It goes on to show a fourth teen in underwear squatting into the victims face, while other boys screamed and cheered, according to reports. Callanan said in an e-mail, I can reaffirm that I acted appropriately throughout my handling of the familys claims and that much of the information provided to you to date, and which you have printed, is inaccurate.. While charges are pending for some students, Couceles says the coaches and school leadership should be held accountable, too. Woburn School Superintendent Matthew Crowley issued a statement saying Coucelos was unjustly assaulted by other members of the football team. He wrote that Woburn is committed to providing enhanced training for athletic staff to ensure safe participation in athletics for all of our students., Crowley maintained that Woburns football coaches were aware of the prohibitions against bullying and hazing prior to the school year. Full statement: "On Wednesday, Oct. 13, the Woburn Police Department received a complaint involving members of a Woburn High School sports team regarding an incident earlier in the school year. }Customer Service. Some Woburn residents are upset that alleged assailants were allowed to play at Fenway in the Thanksgiving game against Winchester. His new school joined in seeking the waiver and injunction. Coucelos, fearing for his safety, has transferred to Cambridge Matignon School. It was very nasty. Contests & Promotions. Whats more, the boy and his parents allege, school authorities failed to correct the abusive nature of Belchers coaching after they reported the incident. 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. ""The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. But, the former student said, he soon became disturbed by Belchers coaching methods, which he described as abusive. 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. 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. The 60-page report includes statements by Chase Andrews, the first-year volunteer assistant who was 23 at the time, and head freshman coach Chris Scichilone that they were not formally trained about hazing before Coucelos was accosted. BOSTON, Ma. The Woburn hazing accusations are the latest in a series of troubling charges of inappropriate behavior within high school athletic programs in Greater Boston. This week, the Danvers High wrestling program was suspended after an investigation into a fight that allegedly occurred over a racial slur led to the discovery of a team Snapchat group that included racist and biased language. Police Investigating Woburn High School Team Incident - Woburn, MA - Officials did not specify the team, but WCVB reported Friday that the football team was Andrews, a 2020 graduate of Endicott College, indicated his football experience was limited to Pop Warner and high school. Hire A Woburn Area Pro To Get A Head Start On Spring Cleaning. "I fully support the superintendents actions in cancelling the Thanksgiving game, suspending those involved and conducting a full investigation. 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. "We need to determine how this happened and what we can do so that this never happens again," Fiorentini said. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved. ", Watch: Woburn High School accused of ignoring allegations of bullying. Officials said in Saturday's statement that the incident involved a sports team and an alleged incident that occurred "earlier in the school year.". "He just wants to be by himself all the time. With Haverhill forfeiting the contest, Lowell will finish the season with a 4-7 record. The Haverhill School Committee was scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.". "As school leaders, we acknowledge and have offered support to the student and family that had the strength to come forward to report this deeply troubling matter," the superintendent wrote. Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta notified parents Wednesday that the school department is looking into misconduct involving some members of the high school football team. 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. 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. I'm Peter Iliopoulos, WCVB News Center five, Okay. 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. A FOOTBALL PLAYER IS TRYING TO PULL OFF CLOTHING FROM ANOTHER YOUNG MAN AND LATER ENDS UP ON TOP OF THE ALLEGED HAZING VICTIM. >> WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE VIDEO? HOME3-3 AWAY4-0 NEUTRAL0-1. Multiple investigations are being undertaken. March 1, 2022 Greater Boston. After months of waiting, the case is expected to be heard in juvenile court next month. He played two seasons for the Breakers after they moved to New Orleans and Portland. "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.". I want to cry every time I see that. 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.. Severe Weather Alerts How will the Mass. What happens when providers turn to medication first? He was attacked in the bathroom. The federal Title IX law protects students against many forms of discrimination and violence, including bullying and hazing. A Woburn family is seeking charges against teenagers accused of assaulting their son in a high school locker room last fall. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. WOBURN, MA The family of a Woburn 14-year-old who said he was threatened, punched and sexually assaulted in a school locker room is criticizing Woburn Public Schools, Woburn police and the Middlesex District Attorney's Office for lack of action on the incidents, according to a Boston Globe report. The Globe does not identify victims of alleged sexual assaults unless they give their consent. "As these matters concern allegations involving minors, there was and remains much we cannot say publicly about this situation," Crowley said. }Customer Service, 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. 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. They're spirits of loved ones, Bill needs a kidney: Tyngsboro man searches for lifesaving donor, Lowell Catholic boys basketball team blows out Belchertown, No end in sight for case involving Dracut doc charged with patient's death, Toddler safe, car theft suspects apprehended, MVC girls basketball: Dracut's Ashlee Talbot named Div. And this has very negatively impacted both Jonathan and his parents, the whole family.. THE MASSACHUSETTS INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION CREATING A PROGRAM WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE TO STOP HAZING AND TO REMIND STUDENTS PLAYING SPORTS IS A PRIVILEGE. Parents of the boy who allegedly was kicked in 2018 also faulted the school administration. CNN A high school near Pennsylvanias capital has canceled its upcoming football season over reports of hazing by members of the schools football team. Black News Hour presented by The Boston Globe. 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. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. Following reports of the misconduct, Attorney General Maura Healey convened a conference of policymakers to address the abuses. 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. Its shocking that there still have been no repercussions for anyone in the athletic department, said Peter Hahn, the Coucelos familys attorney. He says there needs to be more accountability. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. THE FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF IS ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. I didn't like what I saw," said student Elliot Batista. WOBURN SENIOR FOOTBALL CAPTAINS (l-r) Derek Dabrieo, Jake Daniell, Derek Baccari, Anthony Palmieri and Yahya Aksadi. "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.". It's not good for our school. 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. 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. It's not good. 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. Jessica Callanan, principal of Woburn Memorial High School said in a statement to Greater Boston, "the Coucelos familys complaint is and should be taken seriously. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. 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