported hiring an outside firm to conduct the investigation. I want to cry every time I see that. The Globe does not identify victims of alleged sexual assaults unless they give their consent. "It was gross. "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe. 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. REPORTER: THEY ARE KICKING OFF THAT PROGRAM DECEMBER 8, EVOLVING -- INVOLVING THE MASS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS AND SOCIETY GROUP. The statement issued by Police Chief Robert Rufo, Mayor Scott Galvin and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Crowley did not state the nature of the complaint or the specific team, but WCVB reports that officials are investigating whether a teenage member of the football program was hazed and sexually assaulted. I feel like parents need to be more involved and acknowledge who their kids friends are. The Rockets improved to 2-0 by dominating Woburn, 35-7, last Saturday at Woburn High. WE HAVE BLURRED THE LEWD AND VIOLENT SCENEAT LEAST ONE PERSON -- SCENE. The report said the freshman was then harassed for months both physically and through text messages, leading to him dropping out of school out of fear for his own safety. 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. ", The teen was joined by his parents Kevin and Jeanny and his lawyer Peter Hahn, who said the school failed Coucelos. Whats more, the boy and his parents allege, school authorities failed to correct the abusive nature of Belchers coaching after they reported the incident. This content is imported from Facebook. "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.". He also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. KYMA KECY is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. Join us. ", "The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. We hadnt been winning a lot of games and I thought he might turn things around.. 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. Danvers school committee faces harsh questions after report calls response to high school hazing into question, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at GBH, Transparency in Coverage Cost-Sharing Disclosures. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. He told Hanley he took no action after Coucelos reported he was jumped because he saw no visible injuries and no need to pry further.. One has an additional "indecent assault and battery" charge. "I fully support the superintendents actions in cancelling the Thanksgiving game, suspending those involved and conducting a full investigation. WE NEED TO DETERMINE HOW THIS HAPPENED AND WHAT WE CAN DO SO THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. Former Woburn High School football player Johnathan Coucelos said he was assaulted and bullied by teammates in the locker room, It doesn't feel the same anymore to be out in public," he said. The Coucelos family accused school officials of putting the football teams interests ahead of student safety with their disciplinary measures. Officials in Woburn said Saturday that authorities are Lowell Highs annual Thanksgiving Day football game against Haverhill has been canceled due to an alleged hazing incident involving Haverhill players that was TONIGHT IS THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING HERE AT HAV. "I am alarmed, concerned and frankly disgusted by what I have been told and by the video that I was shown," Fiorentini said in a statement Wednesday night. We're live in Woburn. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. "We wish to state, without reservation, that the Woburn Public Schools took this matter seriously as soon as we learned about it and that our response was comprehensive and thorough.". The student said he felt ill and experienced a lingering headache, but he did not seek treatment from the team athletic trainer for fear of being further characterized as weak. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. There should be a lot more charges," he said. Now there was a heavy police presence here at the game, but no issues here tonight. To my knowledge, there have been no other bullying allegations made to the administration regarding this individual.. Two more students face charges for subsequent harassment in the weeks after the assault in the locker room. Instead, Belcher instructed the traumatized player to return to the field for 35 more minutes of contact drills, his complaint states. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. "A freshman getting dragged down on the floor, them pulling down his pants and pulling down the other dude's pants and humping him in the face. "We need to determine how this happened and what we can do so that this never happens again," Fiorentini said. "We are committed to a thorough, multifaceted fact finding operation, and we pledge to be forthcoming regarding the results of those investigations and to enact their findings and recommendations., "As these investigations remain active and ongoing, we will continue to allow that process to unfold," he added. But off the field, an investigation is underway, Sources tell News Center Five Police are investigating whether a juvenile was hazed and sexually assaulted at the school in an incident involving the football team. The matter has also been referred to the Haverhill Police Department for further investigation, according to the school officials' message. He added, "I used to wake up and go out with half of my friends and now I'm just locked up in my room and finally going into a different school. Crowley said in his letter Tuesday that the district has cooperated fully with the law enforcement investigation. The remaining coaches reported hearing nothing unusual from their offices near the locker room, despite the loud commotion, which numerous players recorded. Hire A Woburn Area Pro To Get A Head Start On Spring Cleaning. Because the investigation involves minors, both the Woburn Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office told NBC10 Boston they cannot provide information about the case. FIRST ALERT FORECAST: Calmer wind speeds and warmer temperatures coming soon, FIRST ALERT FORECAST: More winds and warmer temps on the way, Proposition 17: Voting Rights Restoration for Persons on Parole Amendment. Woburn police and the Middlesex District Attorneys office are now investigating. >> I DONT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH KIDS TODAY. Woburn Police have assigned a detective to the case. REPORTER: THE FOOTBALL STADIUM AND LOCKER ROOM IS 10 MINUTES OFF-CAMPUS. I didn't like what I saw," said student Elliot Batista. "Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment or retaliation in any form," the message reads. Woburn officials issue statement about investigation involving football team. 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. I'm Peter Iliopoulos, WCVB News Center five, Okay. "It was gross. In Peabody, members of the football team were disciplined last week after a video showed players unsupervised in a locker room last month using a racial slur and mimicking sexual acts. A FOOTBALL PLAYER IS TRYING TO PULL OFF CLOTHING FROM ANOTHER YOUNG MAN AND LATER ENDS UP ON TOP OF THE ALLEGED HAZING VICTIM. Woburn police are seeking assault charges in Lowell Juvenile Court against seven Woburn students, including five football players, for the alleged locker room attack and two subsequent incidents in which Johnathan was the alleged victim. PARENTS ARE NOW REVISITING BASIC RIGHTS AND WRONGSAT HOME. Woburn High made no substantive efforts to curtail the bullying, they stated. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. An incident serious enough to put the Haverhill football coaching staff on paid administrative leave, and initiate a probe into the matter by the citys Police Department. And in Woburn, police are "investigating whether a juvenile was hazed and sexually assaulted at the school in an incident involving the football team." I urge all people involved to cooperate completely with the investigators so that the best and most just outcome can be reached. Lowell Highs annual Thanksgiving Day football game against Haverhill has been canceled due to an alleged hazing incident involving Haverhill players that was caught on video. 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.. READINGS MATT BLASI (83) reaches to make a catch before Woburns Travis Kanoni (4) can move in. Couceles says a student pulled down his sons pants and groped his genitals. "The Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students. The middlesex county district attorney's office says woburn police notified them about the allegations, and are investigating. Its hard to watch but Kevin Couceles says cellphone video shared on social media shows his son being assaulted in the locker room of Woburn Memorial High School after a football game last September. Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved., Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said in a statement shared on Facebook Wednesday night that he was alarmed, concerned, and frankly disgusted by the video and that this can never be allowed to occur again., He said the boys involved in the incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team., I fully support the superintendents actions in cancelling the Thanksgiving game, suspending those involved and conducting a full investigation, he said in the statement. He said one punched him several times in a school bathroom, and the other entered his Spanish classroom, grabbed him by the shirt, and warned him not to snitch. 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 former players and parents. A video of the incident allegedly shows members of the Haverhill High School football team hazing a teenage boy. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! The county district attorney has indicated it will join local police in the investigation. 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. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. What happens when providers turn to medication first? 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. How many examples of this appalling behavior will it take to preempt the next hazers in waiting? 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. Nelson concluded Coucelos was indeed assaulted and groped in the locker room. This is an active and ongoing investigation. Video shows alleged hazing incident that ended Haverhill football team's season, THE UNIVERSITY -- THE VIDEO YOU WILL SEE IS HIGHLY DISTURBING. 2023 by KYMA / NPG of Yuma-El Centro Broadcasting. display: none; It was very nasty," said student Felix Molina. The player who was initially hopeful about Belcher said the team engaged in a ritual in 2019 in which one player each week got jumped by his teammates and whacked with foam rollers. The Haverhill High School football stadium and locker room are located approximately 10 minutes off campus. It is my understanding that the allegation was made in 2019 and that the High School administration promptly investigated the allegation in accordance with our bullying prevention policy and procedure, and that it was not substantiated. Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment, or retaliation in any form, the school district said in the statement. He was attacked in his Spanish class. Seven Massachusetts students charged in connection with alleged assaults on high school football teammate. 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. Whats more, the family says, no school employee has publicly accepted responsibility for the trauma, while the students answer to criminal charges. It gets me emotional every time I have to talk about this.". NEW! In Danvers, a member of the boys hockey program publicly accused teammates of using racial slurs and engaging in homophobic hazing with a sex toy during the 2019-2020 season. Something needs to be said, something to be done. 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. Woburn, MA Police are pursuing criminal charges against seven students at Woburn Memorial High School after a freshman football player, 14-year-old Johnathan "We need to determine how this happened and what we can do so that this never happens again," Fiorentini said. >> IT IS KIND OF DISTURBING AND NASTY. A Woburn police detective has been assigned to the case. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. While the coach generally treated his son relatively well because he was one of the teams better players Logan is now a quarterback at Fitchburg State University Wilson said he was aware of Belchers practice of pitting older, stronger players against other teammates. Johnathan Coucelos (center) and his family have helped drive the scrutiny of Woburn's football program. The Woburn Police Department received a complaint Wednesday involving members of a Woburn High School sports team regarding an incident earlier in the "The Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students. But all these adults need to go.. Near the locker room, despite the loud commotion, which numerous players recorded that a detective assigned! Young MAN and LATER ENDS UP on TOP of the alleged hazing VICTIM Middlesex district! Young MAN and LATER ENDS UP on TOP of the Haverhill high near... 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