The MIAA rejected the request, saying it does not investigate internal complaints involving member schools. display: none; 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. Andrews is gone. He is a good person that cares tremendously for us.. Hahn said a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Lowell Juvenile Court was moved to March. But, the former student said, he soon became disturbed by Belchers coaching methods, which he described as abusive. Former Woburn High School football player Johnathan Coucelos said he was assaulted and bullied by teammates in the locker room, We're live in Woburn. Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. 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. We couldn't do it without you. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. Officials said in Saturday's statement that the incident involved a sports team and an alleged incident that occurred "earlier in the school year.". Now, five years into Belchers coaching career at Woburn, the culture of his program and the school districts supervision of the former Boston College football standout are under scrutiny. Peter Hahn, the attorney representing the Couceles family, said five high school students are facing charges for assault and battery for the September incident. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. After News Of Anti-Semitism On Duxburys Football Team, Where Does The Town Go From Here? He instills hard work, with strict rules, respect for team members and respect for adults at all times. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. juvenile justice system handle the Woburn bullying case? I'm Peter Iliopoulos, WCVB News Center five, Okay. But that disappointment pales in comparison to the disturbing allegations leveled at members of the Haverhill High School football team. 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. The federal Title IX law protects students against many forms of discrimination and violence, including bullying and hazing. 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. 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. He says there needs to be more accountability. I urge all people involved to cooperate completely with the investigators so that the best and most just outcome can be reached. 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. Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates. "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. 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. 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 was very nasty," said student Felix Molina. "He just wants to be by himself all the time. Unfortunately, Lowells seniors wont be able to experience that joy of victory or agony of defeat. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. 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. And this has very negatively impacted both Jonathan and his parents, the whole family.. Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.. Its hard on all of us.. The family is asking for accountability from the school. 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. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. The former Woburn player asserted the waiver was warranted in part because of the trauma he allegedly endured in Belchers program. BOSTON, Ma. 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. It's a shame. James Austin's son is on the football team. THE TEAM IS FORFEITING THE REST OF THE SEASON. 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. Now there was a heavy police presence here at the game, but no issues here tonight. Just no, they're kids temperament, that stuff. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. The Woburn High School football team was on the field Friday night against Melrose High School but off the field, an investigation is underway. It doesn't feel the same anymore to be out in public," he said. Black News Hour presented by The Boston Globe. 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. 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.. They explicitly and repeatedly informed the players of those prohibitions both prior to and subsequent to the [attack]., Crowleys assertion appears contrary to head freshman coach Chris Scichilones statement in the investigative report that training related to hazing or Title IX only occurred after the incident and Andrewss statement that he did not receive any formal training with respect to hazing until after the incident.. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office has said they have been notified of the incident by woburn police. }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. "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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. It's really not a bad school.". Seven Massachusetts students charged in connection with alleged assaults on high school football teammate. Breaking News Hazing in sports has long served as sort of an initiation rite, juvenile for the most part, not demeaning and vicious in nature. "The Woburn Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are currently investigating the incident. It was dirty. NEW! "The matter has also been referred to the Haverhill Police Department for further investigation, according to the school officials' message. Woburn police received a complaint on Oct. 13 regarding an incident earlier in the school year, the joint statement said. Last spring, several schools across the state were faced with the emergence of hazing incidents on their athletic teams, some resulting in criminal charges against athletes and ties cut with coaches, athletic directors, and top administrators. >> IT IS KIND OF DISTURBING AND NASTY. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. (WHDH) - Seven Woburn High School students are facing assault and battery charges after they allegedly attacked a former classmate. 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. 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.. It's not good for our school. There was little to no supervision in the locker room, he said. A family in Woburn, Massachusetts, wants to see justice served when it comes to the teenagers accused of assaulting their son in a high school locker room last fall. "It was pretty nasty, making us look bad. PF343 PA206 STREAK2W. It took a big toll on him, very big toll.. "Very heartbroken.. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. Detective assigned to investigate allegations of hazing involving Woburn High School sports team. Hire A Woburn Area Pro To Get A Head Start On Spring Cleaning. The county district attorney has indicated it will join local police in the investigation. "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. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. "I think the parents need to take action, I feel like parents need to be more involved and acknowledge who their kids friends are and just know their kids' temperament," Austin shared. When I first saw it, I thought it was just a form of competition, he said. The Woburn case put a spotlight on numerous violent incidents in high school sports over the last year that have been brought to the attention of government officials, civil rights groups, and student safety organizations. The court is expected to decide in early March whether charges are warranted. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. It gets me emotional every time I have to talk about this.". Four days later, they stated, Callanan told them she had addressed the issue, without explaining how. Some Woburn residents are upset that alleged assailants were allowed to play at Fenway in the Thanksgiving game against Winchester. 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. All of those charged are students at Woburn Memorial High School. No one was against it, Hanley described the player as saying. The Rams released him in training camp before he was drafted by the Boston Breakers of the fledgling United States Football League. ", Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. He hasnt left his room, he has barely eaten," Couceles said of his son. His new school joined in seeking the waiver and injunction. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. Belcher started his high school coaching career as an assistant at Bishop Fenwick in 2001. 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.. 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. One tradition put on hold, while another continues, exposing vulnerable youngsters to physical and emotional harm. 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. 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. Callanan is leaving after the school year to become the director of academic achievement at Reading Memorial High School. A Woburn family is seeking charges against teenagers accused of assaulting their son in a high school locker room last fall. 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