Lowell staged a miraculous comeback in last year s contest, scoring 34 points in the second half to stun the Hillies, 41-36. Andrews is gone. 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. Two more students face charges for subsequent harassment in the weeks after the assault in the locker room. Following reports of the misconduct, Attorney General Maura Healey convened a conference of policymakers to address the abuses. 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 family also asked Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association to take action against Woburn school officials for allegedly violating MIAA rules on hazing, fighting, and sportsmanship, among others. I didn't like what I saw," said student Elliot Batista. 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. 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. We hadnt been winning a lot of games and I thought he might turn things around.. There was little to no supervision in the locker room, he said. Woburn officials issue statement about investigation involving football team. Several students, including football players in uniform, are seen pouring water on him and throwing water bottles. KYMA/CBS 13/KECY is an equal opportunity employer. mm 34 32 Ruben high school football team on the gridiron in a friday night matchup against Melrose. He instills hard work, with strict rules, respect for team members and respect for adults at all times. "I share in the collective shock and outrage regarding this incident.". 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. The court is expected to decide in early March whether charges are warranted. "Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment or retaliation in any form," the message reads. ""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. 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. It's really not a bad school. CNN A high school near Pennsylvanias capital has canceled its upcoming football season over reports of hazing by members of the schools football team. That week, the Woburn Police Department and Middlesex District Attorney announced they were investigating the incident. 2023 by KYMA / NPG of Yuma-El Centro Broadcasting. While charges are pending for some students, Couceles says the coaches and school leadership should be held accountable, too. At BC, he was a 6-foot-4-inch, 270-pound football center and team cocaptain under coach Jack Bicknell, snapping the ball to quarterback Doug Flutie. I think the parents need to take action. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. The family is asking for accountability from the school. "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. "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.". ", The teen was joined by his parents Kevin and Jeanny and his lawyer Peter Hahn, who said the school failed Coucelos. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team.That message from Police Chief Robert Rufo, Mayor Scott Galvin and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Crowley comes one day after sources told NewsCenter 5 that police are investigating whether a juvenile was hazed and sexually assaulted at the school in an incident involving the football team.The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office also said they were notified about the allegations by police and are participating in the investigation.Officials said in Saturday's statement that the incident involved a sports team and an alleged incident that occurred "earlier in the school year. Run by Black journalists at The Boston Globe, Black News Hour, a new radio program, delivers reliable news that connects with our community and expands on deeper issues impacting our city. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office has said they have been notified of the incident by woburn police. It's not good. His complaint says Belcher witnessed the incident but reprimanded neither the assailant nor numerous players who taunted the alleged victim with vulgarities, insinuating he was soft.. 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. "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. Andrews, a 2020 graduate of Endicott College, indicated his football experience was limited to Pop Warner and high school. He said he witnessed Belcher routinely pit players against each other during practice. Former Woburn High School football player Johnathan Coucelos said he was assaulted and bullied by teammates in the locker room, Woburn police and the Middlesex District Attorneys office are now investigating. 7 students face charges in alleged Woburn HS hazing attack April 14, 2022, 10:11 PM Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old 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.. It was very nasty. Instead, Belcher instructed the traumatized player to return to the field for 35 more minutes of contact drills, his complaint states. BOSTON, Ma. It took a big toll on him, very big toll.. With Haverhill forfeiting the contest, Lowell will finish the season with a 4-7 record. Breaking News YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. How many examples of this appalling behavior will it take to preempt the next hazers in waiting? Crowley did not provide details of the 2019 allegation. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. One has an additional "indecent assault and battery" charge. 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.. Contests & Promotions. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved. It's not good for our school. Johnathan Coucelos, with his family: from left, mother, Jeanny, brother Jaxon, Johnathan, sister, Karmen, brother Jacob, and father, Kevin. Sources tell Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said Thursday that he supported hiring an outside firm to conduct the investigation. His new school joined in seeking the waiver and injunction. >> I DONT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH KIDS TODAY. 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. April 14, 2022, 10:11 p.m. I want to cry every time I see that. "The Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. Some Woburn residents are upset that alleged assailants were allowed to play at Fenway in the Thanksgiving game against Winchester. Coucelos, fearing for his safety, has transferred to Cambridge Matignon School. Woburn police received a complaint on Oct. 13 regarding an incident earlier in the school year, the joint statement said. (WHDH) - Seven Woburn High School students are facing assault and battery charges after they allegedly attacked a former classmate. In 1983, Belcher was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the ninth round of the NFL Draft. Morning Weather But former players and parents allege bullying became routine under Belcher, who has posted a 29-20 record at Woburn. "As these matters concern allegations involving minors, there was and remains much we cannot say publicly about this situation," Crowley said. display: none; Severe Weather Alerts WOBURN SENIOR FOOTBALL CAPTAINS (l-r) Derek Dabrieo, Jake Daniell, Derek Baccari, Anthony Palmieri and Yahya Aksadi. What happens when providers turn to medication first? He was attacked in his Spanish class. Hire A Woburn Area Pro To Get A Head Start On Spring Cleaning. 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. 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. LEAGUE 4-1 2nd Middlesex - Liberty. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The middlesex county district attorney's office says woburn police notified them about the allegations, and are investigating. The Haverhill School Committee was scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday. It's really not a bad school.". 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. Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates. 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. "It was pretty nasty, making us look bad. And in Woburn, police are "investigating whether a juvenile was hazed and sexually assaulted at the school in an incident involving the football team." He also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. Coucelos alleged he also was punched by another student on a school bus, but the investigation determined Coucelos himself was the aggressor. Saturday's statement did not provide details about the nature of the allegation and did not specifically mention the football team. The Woburn Police Department received a complaint Wednesday involving members of a Woburn High School sports team regarding an incident earlier in the "This is an active and ongoing investigation. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. The former Woburn player asserted the waiver was warranted in part because of the trauma he allegedly endured in Belchers program. But the abuse continued, according to their complaint, and in 2019 the parents submitted a 10-page report to Callanan detailing additional bullying their son had endured from Belcher and from his teammates at Belchers alleged direction. THIS IS VIDEO OF THE ALLEGED HAZING INCIDENT IN THE FOOTBALL LOCKROOM. Callanan hired him in 2017 to succeed Woburns legendary coach, Rocky Nelson, and a former student who played in three of Belchers first four years at Woburn said, My first impression of him was positive. Seven teenagers are facing criminal charges in On Sept. 25, 2018, three years to the day before the Coucelos incident, a 15-year-old Woburn player was kicked so hard in the head by a teammate that he stumbled, dazed, from the practice field and vomited, he stated in a civil case pending before the state Supreme Judicial Court. In one well-publicized incident of bullying last year, several members of the Woburn High School football team were eventually arraigned in Lowell Juvenile Court on charges stemming from an assault of a 14-year-old freshman player in the locker room. Somehow, ganging up or picking on someone half ones size has come to symbolize the kind of toughness required to be successful on a football field, basketball court or hockey rink. The Globe's most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. 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. 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. >> IT IS KIND OF DISTURBING AND NASTY. I told Belcher hes an adult bully and shouldnt be coaching anybodys kids, the parent said. Coaches are, by policy, considered responsible for safeguarding student-athletes against any form of abuse. The family, meanwhile, is asking a judge to review a Woburn District Court clerk magistrates decision to reject applications for criminal complaints against Callanan and Woburn Detective Edward Fumicello, the school resource officer, for allegedly allowing video surveillance footage of the hallway outside the locker room and coachs offices to be deleted after they viewed the recording, despite an ongoing investigation. }Customer Service. (CNN) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. Four days later, they stated, Callanan told them she had addressed the issue, without explaining how. 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. 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. It was dirty. The Globe does not identify victims of alleged sexual assaults unless they give their consent. Hanley presented his investigative findings to Carl Nelson, a Woburn middle school principal designated as the decision maker for a federally mandated Title IX review of Couceloss sexual misconduct complaint. Run by Black journalists at The Boston Globe, Black News Hour, a new radio program, delivers reliable news that connects with our community and expands on deeper issues impacting our city. I feel like parents need to be more involved and acknowledge who their kids friends are. Hahn said a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Lowell Juvenile Court was moved to March. racial slurs and engaging in homophobic hazing, Danvers High wrestling program was suspended. He played two seasons for the Breakers after they moved to New Orleans and Portland. We are strictly responding to how the integrity of the team, the leadership of the athletic department and football program is unfairly under attack in the community., They stated, Head Coach Jack Belcher has always given us nothing short of his undivided attention and passion for his job as our coach and leader. The matter has also been referred to the Haverhill Police Department for further investigation, according to the school officials' message. 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). 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.. The freshman football player is seen pulling up his pants in the video. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. But that disappointment pales in comparison to the disturbing allegations leveled at members of the Haverhill High School football team. It's a shame. "We need to determine how this happened and what we can do so that this never happens again," Fiorentini said. Its hard on all of us.. Crowley said the school district consulted with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and had a consultant from the Anti-Hazing collaborative work with all of their winter sports coaches. 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. And at some point, he had to leave the school for his safety. While school officials told the Globe their response was "comprehensive and thorough" and the DA's Office said there is an ongoing investigation, the family said it is outraged at what they say was relatively light school discipline against the football players involved in the assault and the lack of any criminal charges at those they say are responsible for the assault and ensuing harassment. I also told the principal, who didnt stop him.. "The matter has also been referred to the Haverhill Police Department for further investigation, according to the school officials' message. 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. Belcher, 60, has been familiar to many in the Woburn area since he was a three-sport star at neighboring Stoneham High School in the late 1970s. 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