The Woburn High School football team was on the field Friday night against Melrose High School but off the field, an investigation is underway. Crowley said in his letter Tuesday that the district has cooperated fully with the law enforcement investigation. The Haverhill School Committee was scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday. Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.. The only game left on the 2022 Haverhill High football schedule was the Thanksgiving rivalry game against Lowell High School. 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. Seven Woburn High School students are facing charges after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates. He also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. Head football coach Jack Belcher has posted a 29-20 record at Woburn. 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. Video shows alleged hazing incident that ended Haverhill football team's season, THE UNIVERSITY -- THE VIDEO YOU WILL SEE IS HIGHLY DISTURBING. It was very nasty. "It was gross. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. I told Belcher hes an adult bully and shouldnt be coaching anybodys kids, the parent said. Police Investigating Woburn High School Team Incident - Woburn, MA - Officials did not specify the team, but WCVB reported Friday that the football team was ", The teen was joined by his parents Kevin and Jeanny and his lawyer Peter Hahn, who said the school failed Coucelos. 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. "Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment or retaliation in any form," the message reads. (CNN) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. 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. It's not good. Crowley said they have reached out to the Couceles family. Two other Woburn students allegedly accosted Coucelos later, he said. Former Woburn High School football player Johnathan Coucelos said he was assaulted and bullied by teammates in the locker room, "They haven't given my son or even us any support whatsoever," Kevin Coucelos said. It's a shame. Marotta said the investigation is ongoing and significant material was uncovered Wednesday, impacting the direction of the investigation and the entire school community. Contests & Promotions. James Austin's son is on the football team. The remaining coaches reported hearing nothing unusual from their offices near the locker room, despite the loud commotion, which numerous players recorded. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office has said they have been notified of the incident by woburn police. 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. Andrews is gone. WE HAVE BLURRED THE LEWD AND VIOLENT SCENEAT LEAST ONE PERSON -- SCENE. He was attacked in his Spanish class. Former Woburn High School football player Johnathan Coucelos said he was assaulted and bullied by teammates in the locker room, and the school did nothing to protect him. "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. 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. Woburn likes to cover things up, said Kevin Coucelos, Johnathans father and a lifelong resident. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. WOBURN SENIOR FOOTBALL CAPTAINS (l-r) Derek Dabrieo, Jake Daniell, Derek Baccari, Anthony Palmieri and Yahya Aksadi. When I first saw it, I thought it was just a form of competition, he said. Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. March 1, 2022 Greater Boston. Crowley did not provide details of the 2019 allegation. He instills hard work, with strict rules, respect for team members and respect for adults at all times. 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. Attempts to reach Belcher, Duran, and Andrews were unsuccessful. What happens when providers turn to medication first? 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. 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. Coucelos, fearing for his safety, has transferred to Cambridge Matignon School. Lowell staged a miraculous comeback in last year s contest, scoring 34 points in the second half to stun the Hillies, 41-36. It was very nasty," said student Felix Molina. Severe Weather Alerts Woburn officials on Saturday issued a statement confirming that a detective was assigned to an investigation involving a high school sports team. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved.". But all these adults need to go.. "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. But conflicting witness statements prevented Nelson from establishing who groped Coucelos, he stated. The family is asking for accountability from the school. I JUST THINK ITS AWFUL. Three years later, he became the head coach at Bedford High School. There was little to no supervision in the locker room, he said. I'm Peter Iliopoulos, WCVB News Center five, Okay. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. THE MAYOR GOES ON TO SAY IM CONCERNED THIS HAPPENED, AND CONCERNED BY REPORTS THAT OTHER STUDENTS STOOD BY AND DID NOT INTERVENE. OVERALL 7-4 0.64 Win %. Incidents like these have no place in our community, the superintendent added. It hurts him to this day. One football player was accused of indecent assault for allegedly yanking down Johnathans pants and touching his genitals in the locker room episode. 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. 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. I urge all people involved to cooperate completely with the investigators so that the best and most just outcome can be reached. 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 CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. Morning Weather Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time. It's not good for our school. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. 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). Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. ""The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. 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. The Haverhill High School football stadium and locker room are located approximately 10 minutes off campus. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Officials in Woburn said Saturday that authorities are 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. 2 Player of Year, Two men arrested on firearms, drug trafficking charges in Tewksbury, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds. REPORTER: THE MAYOR SAYS I SUPPORT HIRING AN OUTSIDE FIRM TO -- TO CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATION. They're spirits of loved ones, Bill needs a kidney: Tyngsboro man searches for lifesaving donor, Lowell Catholic boys basketball team blows out Belchertown, No end in sight for case involving Dracut doc charged with patient's death, Toddler safe, car theft suspects apprehended, MVC girls basketball: Dracut's Ashlee Talbot named Div. It did explain that additional details were not released because of the ages of those involved. 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. 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. (WHDH) - Seven Woburn High School students are facing assault and battery charges after they allegedly attacked a former classmate. mm 34 32 Ruben high school football team on the gridiron in a friday night matchup against Melrose. "I share in the collective shock and outrage regarding this incident.". 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 Couceles family reported the assault to police in October. "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe.". 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. The Globe's most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. 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. THE TEAM IS FORFEITING THE REST OF THE SEASON. The middlesex county district attorney's office THE FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF IS ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. I think the parents need to take action. 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.. Coaches are, by policy, considered responsible for safeguarding student-athletes against any form of abuse. Get all the latest from Sanditon on GBH Passport, How one Brookline studio helps artists with disabilities thrive. Just no, they're kids temperament, that stuff. THIS IS VIDEO OF THE ALLEGED HAZING INCIDENT IN THE FOOTBALL LOCKROOM. NEW! Several media outlets have reported on a video, posted to Boston 25, allegedly showing members of the football team hazing a teenage boy. PF343 PA206 STREAK2W. Woburn officials issue statement about investigation involving football team. 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