He left his job as a paraprofessional at the Woburn school in April. He says there needs to be more accountability. 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. 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. Support GBH. All rights reserved (About Us). He was attacked in his Spanish class. >> IT IS KIND OF DISTURBING AND NASTY. The Haverhill School Committee was scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday. The two teams were scheduled to play in Haverhill at 10 a.m., the time all high-school games are played on that season-ending day for most teams. "Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment or retaliation in any form," the message reads. 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 "This is an active and ongoing investigation. Coaches are, by policy, considered responsible for safeguarding student-athletes against any form of abuse. The Rams released him in training camp before he was drafted by the Boston Breakers of the fledgling United States Football League. This is an active and ongoing investigation. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. Breaking News display: none; ", Watch: Woburn High School accused of ignoring allegations of bullying. >> WANT TO GET STUDENTS -- STUDENT ATHLETES AND ADULT LEADERS IN A ROOM AND START TALKING ABOUT HOW TO BEAT HUMAN BEINGS. 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. "This is an active and ongoing investigation. }Customer Service. It's really not a bad school.". 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 committee will likely go into an executive session in order to determine the next steps that should be taken in the hazing investigation.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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. Seven teenagers are facing criminal charges in "As your superintendent I promise that the standards we will set for ourselves, our sports programs and how we are to treat one another will be of paramount importance as we continue to move through this process and learn all the facts and circumstances," Crowley wrote. That week, the Woburn Police Department and Middlesex District Attorney announced they were investigating the incident. Couceles said his wife decided to pull their son out of the Woburn school for his safety in December. BOSTON, Ma. Hearing In Woburn Football Assault Case Postponed The probable cause hearing initially scheduled for Tuesday will not take place until March, the attorney for the 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. Just no, they're kids temperament, that stuff. He should have been fired., The Globe asked Belcher and other school officials to comment. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy |Community Guidelines | FCC Applications | Jobs/Internships |, Daily News Updates There is no indication in the report that the investigator, Patrick Hanley, a former state and county prosecutor, asked Belcher, Duran, or Callanan about the purported lack of training. We hadnt been winning a lot of games and I thought he might turn things around.. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. When I first saw it, I thought it was just a form of competition, he said. I also told the principal, who didnt stop him.. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Hahn said a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Lowell Juvenile Court was moved to March. All seven face single counts of assault and battery, while one also is charged with indecent assault and battery for allegedly grabbing Couceloss genitals. They have known for years they have a bully coaching our kids and they havent done anything to stop him, Kevin Coucelos, Johnathans father, said. 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. Some Woburn residents are upset that alleged assailants were allowed to play at Fenway in the Thanksgiving game against Winchester. Nelson also determined the groping did not meet the narrow definitions of sexual misconduct under the Title IX law. Woburn Police have assigned a detective to the case. I JUST THINK ITS AWFUL. The 25 new centers are expected to ease the burden on emergency rooms for patients with behavioral health crises. The MIAA rejected the request, saying it does not investigate internal complaints involving member schools. 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. "The Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students. Two players were suspended from school for two weeks over the incident, but while one quit the team, the other continued playing football during his suspension, the family said. 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. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. 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. His parents made that decision to withdraw him from the school because it was no longer safe for him to be there. "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. It took a big toll on him, very big toll.. He says there needs to be more accountability. Woburn police received a complaint on Oct. 13 regarding an incident earlier in the school year, the joint statement said. Bullying and hazing happen when you pit players against each other like he does, Wilson said. 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. Woburn Memorial Football. 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. 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. }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. 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.. Following reports of the misconduct, Attorney General Maura Healey convened a conference of policymakers to address the abuses. NEW! Today and every day, I urge every member of our community to be kind to one another and do everything in their power to be part of making our community kinder and stronger. It's not good for our school. All of those charged are students at Woburn Memorial High School. 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 September. Several students, including football players in uniform, are seen pouring water on him and throwing water bottles. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Bullying claims date back years in Woburn High School football program By Bob Hohler Globe Staff,Updated February 26, 2022, Belcher told Hanley he had left the building before the incident. AT LEAST ONE PERSON IS WEARING A HAVERHIL FOOTBALL SHIRT. And several players who face criminal charges remained on the team through a prestigious Thanksgiving game at Fenway Park and continue participating in offseason workouts. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. PARENTS ARE NOW REVISITING BASIC RIGHTS AND WRONGSAT HOME. No one was against it, Hanley described the player as saying. To my knowledge, there have been no other bullying allegations made to the administration regarding this individual.. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. 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. It did explain that additional details were not released because of the ages of those involved. Police are investigating and members of the teams coaching staff have been placed on administrative leave. Peter Hahn, the attorney representing the Couceles family, said five high school students are facing charges for assault and battery for the September incident. Crowley, in a letter to the community this month, said the district has retained an outside law firm to conduct a Title IX investigation of the Coucelos incident, which will be followed by an administrative review and policy analysis by a separate outside agency. "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. But all these adults need to go.. It's really not a bad school. All of those charged are students at Woburn Memorial High School. "I understand that there have been strong reactions to this situation and appreciate there is a deep desire for as much information as possible regarding the incident and the school districts response," Crowley wrote. The Globe is not identifying the player who alleges he was kicked in the head because a Middlesex Superior Court judge sealed the case in October, citing student privacy concerns. "The school official, superintendent, the principal, vice principal, coaches they all should [face] consequences.. Several students, including football players in uniform, are seen pouring water on him and throwing water bottles. 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. His new school joined in seeking the waiver and injunction. "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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. A family in Woburn, Massachusetts, wants The freshman football player is seen pulling up his pants in the video. The student who grabbed him in the classroom, he said, was a former Woburn football player. But former players and parents allege bullying became routine under Belcher, who has posted a 29-20 record at Woburn. It's not good for our school. Incidents like these have no place in our community, the superintendent added. 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. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved.". Saturday's statement did not provide details about the nature of the allegation and did not specifically mention the football team. It was disgusting. 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. THE TEAM IS FORFEITING THE REST OF THE SEASON. TONIGHT IS THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING HERE AT HAV. "It was gross. Listen Live: Classic and Contemporary Celtic, Listen Live: Cape, Coast and Islands NPR Station, A reporter's indulgence no longer a secret The NBA's Damian Lillard made me a fan, Pandemic food assistance that held back hunger comes to an end, The March Drop: Stay on the move with Oscar reels and roller derbies, MIT takes steps to stop foreign espionage, but some faculty say it goes too far, Bostons police oversight office has yet to uphold a single civilian complaint. Hahn said he provided notice to the city and school district about their intent to sue. Couceles says a student pulled down his sons pants and groped his genitals. 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. THE MAYOR GOES ON TO SAY IM CONCERNED THIS HAPPENED, AND CONCERNED BY REPORTS THAT OTHER STUDENTS STOOD BY AND DID NOT INTERVENE. Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment, or retaliation in any form, the school district said in the statement. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. 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. 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. 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. It gets me emotional every time I have to talk about this.". Coucelos, fearing for his safety, has transferred to Cambridge Matignon School. "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.". We couldn't do it without you. It was very nasty. 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. "Very heartbroken.. I'm Peter Iliopoulos, WCVB News Center five, Okay. ", "The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. A Woburn school psychologists evaluation states he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, causing him significant symptoms of anxiety and depression, due to the violence he endured. ", 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. KYMA/CBS 13/KECY is an equal opportunity employer. He said he witnessed Belcher routinely pit players against each other during practice. After months of waiting, the case is expected to be heard in juvenile court next month. 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. While charges are pending for some students, Couceles says the coaches and school leadership should be held accountable, too. 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. 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. I want to cry every time I see that. He instills hard work, with strict rules, respect for team members and respect for adults at all times. It was very nasty. "The matter has also been referred to the Haverhill Police Department for further investigation, according to the school officials' message. 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. "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe. 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 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. Hire A Woburn Area Pro To Get A Head Start On Spring Cleaning. 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.. With Haverhill forfeiting the contest, Lowell will finish the season with a 4-7 record. 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. "They haven't given my son or even us any support whatsoever," Kevin Coucelos said. I wasnt there to protect my son," Couceles shared. Something needs to be said, something to be done. In 1983, Belcher was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the ninth round of the NFL Draft. Woburn police and the Middlesex District Attorneys office are now investigating. Woburn High made no substantive efforts to curtail the bullying, they stated. 2023 by KYMA / NPG of Yuma-El Centro Broadcasting. It's not good. Whats more, the family says, no school employee has publicly accepted responsibility for the trauma, while the students answer to criminal charges. 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. 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. mm 34 32 Ruben high school football team on the gridiron in a friday night matchup against Melrose. WE HAVE BLURRED THE LEWD AND VIOLENT SCENEAT LEAST ONE PERSON -- SCENE. Hazing Charges Hit Woburn High Football Program The family of a freshman player said the 14-year-old was threatened, punched and sexually assaulted in 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. racial slurs and engaging in homophobic hazing, Danvers High wrestling program was suspended. Belcher, as the head coach, is responsible for the programs culture, according to specialists in student-athlete 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. Lowell staged a miraculous comeback in last year s contest, scoring 34 points in the second half to stun the Hillies, 41-36. PF343 PA206 STREAK2W. 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. The court is expected to decide in early March whether charges are warranted. 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. It's been a turbulent few years for the Woburn football program. Warren said a formal announcement is forthcoming. 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. 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. "The only game left on the 2022 Haverhill High football schedule was the Thanksgiving rivalry game against Lowell High School.The Haverhill School Committee was scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday. But, the former student said, he soon became disturbed by Belchers coaching methods, which he described as abusive.
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