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. Following reports of the misconduct, Attorney General Maura Healey convened a conference of policymakers to address the abuses. "It was pretty nasty, making us look bad. Coucelos reported the violent incidents to coaches and the police who did not take enough action. Now there was a heavy police presence here at the game, but no issues here tonight. The student who grabbed him in the classroom, he said, was a former Woburn football player. "We need to determine how this happened and what we can do so that this never happens again," Fiorentini said. His new school joined in seeking the waiver and injunction. (WHDH) - Seven Woburn High School students are facing assault and battery charges after they allegedly attacked a former classmate. The middlesex county district attorney's office says woburn police notified them about the allegations, and are investigating. Whats more, the family says, no school employee has publicly accepted responsibility for the trauma, while the students answer to criminal charges. WOBURN, MA The family of a Woburn 14-year-old who said he was threatened, punched and sexually assaulted in a school locker room is criticizing Woburn Public Schools, Woburn police and the Middlesex District Attorney's Office for lack of action on the incidents, according to a Boston Globe report. What happens when providers turn to medication first? It's not good. "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. They stated in their civil complaint that they reported the incident to the principal, Jessica Callanan, soon after it occurred. Hazing in sports has long served as sort of an initiation rite, juvenile for the most part, not demeaning and vicious in nature. Hearing In Woburn Football Assault Case Postponed The probable cause hearing initially scheduled for Tuesday will not take place until March, the attorney for the It's really not a bad school.". "I urge patience as we are all eager to view the results, myself included.". The video appears to show three boys one of them wearing a Haverhill football shirt dragging another teen across the floor of a locker room. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. 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 county district attorney has indicated it will join local police in the investigation. A FOOTBALL PLAYER IS TRYING TO PULL OFF CLOTHING FROM ANOTHER YOUNG MAN AND LATER ENDS UP ON TOP OF THE ALLEGED HAZING VICTIM. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Now, police are filing criminal charges against seven students accused of the assault. 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. Incidents like these have no place in our community, the superintendent added. Video shows alleged hazing incident that ended Haverhill football team's season, THE UNIVERSITY -- THE VIDEO YOU WILL SEE IS HIGHLY DISTURBING. 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. It's been a turbulent few years for the Woburn football program. "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. In the most disturbing incident, the parent said, her son was a freshman when four older teammates attacked him in a school hallway after Belcher allegedly encouraged stronger players to toughen up those perceived as weaker. "This is an active and ongoing investigation. Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said Thursday that he supported hiring an outside firm to conduct the investigation. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. 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. And in Woburn, police are "investigating whether a juvenile was hazed and sexually assaulted at the school in an incident involving the football team." Peter Hahn, the attorney representing the Couceles family, said five high school students are facing charges for assault and battery for the September incident. 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. They have known for years they have a bully coaching our kids and they havent done anything to stop him, Kevin Coucelos, Johnathans father, said. "I fully support the superintendents actions in cancelling the Thanksgiving game, suspending those involved and conducting a full investigation. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. "As these matters concern allegations involving minors, there was and remains much we cannot say publicly about this situation," Crowley said. Three years later, he became the head coach at Bedford High School. He said he witnessed Belcher routinely pit players against each other during practice. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. PF343 PA206 STREAK2W. His parents made that decision to withdraw him from the school because it was no longer safe for him to be there. 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. 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. 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. "This is an active and ongoing investigation. All of those charged are students at Woburn Memorial High School. Woburn police received a complaint on Oct. 13 regarding an incident earlier in the school year, the joint statement said. One has an additional "indecent assault and battery" charge. display: none; I feel like parents need to be more involved and acknowledge who their kids friends are. After News Of Anti-Semitism On Duxburys Football Team, Where Does The Town Go From Here? Support GBH. Follow us so you don't miss a thing! The Woburn High School football team was on the field Friday night against Melrose High School but off the field, an investigation is underway. Full statement: "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. Crowley did not provide details of the 2019 allegation. "Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe. Woburn Memorial Football. Thats a perversion of sports culture, which instead of building character, produces cowardly thugs. The Rockets improved to 2-0 by dominating Woburn, 35-7, last Saturday at Woburn High. Officials in Woburn said Saturday that authorities are investigating a complaint received earlier in the week involving members of a Woburn High School sports team. A parent who asked not to be identified said her son, who graduated in 2021, was bullied on the practice field, in the locker room, and elsewhere in the school by his football teammates. 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). THE TEAM IS FORFEITING THE REST OF THE SEASON. WOBURN SENIOR FOOTBALL CAPTAINS (l-r) Derek Dabrieo, Jake Daniell, Derek Baccari, Anthony Palmieri and Yahya Aksadi. A video of the incident allegedly shows members of the Haverhill High School football team hazing a teenage boy. This is an active and ongoing investigation. 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. It's not good. 2023 by KYMA / NPG of Yuma-El Centro Broadcasting. The Globe reported on Saturday that the freshman said he was attacked in a locker room and grabbed by the genitals in an incident caught on video following a September game. Woburn likes to cover things up, said Kevin Coucelos, Johnathans father and a lifelong resident. After months of waiting, the case is expected to be heard in juvenile court next month. It hurts him to this day. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WCVB-TV. WE NEED TO DETERMINE HOW THIS HAPPENED AND WHAT WE CAN DO SO THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. He says there needs to be more accountability. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office also said they were notified about the allegations by police and are participating in the investigation. 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. The player alleges Woburn head coach Jack Belcher instigated the kick by encouraging older teammates to in Belchers words toughen up younger ones. It's a sad situation and hopefully they figure out what happened and it doesn't happen again. 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. That week, the Woburn Police Department and Middlesex District Attorney announced they were investigating the incident. 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. 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. "We are committed to a thorough, multifaceted fact finding operation, and we pledge to be forthcoming regarding the results of those investigations and to enact their findings and recommendations., "As these investigations remain active and ongoing, we will continue to allow that process to unfold," he added. It was very nasty," said student Felix Molina.The Haverhill High School football stadium and locker room are located approximately 10 minutes off campus.Police are investigating and members of the teams coaching staff have been placed on administrative leave.Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said Thursday that he supported hiring an outside firm to conduct the investigation. I told Belcher hes an adult bully and shouldnt be coaching anybodys kids, the parent said. Seven teenagers are facing criminal charges in It doesn't feel the same anymore to be out in public," he said. "Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved.". The Woburn Police Department and Woburn Public Schools will continue to work together to ensure the safety of all students, the statement said. The Woburn hazing accusations are the latest in a series of troubling charges of inappropriate behavior within high school athletic programs in Greater Boston. Seven teenagers are facing criminal charges in connection to a hazing investigation in Woburn, Massachusetts. 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. Woburn Police have assigned a detective to the case. It was disgusting. How will the Mass. 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. 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. Contests & Promotions. There was little to no supervision in the locker room, he said. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy |Community Guidelines | FCC Applications | Jobs/Internships |, Daily News Updates Due to the ages of those involved, no additional information is available at this time. Lowell Highs annual Thanksgiving Day football game against Haverhill has been canceled due to an alleged hazing incident involving Haverhill players that was caught on video. Couceles said his wife decided to pull their son out of the Woburn school for his safety in December. Something needs to be said, something to be done. BOSTON, Ma. Nelson concluded Coucelos was indeed assaulted and groped in the locker room. A family in Woburn, Massachusetts, wants An alleged hazing incident is under investigation at the high school in Woburn, Massachusetts. 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. OVERALL 7-4 0.64 Win %. ""The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team," the mayor said in his statement. 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. April 14, 2022, 10:11 p.m. 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 "The Woburn Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorneys Office are currently investigating the incident. 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. To my knowledge, there have been no other bullying allegations made to the administration regarding this individual.. With Haverhill forfeiting the contest, Lowell will finish the season with a 4-7 record. This content is imported from Facebook. March 1, 2022 Greater Boston. 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. The middlesex county district attorney's office "Saturday's statement did not provide details about the nature of the allegation and did not specifically mention the football team. Couceles says a student pulled down his sons pants and groped his genitals. No one was against it, Hanley described the player as saying. And this has very negatively impacted both Jonathan and his parents, the whole family.. Detective assigned to investigate allegations of hazing involving Woburn High School sports team. Saturday's statement did not provide details about the nature of the allegation and did not specifically mention the football team. Woburn head coach Jack Belcher instigated the kick by encouraging older teammates to in Belchers toughen... 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