It would be the adventure of his life five days of intense football in the woods of Pennsylvania. Kristina and Vic Reichstein stand upand say their son, a freshman, was threatened by thelineman during practice in July and August. At middle schools, high schools and colleges across the country, everyone is arguing over whether or not students with failing grades should be allowed to play sports. '', ''This is a wake-up call,'' said the father of one of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect his son. However, earning your position, being undeserving of playing time, and coaches trying to win in their respected program are all issues that need to be thought of before people begin fighting for equal playing time. Over the next few days, the broomstick assaults were repeated. Says one Mepham parent, Werealways in competition with the upper class., The kids on Kennedys football team know theMepham team, and theyre a little afraid of someof them. Berger says his friends persuaded him to stay off theteam. Over the course of five days, their sons were brutally sodomized by their teammates. However, it seems too important to let go. I want to bepart of the team.. But are they really fortunate? David Woycik, a lawyer for the victims, said, My clients were relieved that [Sofia and Carney] will be out of the community and off the streets and they are pleased the judicial system worked to a certain extent.. We're checking it off. So, no., But, you know, says McDermott, ifthey wanted to do it? We were afraid they would walk away with probation.. If you do something wrong, youd better go home and pack your toothbrush because youll pay the consequences, he told the teen. says Cannestro. 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. He taught us not to run away from ourproblems., How old were these kids, 16, 17? saysAndrew Longaro. I was by far the besthalfback on the team, Berger says, now 23 butstill angry. According to the report, ''a lack of accountability appears to permeate the entire structure of the administration and running of this camp program.'' 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're not suggesting anything about injuries. The victims didn't tell us. I heard the kidliked it.. In earlier interviews, the head coach, Kevin McElroy, and his four assistants have said they did not know about the attacks, and could have done nothing to prevent them. They had complained to the coach and the principal before football camp that their son, a freshman, had been bullied and threatened by one of the boys who was later charged in the attacks. Perhaps most prominent among the group are Victor and Kristina Reichstein, who have criticized the school's principal, John F. Didden, and the team's head coach, Kevin McElroy, from the beginning. He says the coach said,Okay, Ill handle it. From thatmoment on, the junior stopped callingReichsteins son faggot andstarted calling him tattletale boy., One day at practice, the lineman approached him whilehe was drinking from a water fountain. They could be home as early as next month. 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. 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. 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. I notice when they're injured. I went to summerschool with them. The lineman, he says,was always starting fights. Now, McElroy and Junior Varsity Coach Art Cannestro exclusively tell their story to 48 Hours. And he was very excited," recalls Patty. NEW 'REAGAN' DEBATE - GOP RIPS SHOWTIME FOR TAKING SERIES Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, Buster Murdaugh got 'very drunk' with dad 2 months after mom, brother murdered: source, I'm a professional cleaner ditch these 4 household products immediately, Shoeless Ariana Madix awkwardly tries to avoid cheating Tom Sandoval, Prince Harry was scared to lose Meghan Markle after fight that led to therapy, Prince Harry says psychedelics are fundamental part of his life, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant allegedly flashes gun at a strip club, Tom Sizemore And The Dangerous Burden of Desperation, Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss planned to tell Ariana Madix about affair. We said, 'Are they hurting you?' Parents demanded:Shouldnt they have been there to stop theseboys? There's supervision, like any other school event.". But they dont want to appearself-serving, he says. We dontalways understand, and we dont alwayssee. He attempts a little levityIknow he shared his hopes for the Yankees with theLordbefore straining for profundity:The great artist has finished hisportrait. He urges the mourners to say a prayerfor the family. He triedseriously to treat him as a regular kid, like nothingever happened. MEPHAM PARENTS TO PLOT ACTION - New York Post But for the victims' families, the report came as a vindication, they said. It is in the best interests of our students and the success of our program that the present coaches not be re-appointed, said Bellmore-Merrick school-board member Norbert Billig. Berger sayshe got up and called his dad, who went straight to thecoaches. 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The grand jury says the five coaches who supervised the team were ''more concerned with being coaches of a football team than interested in the well-being of the players as students.'' If they have failing grades as well, the colleges are sending their students into the world without a real chance at becoming professional athletes, and without an actual education. He previously suffered a brain aneurysm on February 18, and was ultimately taken off life support. The issue spans to not only the professional level, but the high school and collegiate divisions as well. Bellmore Journal; Life Goes On but Is Altered After School Scandal. Instead, thevictims were laughed at in the halls, calledfaggot and broomstick boy.The superintendent, Thomas Caramore, shielded theschool from inquiries at first. At 1:21 p.m. last Friday, the Mepham High School football and cheerleading squads should have rushed onto Mepham's field for a But then come the off-color jokes about broomsticks and pine cones from his friends. For me, this challenge helped me develop as a person than will work harder and strive for the best in my academics. The parents are organizing to demand that the school administration be held accountable for allowing the incident to occur, they said. They bashed him in his head, over his back, his legs, his arms," recalls Patty, who says her son was assaulted at least 3-4 times a day. They did not come to help me.Rullo quotes the parent of that child as blamingprincipal John Didden, who did not protect mychild., Four days later, Rullo and two other parents who spokereceive identical profanity-laced letters in the mail,warning that if they keep speaking out, theyllalso get the broomstick treatment. Once rated one of the best academic high. Atlantic City Football 2022-2023 - NJ.com !Effin this, effinthatyoure not coming on my team,youre done, youre done, youredone! And I started screaming at him.. What's more, the 16-year-old ringleader of the assaults had his own history of disciplinary problems. No!! No. Nor did he suspendthe three alleged perpetrators, and as a result, theywere allowed to walk the hallways of Mepham High fornearly two weeks. When trying to become a professional athlete, one must start playing sports as early as possible (Ferguson 34).Playing sports comes with many sacrifices. 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. We're in education because we love kids.". Ke Huy Quan Continues His Winning Streak at the Independent Spirit Awards. Hed just beat upon peoplehed be walking by andboom! Mepham High School Football Coach Anthony Cracco's Sex Scandal Has Bellmore . 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. Correspondent Peter Van Sant reports. Now the . The Mepham-Garden City football game this week could be a juicy one. I need to see a doctor,'" says Carol. Soon after the first revelations of the attacks, the Reichsteins reached out to newspapers and television stations with their story. Children have strived for years to make their parents, teachers and coaches proud of them. And his youth. Football is important to the high school experience and different familys history around the world. Trust me been there done that, the most regretted thing about school sports for many are tryouts. Sofia LaSpina has etched her name in Long Island history. The coaches also showed 48 Hours a tape never before made public - one they say was recorded on the last day of camp. Dont eventhink about sleeping at camp, he said. Hes dangerous, hes terrifying, hes an extra in, How to Watch the 2023 Oscars Celebrate All 23 Categories Live Again. McElroy was practically a secondfather to Zereoue when the running back moved to ahome for wayward boys in Bellmorearriving, toMephams good fortune, at the start of hishigh-school career. Both coaches still don't understand why they're being blamed for what happened last summer at Mepham High School's football camp. During the first day of camp, the hazing was minor, such as one player smearing gel and powder into another's hair. According to her, Didden said he wouldinvestigate the incident.