Belcher also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office also said they were notified about the allegations by police and are participating in the investigation. 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. 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. }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. "It was pretty nasty, making us look bad. 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. The Globe's most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Coucelos reported the violent incidents to coaches and the police who did not take enough action. Belcher, as the head coach, is responsible for the programs culture, according to specialists in student-athlete safety. On Sept. 25, 2018, three years to the day 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 Belcher, who with Callanan hired Andrews in 2021, remains, as does Duran, who supervises the football coaches and also is considered responsible for player safety. Something needs to be said, something to be done. PARENTS ARE NOW REVISITING BASIC RIGHTS AND WRONGSAT HOME. Hazing in sports has long served as sort of an initiation rite, juvenile for the most part, not demeaning and vicious in nature. The county district attorney has indicated it will join local police in the investigation. "I lost half of my friends. Former Woburn High School football player Johnathan Coucelos said he was assaulted and bullied by teammates in the locker room, Couceles says a student pulled down his sons pants and groped his genitals. ""The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. Andrews is gone. Many Woburn residents have expressed anger that Belcher permitted three of the alleged assailants, including the player facing a possible indecent assault charge, to remain on the football team through a prestigious Thanksgiving week game at Fenway Park. With Haverhill forfeiting the contest, Lowell will finish the season with a 4-7 record. 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. Just no, they're kids temperament, that stuff. 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. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Detective assigned to investigate allegations of hazing involving Woburn High School sports team. KYMA/CBS 13/KECY is an equal opportunity employer. A hazing investigation at Woburn Memorial High School has led to charges against seven high school students. 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 "The Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students. "The school official, superintendent, the principal, vice principal, coaches they all should [face] consequences.. REPORTER: THE FOOTBALL STADIUM AND LOCKER ROOM IS 10 MINUTES OFF-CAMPUS. I'm Peter Iliopoulos, WCVB News Center five, Okay. "I share in the collective shock and outrage regarding this incident.". 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.. 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. "It was gross. Attempts to reach Belcher, Duran, and Andrews were unsuccessful. "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. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. A video of the incident allegedly shows members of the Haverhill High School football team hazing a teenage boy. It was very nasty. How will the Mass. 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. One has an additional "indecent assault and battery" charge. It was dirty. The player alleges Woburn head coach Jack Belcher instigated the kick by encouraging older teammates to in Belchers words toughen up younger ones. The Globe's most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. >> WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE VIDEO? But conflicting witness statements prevented Nelson from establishing who groped Coucelos, he stated. Bob Hohler can be reached at [email protected]. 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. In 1983, Belcher was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the ninth round of the NFL Draft. HOME3-3 AWAY4-0 NEUTRAL0-1. Four days later, they stated, Callanan told them she had addressed the issue, without explaining how. Woburn likes to cover things up, said Kevin Coucelos, Johnathans father and a lifelong resident. "Very heartbroken.. 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. I don't think any town or any school is immune from it. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. A Woburn police detective has been assigned to the case. "I urge patience as we are all eager to view the results, myself included.". I want to cry every time I see that. Crowley said they have reached out to the Couceles family. 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. He played two seasons for the Breakers after they moved to New Orleans and Portland. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. 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. It doesn't feel the same anymore to be out in public," he said. It was disgusting. "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. While arraignments have begun in Lowell Juvenile Court for seven Woburn students, including five football players, charged with assaulting Coucelos, his parents say the report underscores that Woburn school officials head football coach Jack Belcher, athletic director Jim Duran, and principal Jessica Callanan, among them failed to adequately protect their son. Seven Massachusetts students charged in connection with alleged assaults on high school football teammate. It's a sad situation and hopefully they figure out what happened and it doesn't happen again. Multiple criminal complaints have been filed against several New Jersey high school students following two probes into allegations of rampant abuse and hazing. REPORTER: THE MAYOR SAYS I SUPPORT HIRING AN OUTSIDE FIRM TO -- TO CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATION. "This is an active and ongoing investigation. 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. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved. Parents of the boy who allegedly was kicked in 2018 also faulted the school administration. Two other Woburn students allegedly accosted Coucelos later, he said. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.. "They haven't given my son or even us any support whatsoever," Kevin Coucelos said. It's not good for our school. The committee will likely go into an executive session in order to determine the next steps that should be taken in the hazing investigation. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. 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. Its hard on all of us.. All of those charged are students at Woburn Memorial High School. All seven face single counts of assault and battery, while one also is charged with indecent assault and battery for allegedly grabbing Couceloss genitals. 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 He left his job as a paraprofessional at the Woburn school in April. What happens when providers turn to medication first? Several students, including football players in uniform, are seen pouring water on him and throwing water bottles. Following reports of the misconduct, Attorney General Maura Healey convened a conference of policymakers to address the abuses. Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment, or retaliation in any form, the school district said in the statement. THE STUDENTS INVOLVED HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED. 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. Nelson also determined the groping did not meet the narrow definitions of sexual misconduct under the Title IX law. The remaining coaches reported hearing nothing unusual from their offices near the locker room, despite the loud commotion, which numerous players recorded. Woburn Memorial Football. 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. Nelson concluded Coucelos was indeed assaulted and groped in the locker room. The Woburn High School football team was on the field Friday night against Melrose High School but off the field, an investigation is underway. Coaches are, by policy, considered responsible for safeguarding student-athletes against any form of abuse. Editorial: Put sports hazing out of its misery, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Editorial: Sports betting rollout still ironing out kinks, Editorial: Give localities control over age to vote, Editorial: DNA sleuth tracks down suspects, kin, Seeing orbs in photos? #ada-button-frame { Couceles said his wife decided to pull their son out of the Woburn school for his safety in December. 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. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office has said they have been notified of the incident by woburn police. Ten football captains six seniors and four juniors circulated a letter to news outlets, saying they were not trying to minimize any allegations that are being investigated by the proper people., In fact, we all condemn bullying of any kind, the captains wrote. 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.. 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. 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. It was dirty. An investigation into that incident found players violated the school and athletic code of conduct, but that the actions did not legally rise to the level of bullying or hazing. mm 34 32 Ruben high school football team on the gridiron in a friday night matchup against Melrose. LEAGUE 4-1 2nd Middlesex - Liberty. He also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. 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. He says there needs to be more accountability. THE FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF IS ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. Hahn said a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Lowell Juvenile Court was moved to March. 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 I wish to be unequivocal in the fact that I join every member of the WPS administration in condemning physical and sexual violence in all forms," Crowley said. ", "The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. It did explain that additional details were not released because of the ages of those involved. 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. juvenile justice system handle the Woburn bullying case? We couldn't do it without you. Contests & Promotions. Johnathan Coucelos, with his family: from left, mother, Jeanny, brother Jaxon, Johnathan, sister, Karmen, brother Jacob, and father, Kevin. The middlesex county district attorney's office I wasnt there to protect my son," Couceles shared. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. "This is an active and ongoing investigation. 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. "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. Student leaders of the Woburn team took a stand in recent days supporting Belcher. How many examples of this appalling behavior will it take to preempt the next hazers in waiting? It's not good. 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. There was little to no supervision in the locker room, he said. 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. 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. The superintendent said in his letter Tuesday that Woburn Public Schools has retained outside private counsel -- the law firm of Butters Brazilian LLP and Attorney Patrick Hanley -- to conduct a comprehensive Title IX investigation, which remains ongoing. 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.. It was very nasty. AT LEAST ONE PERSON IS WEARING A HAVERHIL FOOTBALL SHIRT. Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates. The investigation found Coucelos also was assaulted in his Spanish classroom by a former football player who accused him of snitching and was punched in a school bathroom by a student who chided him for not defending himself more forcefully during the locker room assault. In response, Woburn school superintendent Matt Crowley issued a statement that said, I was informed by the High School administration that there was one allegation of bullying made against Coach Jack Belcher. Woburn officials issue statement about investigation involving football team. A FOOTBALL PLAYER IS TRYING TO PULL OFF CLOTHING FROM ANOTHER YOUNG MAN AND LATER ENDS UP ON TOP OF THE ALLEGED HAZING VICTIM. 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.. There should be a lot more charges," he said. 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