It's a shame. Woburn High made no substantive efforts to curtail the bullying, they stated. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The Rockets improved to 2-0 by dominating Woburn, 35-7, last Saturday at Woburn High. That week, the Woburn Police Department and Middlesex District Attorney announced they were investigating the incident. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Whats more, the family says, no school employee has publicly accepted responsibility for the trauma, while the students answer to criminal charges. 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. Head football coach Jack Belcher has posted a 29-20 record at Woburn. It was very nasty. "The school official, superintendent, the principal, vice principal, coaches they all should [face] consequences.. Woburn Police have assigned a detective to the case. It was dirty. A FOOTBALL PLAYER IS TRYING TO PULL OFF CLOTHING FROM ANOTHER YOUNG MAN AND LATER ENDS UP ON TOP OF THE ALLEGED HAZING VICTIM. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. I didn't like what I saw," said student Elliot Batista. 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.. He added, "I used to wake up and go out with half of my friends and now I'm just locked up in my room and finally going into a different school. An alleged hazing incident is under investigation at the high school in Woburn, Massachusetts. The former Woburn player asserted the waiver was warranted in part because of the trauma he allegedly endured in Belchers program. 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. Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said Thursday that he supported hiring an outside firm to conduct the investigation. "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. I told Belcher hes an adult bully and shouldnt be coaching anybodys kids, the parent said. But all these adults need to go.. ""The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. Bob Hohler can be reached at robert.hohler@globe.com. His parents made that decision to withdraw him from the school because it was no longer safe for him to be there. 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. How will the Mass. Coucelos alleged he also was punched by another student on a school bus, but the investigation determined Coucelos himself was the aggressor. Belcher told Hanley he had left the building before the incident. The federal Title IX law protects students against many forms of discrimination and violence, including bullying and hazing. Just no, they're kids temperament, that stuff. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. 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. mm 34 32 Ruben high school football team on the gridiron in a friday night matchup against Melrose. In his letter, Crowley said the incident that occurred this past September involved student athletes and included allegations of physical and sexual abuse of a student by their teammates. And in Woburn, police are "investigating whether a juvenile was hazed and sexually assaulted at the school in an incident involving the football team." 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 share in the collective shock and outrage regarding this incident.". 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. 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. Woburn Memorial Football. He should have been fired., The Globe asked Belcher and other school officials to comment. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. 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. He said he witnessed Belcher routinely pit players against each other during practice. With Haverhill forfeiting the contest, Lowell will finish the season with a 4-7 record. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The student who grabbed him in the classroom, he said, was a former Woburn football player. There should be a lot more charges," he said. 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 It's been a turbulent few years for the Woburn football program. 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. A Woburn family is seeking charges against teenagers accused of assaulting their son in a high school locker room last fall. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. He was attacked in the bathroom. Coaches are, by policy, considered responsible for safeguarding student-athletes against any form of abuse. (CNN) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. This is an active and ongoing investigation. "I lost half of my friends. THE FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF IS ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. It's not good for our school. Couceles says a student pulled down his sons pants and groped his genitals. Lowell staged a miraculous comeback in last year s contest, scoring 34 points in the second half to stun the Hillies, 41-36. 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 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. KYMA/CBS 13/KECY is an equal opportunity employer. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. "We acknowledge and support the student and family that had the strength to come forward to report this deeply troubling matter," Woburn Superintendent of Schools Matt Crowley told the Globe. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Incidents like these have no place in our community, the superintendent added. BOSTON, Ma. A video of the incident allegedly shows members of the Haverhill High School football team hazing a teenage boy. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. He instills hard work, with strict rules, respect for team members and respect for adults at all times. Hahn said a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Lowell Juvenile Court was moved to March. April 14, 2022, 10:11 p.m. The moments before were obstructed from view by the crowd gathered around. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. 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. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office has said they have been notified of the incident by woburn police. "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. The Haverhill High School football stadium and locker room are located approximately 10 minutes off campus. Support GBH. How many examples of this appalling behavior will it take to preempt the next hazers in waiting? He is a good person that cares tremendously for us.. Johnathan Coucelos (center) and his family have helped drive the scrutiny of Woburn's football program. Unlike Callanan, who told Hanley she feels terrible for Johnathan, Belcher expressed less empathy, saying he was aware of Coucelos before the attack in a negative way, as a pain in the neck or wise-guy.. 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. TONIGHT IS THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING HERE AT HAV. The committee will likely go into an executive session in order to determine the next steps that should be taken in the hazing investigation. It hurts him to this day. 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. 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 freshman football player is seen pulling up his pants in the video. 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. March 1, 2022 Greater Boston. A video of the incident allegedly shows members of the Haverhill High School football team hazing a teenage boy. This content is imported from Facebook. It's really not a bad school. Police Investigating Woburn High School Team Incident - Woburn, MA - Officials did not specify the team, but WCVB reported Friday that the football team was CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. Its hard to watch but Kevin Couceles says cellphone video shared on social media shows his son being assaulted in the locker room of Woburn Memorial High School after a football game last September. KYMA KECY is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. The county district attorney has indicated it will join local police in the investigation. juvenile justice system handle the Woburn bullying case? Lowell Highs annual Thanksgiving Day football game against Haverhill has been canceled due to an alleged hazing incident involving Haverhill players that was All rights reserved, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of New Hampshire: An NBC10 Boston Original, Crash Causes Injuries, Lane Closure on I-95 in Peabody, Tracking the Next Hit of Wintry Weather Headed to New England, Due Late Week, Even After Investigation, Stoneham Cop Hasn't Paid Dime of Rent to New Landlord, FIRST ALERT: As Snow Continues to Fall, Weekend Storm Promises More for Boston, JetBlue Plane, Private Jet Have Close Call' at Boston's Logan Airport: FAA. A juvenile football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted at school under... Was a former Woburn player asserted the waiver was warranted in part because of the High. Student-Athletes against any form of abuse be a lot more charges, '' he said he Belcher!, 35-7, last Saturday at Woburn High i saw, '' student... 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