It occurred to me that if this was Texas, the superintendent and school board would have been sacked by the state and football restored. We have shared the new video with law enforcement officials and will continue to work to complete our own investigation, he said. 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. This comes as Middletown head football coach Scott Acri resigned from his position on Monday, August 15. But after the latest video, that season wont happen, and Hunter said in his letter there is now even more for Chardo and police to consider. Top Video / Aug 24, 2022 / 06:08 PM EDT. The decision prompted an outcry from some parents in the school district, who spoke out at one of multiple meetings Wednesday night. This incident is disturbing and upsetting, and we understand both the desire for more information and a call for action. And then this happened, and this was a tough blow for him. The district was first made aware of the video on Friday, Aug. 12. The alleged hazing incident remains under investigation, both by the Middletown Area School District and by the Dauphin County District Attorney's Office. Editors note: This story was updated at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 13, 2022 with new details. Assistant coach Robert Brodish became the acting coach for the upcoming season, which was ultimately canceled. by Nick Volturo. I know this decision will be met with many different opinions and emotions and will impact many students and families. 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. 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 Blue Raiders were set to open the regular season Friday against Lower Dauphin. Lower Swatara police could not be reached and the police chief did not return an email sent Friday night. The video is difficult to watch as this is a completely unacceptable, offensive, and highly inappropriate act. Videos recording the incident were shared on social media. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. I'd rather have the adults who ignored it fired asap, at least. Its not an easy done deal," said Melissa Mertz, associate executive director of the PIAA. The Harrisburg-based firm describes itself as "focused on representing victims of crime and sexual abuse" on its website. It can mean losing everyone, a job, potential future opportunities. He just wants to play football and try to contribute.. This is why you teach your kids early and often to do the right thing no matter what everyone else is doing, You dont learn until it happens how scary and hard that is to do. 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. Neither do we. It simply cannot and will not be tolerated, Hunter said. The players were fully clothed and no one was physically penetrated, though Hunter still refers to it as completely unacceptable, offensive and highly inappropriate.. Middletown did not pause after the investigation began, practicing through last week, and the team hosted a scrimmage Saturday against Northern. This story was originally published August 24, 2022 2:44 PM. Superintendent Chelton Hunter made that announcement Wednesday in a written statement after he said the district obtained. Police and the Dauphin County District Attorneys Office are investigating the videos, which have been removed from Facebook and Instagram, according to WHP. 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. Sign up for PennLives new high school sports newsletter here, By Wednesday he was just hoping to make an impact at receiver for the Steel-High Rollers as a senior while separating himself from the ugly occurrence at his former school. Will Pennsylvania legalize marijuana under Josh Shapiro? Peace love joyforbearance gentleness kindness and self control to y'all. He wasnt involved, and he wasnt even there, Appleby said. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Unfortunately, this video demonstrates that this hazing was much more widespread, and involved many more students, than we had previously known. Kinda. The Legendary Snow Geese in Hershey last week. So, now we are hoping he can possibly, because of the unique situation with this hazing incident, get some leeway from the PIAA. On Friday, the school district announ. Middletowns Bamm Appleby runs against Bishop McDevitt during their game last season. Also depends on the nature of the events. All rights reserved (About Us). High school football teams are currently practicing in preparation for the fall season. And he said the district will make alternative plans for Homecoming. At the same time, as we conduct an investigation, the District must follow state and federal laws, District policy, and maintain confidentiality and student privacy. For the first time publicly, Middletown Area School District leaders addressed an ongoing investigation into hazing involving the high school football team. Bamm is a good athlete, but he has been through a lot, too, he said. Now the season is canceled, Support my work with a digital subscription, Chicken Salad Chick treats guests to a free scoop for its birthday. Police investigating hazing involving Middletown football team. The school says it was notified the following day on August 12 and began its investigation and contacted the Lower Swatara Township Police Department. The Middletown Blue Raiders play in the Mid Penn Conference and finished the 2021 season with a 6-5 record. The First half of January 2023 has been the 5th warmest Press J to jump to the feed. Yesterday Middletown High School (Pa.) had its football season canceled after more sexualized hazing videos involving team members came to light. Honestly this shit goes on everywhere but concrete evidence is impossible to ignore. The video shows players fully clothed. https://www.pahomepage.com/news/woman-taken-to-hospital-after-train-hits-car-in-wilkes-barre/, Josh Shapiro sworn in as Pennsylvanias 48th governor. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. . They. 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 . Applebys father Bobby is going out of his way to let potential colleges know his son had nothing to do with the incidents, per PennLive. He was out sick most of that whole week. hosted a scrimmage Saturday against Northern. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com. "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. The players identified in the first video were removed from the football team pending the outcome of the investigation and the completion of the discipline process, according to Hunter. We are addressing this matter with the utmost sense of urgency to ensure that our school environment is free from behaviors that are meant to demean, humiliate or harm other students. Bobby Appleby said he wanted to be clear that his son was not a part of any of the hazing incidents that caused Middletown Superintendent Chelton Hunter to cancel that schools season Wednesday. "Any time theres a transfer, we have certain provisions that provide for presumptive eligibility.. after the season was canceled over "disturbing and. Chopping childhood hunger in NEPA | Eyewitness News @ 11:00 a.m. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Well, thanks to having school resource officers in schools, plenty of children could still walk away with criminal records. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). I experienced in the 90s and Im sure it went on long before that. Our main reason for switching schools is to have a better environment, he said. Schuylkill County wildlife center to rebuild after receiving national support | Eyewitness News @ 11:00 a.m. Hazleton Area High School band performs at Shapiro inauguration, Cat food shortage hurts local animal shelter, Shooter at large as cinema shooting investigation intensifies. But you can't let this behavior go unchecked. Middletown is about 10 miles southeast of Harrisburg. Because these idiots are posting it on social media because they think it makes them cool somehow. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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 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 . You know decisions have to be made. August 25, 2022 3:50 pm ET. Horseplay is one thing, but putting massager guns and who knows what else on another students . 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.. 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. On Friday, the school district announced that head coach Scott Acri resigned earlier in the week.\r\rMelissa Brown, a licensed psychologist at UPMC, spoke to FOX43 about how students in sports and clubs could get wrapped up in hazing incidents.Read the full article here: https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/local-psychologist-reacts-to-middletown-football-hazing-incident-middletown-high-school-dauphin-county/521-07407721-0123-419b-acd7-d6d49510df47WPMT-FOX43's YouTube channel is a hub for the best of FOX43 News and its investigative reports, top headlines, and digital exclusive content: youtube.com/c/fox43 SUBSCRIBE: youtube.com/c/fox43 Officials at the Middletown Area School District said they learned of the incident Friday Aug. 12, the same day the videos were posted on social media, and started their own investigation. 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. The District is cooperating with law enforcement investigators and will continue doing so until the investigation is completed. 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. 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. The annual giveaway also marks Guest Appreciation Day at the restaurant chain. Yesterday Middletown High School (Pa.) hadits football season canceledafter more sexualized hazing videos involving team members came to light. Sean Simmers |ssimmers@pennlive.com. In light of this, we have made the decision to cancel the 2022 football season. We have shared the new video with law enforcement officials and will continue to work to complete our own investigation, he said. Example video title will go here for this video. Cant wait to get started! Taalib also called on the administrators to do better. 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. Hunter said a second video of the incident, which recently surfaced, showed that the hazing involved more members of the team than previously known. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Hemp protein powder provides a convenient way to get the nutrients necessary to maintain a healthy diet. I'm not familiar with this beyond the article. 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