It simply cannot and will not be tolerated, Hunter said. This incident is disturbing and upsetting, and we understand both the desire for more information and a call for action. I'm sure the FB comments are all rational and supportive. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com. Sean Simmers |ssimmers@pennlive.com. Getting a second chance is big for his son, too, he said, because Bamm is coming off a season in which he broke his wrist and was only able to play in three games. Rare type of moose seen by team surveying interior Alaska from plane, Belleville woman struck by MetroLink train remembered as loving, caring friend, Illinois State Police investigate death of woman in southern Illinois county jail, Man who couldnt afford bail dies after losing nearly 100 pounds in jail, lawsuit says, Inclusive public signs boost teens attitudes about trans people, study says. "We expect to begin a dialogue with the District soon regarding this unfortunate situation. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The video shows players fully clothed., In a statement, the school describes the hazing incident as a completely unacceptable, offensive, and highly inappropriate act.. The players were fully clothed and no one was physically penetrated, though Hunter still refers to it as completely unacceptable, offensive and highly inappropriate.. I was pleasantly surprised of how supportive FB comments were. A high school football teams upcoming season has been canceled due to widespread hazing, the Pennsylvania districts superintendent announced on Wednesday, Aug. 24. after the season was canceled over "disturbing and. However, they have to wait 21 days in order to be eligible to play. Josh Shapiro succeeds term-limited Democratic Gov. Police investigating hazing involving Middletown football team. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Middletown Area School District leaders publicly addressed recent allegations of hazing involving their high school football team, saying disciplinary actions could be coming soon.. At a school . On Wednesday, Middletown Area School District Superintendent Dr. Chelton Hunter announced that the district was canceling Middletown's 2022 football season, which was set to begin Friday night. Neither do we. Any staff members who were found to have ignored this kind of hazing will also face disciplinary action., It simply cannot and will not be tolerated, he said. Appleby (6-foot-1, 170 pounds) shared the story on his Twitter page, adding that he cant wait to get started at his new school. The Blue Raiders were set to open the regular season Friday against Lower Dauphin. He has college football offers from Lebanon Valley College, Ursinus and Misericordia, and Ive reached out to all of them, too, to let them know that he had nothing to do with that. "We and our clients hope that the Middletown School District will learn and grow from this tragic experience, and be part of the solution to sexualized hazing, rather than the problem," the firm said in a statement to FOX43. I know there are some exceptions for stuff like this, and he didnt do anything, so Im really hoping that they see that., -- Follow Brian Linder on Twitter @SportsByBLinder. The Middletown Blue Raiders will not be playing football this season. He was out sick most of that whole week. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). Its not an easy done deal," said Melissa Mertz, associate executive director of the PIAA. The students involved in the incident were identified by the school on August 12. The video appeared to show a group of students holding down two of their teammates. On Wednesday, Middletown Area School District Superintendent Dr. Chelton Hunter announced that the district was canceling Middletown's 2022 football season, which was set to begin Friday. the district was canceling Middletown's 2022 football season, released a statement 10 days after the incident was reported, Rival school opens doors to Middletown students, after football season is canceled over hazing incident, Middletown parents meet with school administration following cancellation of 2022 football season, Middletown School District cancels high school football season after another video of a hazing incident comes to light. August 25, 2022 3:50 pm ET. MIDDLETOWN, Pa. Editor's note: The above video is from Aug. 24. Steel-High coach and athletic director Andrew Erby told PennLive that if there was, he would not have Appleby join the program. August 16, 2022. Steelton-Highspire, a neighboring school district, said on Wednesday that members of Middltown's marching band and cheerleading squad were welcome to join the Rollers and perform at Steel-High's home football games in the fall. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The Middletown Area School District earlier this month had announced an investigation into what it called a "disturbing and upsetting" Aug. 11 cellphone video showing hazing. MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (WHTM) - Ten former Middletown football players are facing charges after a hazing investigation found three students were sexually assaulted during an August 11 practice, acco The First half of January 2023 has been the 5th warmest Press J to jump to the feed. Editor's note: This story was updated at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 13, 2022 with new details. You have these parents that are now upset because they have to discuss to their children 'Hey, your season is done [and] there is nothing we can do,'" said Zu Taalib, a Middletown parent. In the wake of that news, Middletowns former starting quarterback Bamm Appleby is transferring to Steel-High, where he will play wide receiver, according to areport by CBS21 News. An alleged hazing incident involving the Middletown football team continues to send shockwaves throughout the district. MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (WHTM) Middletown School District has removed the students involved in the hazing incident from mid-August from the football team and considered canceling the football. Following the schools investigation, officials concluded the hazing incident occurred on August 11 on school property, during a practice. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. . 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Andreozzi & Foote said the families hope the school district "will be of the solution to sexualized hazing, rather than the problem. According to Brian Linder at PennLive.com, the school made the announcement today after the district obtained additional video of a hazing incident involving players, which took place during. Peace love joyforbearance gentleness kindness and self control to y'all. by Nick Volturo. On August 12, the District received reports of a possible hazing incident during the football teams practice the previous day. But the PIAA, which oversees high school sports across the commonwealth, said that any transfers from Middletown to another school for athletic reasons might not be permitted. There has been lots of hazing in PA high school sports for decades. High school football teams toxic bullying forces Michigan district to cancel season, High schoolers forcibly strip teammate on bus as part of tradition, Texas cops say, 5 football players accused of hazing at NM high school. For more high school stories, stats and videos, visit http://usatodayhss.com. Top Video. And he said the district will make alternative plans for Homecoming. Hunter said administrators were working to find other opportunities for the schools cheerleaders and band for the fall. The players allegedly used a muscle therapy gun and another piece of athletic equipment to poke the buttock region of the students on the ground. Any staff members who were found to have ignored this kind of hazing will also face disciplinary action. No they need to be criminally charged. Once all investigations are concluded, the District will be working to develop additional protocols and supports to promote a positive school climate and culture for all students. The district says the newly discovered videos have been shared with the DA and police investigating the hazing allegations. 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The kind of hazing that occurred in our facilities with this team is reprehensible. Support PennLive. The alleged hazing incident remains under investigation, both by the Middletown Area School District and by the Dauphin County District Attorney's Office. In light of this, we have made the decision to cancel the 2022 football season, he wrote. Bobby Appleby said, too, that the change of scenery was important for his sons mental health following the past few weeks. The District considered multiple factors in deciding whether to continue with the football season, including the potential impact canceling the season would have on football players not involved in this incident as well as students involved in marching band and cheerleading. All rights reserved (About Us). MORE: Western Pa. high school football program pauses season as police investigate hazing incident. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. As the district continued to investigate, it learned the hazing involved more students than previously known, Hunter said Wednesday when the seasons cancellation was announced. Will Pennsylvania legalize marijuana under Josh Shapiro? From my Sunrise in the Lehigh Valley this morning was simply Pennsylvania Abortion Clinics Are Seeing an Influx of Seen in Harrisburg, Philly vernacular spreading west? An additional video of hazing at a central Pennsylvania high school prompts the district to reverse its decision and end its football season early. A lot of people on social media are blaming every single player, even kids like Bamm who were not there, and some have said some pretty scary things which made us concerned, too., Bamm Appleby is a speedy, 6-foot-1, 175-pound athlete, who can play multiple positions. . Assistant coach Robert Brodish became the acting coach for the upcoming season, which was ultimately canceled. This was just all out of his control, Bobby Appleby said. He is a 2011 Western Kentucky University graduate who has previously worked at the Paducah Sun and Madisonville Messenger as a sports reporter and the Lexington Herald-Leader as a breaking news reporter. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. It can mean losing everyone, a job, potential future opportunities. I know this decision will be met with many different opinions and emotions and will impact many students and families. This comes as Middletown head football coach Scott Acri resigned from his position on Monday, August 15. The first domino already falling, with QB, Bamm . Seven former Middletown High School football players were expelled after the school district's investigation of a hazing. Hes clear and in good standing, Iskric said. Police along with the District Attorney's Office are investigating the incident that was shared all. An interim football coach will lead the team through the rest of the season. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to work through this investigation. On Friday, the school district announ. Now the season is canceled, Support my work with a digital subscription, Chicken Salad Chick treats guests to a free scoop for its birthday. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Multiple videos captured the hazing involving the Middletown Area High School football team, according to Dr. Chelton Hunter, Superintendent of the Middleton Area School District. We have a really good group of kids, but we also dont want to penalize a kid that hasnt done anything wrong.. By Tim Weaver | The Middletown Blue Raiders will not be playing football this season. Diamond Drip Dinner Dance by Helping, PA live! I know this decision will be met with many different opinions and will impact many students and families., Hunter called the incidents reprehensible., MORE: Middletown football videos shine harsh light on sexualized hazing, quickest way to completely humiliate: experts. Multiple videos. To be clear, Middletown Area School District will not tolerate hazing, is committed to investigating all reported incidents of hazing, and is actively engaged in pursuing discipline for the students responsible for violating our policies in this case. Many schools do report criminal activity to law enforcement. He wrote that the video demonstrates that this hazing was much more widespread, and involved many more students, than we had previously known., Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo told PennLive nearly two weeks ago that his office was working with police there to investigate hazing within the program after a pair of graphic videos surfaced online. MIDDLETOWN, Pa. Editor's note: The above video is from Aug. 24. Editors note: This story was updated at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 13, 2022 with new details. Rachel & Chris try the viral Tom Hanks cocktail! More fallout from the Blue Raiders hazing incident. His father, Bobby, told PennLive his son was able to make the transfer because his mother works in the Steelton-Highspire School District. Scott Acri, who was hired prior to last season to coach the team, stepped down last week, and was replaced by Rob Brodish as acting coach for the season. Newly uncovered hazing video sacks any chance of season for Middletown Football. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. we have shared the new video with law enforcement officials. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). Kinda. On Wednesday, Hunter said a second video of the incident showed the number of players involved was larger than previously known, causing the district's decision to cancel the season. The Middletown Blue Raiders play in the Mid Penn Conference and finished the 2021 season with a 6-5 record. Obviously, we are not taking anybody that was involved in in any capacity with situations like that, he said. Any students found to have participated in this incident will be disciplined in accordance with our student code of conduct and hazing policy. The District considered multiple factors in deciding whether to continue with the football season, including the potential impact canceling the season would have on football players not involved in this incident as well as students involved in marching band and cheerleading, Middletown School District said in its statement. The Middletown School District has canceled the high school's football season after investigators found another video showing a hazing incident that police are investigating. Middletown Area School District will not tolerate hazing, is committed to investigating all reported incidents of hazing, and is actively engaged in pursuing discipline for the students responsible for violating our policies in this case, the school district said in its statement. https://www.pahomepage.com/news/woman-taken-to-hospital-after-train-hits-car-in-wilkes-barre/, Josh Shapiro sworn in as Pennsylvanias 48th governor. So in regards to your actions as they may be wise, for now Iask you to pray for knowledge and wisdom the same. The school named Rob Brodish as interim football coach for the upcoming season, but did consider whether to continue with the football season at all. Cell phone video, taken by players, shows a group of students restraining two of their teammates and using a muscle therapy gun and another piece of athletic equipment to poke the buttock areas of the students who were on the ground, Hunter said in a statement on Aug. 22. It is early in the investigation and Chardo said he could not elaborate on the nature of the reported hazing. Floods are going to become more common, so its vital to learn how to prepare, no matter where you live. %link% He has college football offers from Lebanon Valley College, Ursinus and Misericordia, and Ive reached out to all of them, too, to let them know that he had nothing to do with that. the middletown area school district has cancelled its upcoming high school football season after a second video of the suspected hazing incident involving members of the team earlier this. The season opener against Lower Dauphin High School is scheduled for Aug. 26. Acri, who spent six seasons at Susquenita, took over the Blue Raiders program last year. A high school football team's upcoming season has been canceled due to "widespread" hazing, the Pennsylvania district's superintendent announced on Wednesday, Aug. 24. Three days later, head football coach Scott Acri resigned from his position, the school district announced. Im writing to provide information and updates about the Middletown Area School Districts investigation into a hazing incident with our football team which occurred on August 11, 2022. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Bamm Appleby, who was slated to be Middletown's starting quarterback this season, announced Wednesday he has already made the move to Steelton and was transferring. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The High School Administration immediately opened an investigation, met with students, reviewed cell phone video of the incident, and contacted the Lower Swatara Township Police Department. Dr. Chelton L. Hunter, Superintendent of Schools, speaks during a Middletown school board meeting on the high school football hazing incident. Supportive of the superintendent I should say. Teams that were scheduled to play Middletown this season have two options: either take a win for that week or find another school thats willing to play. Football Coach Scott Acri could not be reached Saturday, but the districts athletic director, Scott Govern, confirmed police are investigating an incident with the football team. One of the other articles written said that the Attorney General doesn't need the cooperation of the victims to pursue charges. Middletown is about 10 miles southeast of Harrisburg. Also depends on the nature of the events. And then this happened, and this was a tough blow for him. The incident happened at Middletown Area High School. The families of two of the boys affected by the hazing incident involving the Middletown Area High School football team have retained a Harrisburg law firm known for representing sexual assault victims. Middletown cancels high school football season after finding more hazing videos: superintendent Middletown football videos shine harsh light on sexualized hazing, 'quickest way to. Neither do we. You know, because children are everything and something happened that my son wasnt a part of and had no control over. Hunter made the decision after obtaining the additional video of the incidents which took place during the teams heat acclimation week which began back on Aug. 8, he said Wednesday. "They are penalizing all of the children, [including the] football [team], cheerleading, [the] band.". Support PennLive. Theres nothing that would hold him back.. Fuck your school district bullshit. Lower Swatara police are investigating reports of hazing on the Middletown high school football team, Dauphin . Middletown cancels football season due to widespread hazing; community reacts. The video shows players fully clothed. In the wake of that news, Middletowns former starting quarterback Bamm Appleby is transferring to Steel-High, where he will play wide receiver, according to a, Live in-game results around the nation as they happen, This Freshman has five college offers before playing first high school game, St. John Bosco announces first-of-its-kind NIL deal with Sports Performance group, Watch your teams games in 2022 on the NFHS Network, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Middletown football coach resigns amid hazing investigation Top Video / Aug 19, 2022 / 12:02 PM EDT. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. In light of this, we have made the decision to cancel the 2022 football season. He wasnt involved, and he wasnt even there, Appleby said. It occurred to me that if this was Texas, the superintendent and school board would have been sacked by the state and football restored. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Mike Stunson covers real-time news for McClatchy. Cell phone video, taken by players, shows a group of students restraining two of their teammates and using a muscle therapy gun and another piece of athletic equipment to poke the buttock areas of the students who were on the ground. Something tells me the parents are teaching their kids it's more important to be popular and a bully. He only played in the scrimmage Saturday because we were told there would be a season. As soon as the players involved in the hazing were identified on August 12, they were removed from the football team pending the outcome of the investigation and the completion of the student discipline process, the school district said in its statement. I'd rather have the adults who ignored it fired asap, at least. The incident has left a stain on all those associated with the program, even if they were not involved with the incident that is under investigation. All rights reserved (About Us). Unfortunately, this video demonstrates that this hazing was much more widespread, and involved many more students, than we had previously known. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kallie Booth, Pittston Area, Electronic strike zone reportedly coming to RailRiders,, WRESTLING: Pittston Area defeats Crestwood, 39-27, Hoffman brothers propel Valley West to WVC wrestling, Hayes Market celebrates national cheese lovers day. Youre invited! Andreozzi & Foote confirmed to FOX43 that it is representing the families of two of the players who were victimized during the incident. Unbearable loss, Spirit animal? Honestly this shit goes on everywhere but concrete evidence is impossible to ignore. Middletowns Bamm Appleby runs against Bishop McDevitt during their game last season. Cell phone video of the incident was widely distributed of the hazing, showing a group of students restraining two of their teammates and using a muscle therapy gun and another piece of athletic equipment to poke the buttock areas of the students who were on the ground, according to the statement. On Aug. 15, head football coach Scott Acri resigned, and assistant coach Rod Brodish took over as acting head coach. They. It depends on the policy. News never stops. Yesterday Middletown High School (Pa.) had. All three Appleby, Iskric and Erby said they are going to try to have the PIAA waive is 21-day rule that calls for a player to sit out for a period if they were playing for another team. Cloudy and breezier Wednesday, soaking and chilly rain for Thursday! Pennsylvania High School Football Season CANCELED due to SHOCKING Hazing Incident! Hunter released a statement 10 days after the incident was reported, calling the initial video "difficult to watch" and the conduct depicted "a completely unacceptable, offensive, and highly inappropriate act.". Middletown football coach resigns amid hazing investigation. It did not appear that any students body was physically penetrated. Horseplay is one thing, but putting massager guns and who knows what else on another students . The Middletown, Pennsylvania hazing investigation on Harrisburg news at Wednesday, August 17, 2022 - YouTube Coincidence or conspiracy. Getty/Middletown Area School District/Facebook Composite There won't be any football this year for one high school in Pennsylvania . Videos recording the incident were shared on social media. Ive told them that all of his coaches and the athletic director (at Middletown) can confirm that., Bamm Appleby throws a pass for Middletown against Northern during Saturday's scrimmage. We know we must work to address the culture of this team, educate our student body about hazing, and put programs in place to help us ensure that this kind of atmosphere is never allowed to exist in our school facilities.. The Middletown Area school district began investigating a hazing that happened on August 11, 2022after a cellphone video film by high school football players was shared on social media but on . Staff Writer Eric Epler contributed to this report.