The Coucelos family accused school officials of putting the football teams interests ahead of student safety with their disciplinary measures. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. Seven Massachusetts students charged in connection with alleged assaults on high school football teammate. 2023 by KYMA / NPG of Yuma-El Centro Broadcasting. 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. >> IT IS KIND OF DISTURBING AND NASTY. "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. 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. The middlesex county district attorney's office But, the former student said, he soon became disturbed by Belchers coaching methods, which he described as abusive. It was disgusting. Officials in Woburn said Saturday that authorities are He was attacked in the bathroom. There was little to no supervision in the locker room, he said. Woburn police are seeking assault charges in Lowell Juvenile Court against seven Woburn students, including five football players, for the alleged locker room attack and two subsequent incidents in which Johnathan was the alleged victim. 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. 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. Police Investigating Woburn High School Team Incident - Woburn, MA - Officials did not specify the team, but WCVB reported Friday that the football team was Lowell Highs annual Thanksgiving Day football game against Haverhill has been canceled due to an alleged hazing incident involving Haverhill players that was He instills hard work, with strict rules, respect for team members and respect for adults at all times. ", "The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. ", The teen was joined by his parents Kevin and Jeanny and his lawyer Peter Hahn, who said the school failed Coucelos. 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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. WOBURN SENIOR FOOTBALL CAPTAINS (l-r) Derek Dabrieo, Jake Daniell, Derek Baccari, Anthony Palmieri and Yahya Aksadi. 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. Black News Hour presented by The Boston Globe. 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 Woburn High School football team was on the field Friday night against Melrose High School but off the field, an investigation is underway. (CNN) - Police are investigating whether a juvenile football player was hazed, and sexually assaulted at school. Andrews is gone. It hurts him to this day. Asked to cite an inaccuracy, Callanan did not respond. A hearing is scheduled before the Supreme Judicial Court in April on the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Associations appeal of a lower court injunction that permitted the former Woburn player to compete this year for another MIAA schools football and basketball teams after the MIAA denied his waiver request for a fifth year of eligibility. "The Woburn Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are currently investigating the incident. For people with disabilities needing assistance with the Public Files, contact Glenn Heath at 617-300-3268. Multiple investigations are being undertaken. The Haverhill School Committee was scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday. 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. 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. 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. Then I saw it boil over into the locker room because it caused kids to literally hate each other and fight off the field.. 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. Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time.. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved. 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? Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. Belcher started his high school coaching career as an assistant at Bishop Fenwick in 2001. 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.. 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. The freshman football player is seen pulling up his pants in the video. 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 didn't like what I saw," said student Elliot Batista. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved.". Multiple criminal complaints have been filed against several New Jersey high school students following two probes into allegations of rampant abuse and hazing. 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. And in Woburn, police are "investigating whether a juvenile was hazed and sexually assaulted at the school in an incident involving the football team." Now there was a heavy police presence here at the game, but no issues here tonight. NEW! But that disappointment pales in comparison to the disturbing allegations leveled at members of the Haverhill High School football team. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. 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. Belcher also serves as a substitute teacher in the school. Moving forward, he said all of the districts coaches will be required to undertake extensive supplemental training. I also told the principal, who didnt stop him.. 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. It goes on to show a fourth teen in underwear squatting into the victims face, while other boys screamed and cheered, according to reports. I don't think any town or any school is immune from it. The statement issued by Police Chief Robert Rufo, Mayor Scott Galvin and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Crowley did not state the nature of the complaint or the specific team, but WCVB reports that officials are investigating whether a teenage member of the football program was hazed and sexually assaulted. Former Woburn High School football player Johnathan Coucelos said he was assaulted and bullied by teammates in the locker room, 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. 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. 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 was disgusting. #ada-button-frame { The family is asking for accountability from the school. 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