bellevue high school football scandal bellevue high school football scandal

KNKX Public Radio | How did parents never ask how their kid had so much walking around money? This isnt just about high school sports. This was wealth gone greedy., Bellevue football report put asterisk on winning record. Coach Kneip said after the victory, Amazing atmosphere tonight!! HOME 5-1 AWAY 4-1 NEUTRAL 0-1. It was a reminder of the Wolverines glorious past that got them fired up this week thanks to comments from Marysville-Pilchuck star running back Dylan Carson that fueled them for Saturdays matchup. However, the victory only lasted five months when the school became the first in the state to have their title taken from them. Players attend the school for academics but are allowed to play football at Bellevue if they live in the proper district. I think its terrible when parents get involved and start trying to tilt the playing field for high school sports, he said. Weve seen a couple of surveys about Seattles happiness rating, one shows us near the top for happiness, and one has us closer to the bottom. During one of the meetings with the Times, Freeman said he no longer had a relationship with his father. During that conversation on Sunday, Freeman reaffirmed the other aspects of his account. 2021 State Champs! I am old enough to remember corruption being the norm in the old Southwest Conference: fake jobs, hundred dollar handshakes and far, far worse. An independent investigation found a series of violations at the powerhouse football program, including that coaches directed athletes to attend the school, that boosters paid for athletes tuition, that false addresses were used to gain eligibility and that coaches coordinated tuition payments for athletes. Under ominous clouds and heavy winds, the Wolverines took the field in their electric yellow uniforms, to face the visiting Snohomish Panthers in a Week 10 crossover game. Saint Mary's guard Logan Johnson knows both sides of the Zags-Gaels rivalry, 35-year-old loved his dog, the outdoors and his mother who is accused of killing him, Accused killer returns to Spokane to face murder charge in 40-year-old South Hill cold case. Its a disgrace that this has gone on as long as it has. School District officials are planning to fire the head coach, Bellevue coaches clearly violated eligibility rules for years, Clemson gets commitment from 4-star North Cobb RB David Eziomume, Vermont HS girls basketball team forfeits rather than face transgender opponent, USA TODAY Sports Super 25 high school basketball rankings, week of Feb. 27, 2023, Sierra Canyon 4-star small forward AJ Swinton commits to Virgnia Tech, Imhotep Institute CB Kenny Woseley names top 4 schools, commitment date, Centennial boys basketball 3-peats as champions with buzzer-beater dunk, 'The Last of Us' actor, deaf youth hockey player meets Alexander Ovechkin in heartwarming video, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Head coach Butch Goncharoff has been fired. The events took place under the watch of school district officials who conceded that discounted tuition for athletes would constitute a violation of state athletic rules, a district document shows. The Wolverines will look to build on their learning from week 1 and 2 as they start KingCo 3A conference play against Liberty High School this Friday. The evidence shows that the practices KingCo now is penalizing including summer sports camps for kids and paying coaches for extra work outside of the season were approved by Bellevue School District and are shared by many, many area schools, the statement said. Once you address these issues, thenlets talk about a level playing field.. Im typical Bellevue fashion, the JV Wolverines matched Bothells two big plays with long, methodical drives and stifling defense. Touchdowns from Sharp, Jones, Reed, and freshman Trevin King kept the Bellevue offense on top, for a 49-22 win. Location: Bellevue . Its no surprise that we tend to have a lot of conversations about entitled young athletes. Tacoma WA 98418. Bellevue High's football squad completed an undefeated season by winning the 3A state championship with a 17-13 triumph over Kennewick High on Dec. 4 at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. We asked readers for their thoughts on what repercussions the Bellevue football program should face, as well as what the scandal says about high-school sports. At least 42 transfer students contributed to Bellevue's football team from 2008 to 2015, according to the report, for a program that has reached 13 Class 3A state championship games in the past. Many would perhaps have fallen through the cracks had it not been for the help they received when it was obvious to coaches they needed a little boost. The second quarter was the Carson Rubin Show, as he added 10- and 35-yard TD runs, and even a two-point conversion, helping the Wolverines take a 26-6 lead to the locker room. Breed initially denied any involvement, but in December of 2015 pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury, was placed on probation and gave up teaching. The No. We love to see the kids have fun and play ball. "They said four years of probation for the entire athletic department, a four-year ban for football on postseason play, and also non-conference play, as well as inviting any out-of-state opponents to play Bellevue High School. The win marks a return to the top for a former state juggernaut that won eight state championships from 2001 to 2011. However, the school often had no teachers in the classrooms; little, if any homework was ever given, and the players received full class credit. The final score is simply listed as Brady 1 Stamford 0 in the states record books. The Wolverines will face Snohomish High School, at home this Friday, in the Week 10 Crossover round. Varsity takes the field this Saturday (10/8) at Juanita, at 7pm, while the JV will face Juanita at home the following Monday. One player who attended the Institute told the Times he took one class without a teacher, and the school's director gave him a book and test questions to study. John Connors told supporters over the weekend that litigation may be necessary to protect the program, Seattle Times story detailed how numerous Bellevue players had taken classes at The Academic Institute, a private alternative school. Daniels got the second half rolling with his fourth house call of the game, and Luke Scoma added a late field goal to give the Wolverines a 44-13 win. Members of the booster club have criticized the investigation, which was conducted bytwo former federal prosecutors hired by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). Coach Kneip said after the game, great to see our men get out and have fun tonight, energy on the sidelines was awesome. Bellevue High School has the most successful football program in state history - winning 11 titles in the last 15 years. It's not a state agency. Coach Kneip said, after the game, What an awesome night to celebrate a group of guys who have given so much to this program! One family complained their son was told his scholarship at the Institute would be revoked if he stopped playing football at Bellevue. That probe confirmed some of the problems that The Times found and also detailed other issues, including families that had used false addresses to gain eligibility, a school district that had obstructed the investigation and evidence that Goncharoff had been paid beyond the bounds of WIAA rules. Like many expectant mothers, Miranda Kekauoha had a plan. This isnt a player finding $100 cash in his locker. We only care where they live., They are not our students, he said. All the coaches involved should lose their jobs and be required to return any money they received that was above the amount they were legally entitled to. After starting the season in Sports Illustrateds SB Live Top 25, the Wolverines found themselves on the wrong end of two tightly contested losses to start their 2022 campaign. The Bellevue High (Seattle) football team is reportedly aided through a diploma mill private school, according to an investigation by The Seattle Times. Every sport has its dark side and high school football in Texas is no exception. Goncharoff has argued that the decision to fire him was based on improperly applied policies. It should not be about winning at all costs to include cheating by parents. Students at a private school without a football team can play for a public-school team in their home district. In an article about how Bellevues success was aided by a small private school, Freeman, 20, told the Times that he lived in four different cities during his years with the Bellevue football team Sammamish, Bellevue, Auburn and SeaTac. Tony has been with Last Word on Sports for six years covering college football around the country. He is now on administrative leave while this is adjudicated.". The western-themed student section brought the energy all night, and the Wolverines did not disappoint. Wangs 64-yard burst up the middle with four minutes left gave the top-seeded Wolverines (14-0) the winning margin. Jayson Jenks: 206-464-8277 or, cited in its report a preponderance of evidence that violations had occurred, 68-page independent report that found wide-ranging rules violations within the program, Bellevue football banned from postseason for 4 years, WIAA lifts Bellevue postseason ban, strips two state titles, Cedar Park Christian hires ex-Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff, Two-year ban for Goncharoff ruled violation of union rights, After upheaval, sanctions, Bellevue ready to get back to playing football again, Report: Bellevue coaches violated rules for years, district obstructed probe, was placed on a three-year probation last year, district had proposed a suspension of the teams booster club along with meetings. Jessie Armstead, played for Miami and was the 207th pick in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL draft. The investigators report and your editorial finally nailed it.. The sanctions are the latest chapter in the saga of investigations, appeals and denials concerning one of the most successful prep-football programs in state history. Teen football player tackles suspected shoplifter, Ross: The latest attempt to undo a national embarrassment, Ross: Changing the climate of mental health is a bill away, Ross: A national divorce isnt the solution, but some people should move, Ross: If the American system rewards hard work, cancel student loan debt, Ross: Fentanyl-smoking passengers on light rail present huge danger, Ross: Two less crooks to worry about in downtown Seattle. Thanks to state-wide referee shortages, the Wolverines had to reschedule their weekly Friday night appointment to Saturday. In both games, seniors Ishaan Daniels and George Kruger were standouts. They scammed the system and stole the opportunities of hometown players, stoleplayers from schools that could have used the talent to grow their ownteams, and stole titles from teams that they played. The Bellevue grads on staff are Jake Hiller (2010, offensive line coach), Morgann Richey (2014, offensive line), Ryan Gilbert (2015, defensive backs), Jack Michael (2015, defensive backs), Matt Gilbert (2012, defensive coordinator), AJ Kneip (2016, offensive line/strength coach), Miles Carlson (2016, defensive back), Quinn Sullivan (2018, linebackers), Joe Razore (1997, offensive coordinator), Cam Johnson (1999, wide receivers), Peter Nguyen (2009, wide receivers) and Jojo Connor (2010, quarterbacks). Earlier this week, the Bellevue School District requestedan investigation of the football program by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, which governs prep sports in the state. These findings only corroborate what is probably the worst kept secret in the history of high school sports. Embattled Bellevue High School football coaches took another hit Friday as an executive board made up of high school principals increased penalties for the head . If that wasnt enough, the main boosters involved are discussing suing the conference over the penalties and coach Goncharoff says he has been set up. Onside kick with less than 2 minutes to go to setup Scoma winning field goal (Photo credit - Pete Caster / The News Tribune), Luke Scoma converts a must-have onside kick, then boots the game-winning field goal in the reigning Class 3A champions' 22-20 state quarterfinal victory over Gabarri Johnson-led Lincoln of Tacoma, A cadre of Lincoln defenders take down Bellevue running back Blake Tests during the first quarter of a Class 3A state quarterfinal game on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at the Lincoln Bowl in Tacoma, Wash. PETE CASTER Pete Caster / The News Tribune Read more. November 4, 2022. Freeman described in detail the hours he spent busing from Auburn to Bellevue, catching a 5:30 a.m. bus to start class around 8:15. The Bellevue football program was placed on a three-year probation last year for two self-reported violations, which allowed KingCo to hand down more severe sanctions. "This issue with Bellevue has been around for many years. 2023 Bonneville International. "They also discovered compensation to the head coach, Butch Goncharoff, of $60,000 a year that was well in excess of what the standards are for high school coaches.". "The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), which is the administrative body that governs prep sports hired two investigators who produced a 68-page report that confirmed much of what the Times discovered as well as other things. Washington needs more than 1 million homes in the next 20 years, Islanders speak out against Lava Ridge Wind Project, WA Lottery reveals Auburn woman as winner of $754.6 million Powerball jackpot, Victim energy is a siren song to which we must stop our ears | Whales Tales, Teams roll into action on renovated South Mercer Playfields. It feels quaint to sit back and watch an old rerun of Friday Night Lights and see some rally girl doing Tim Riggins homework, or a star player finding a mysterious envelope with cash in it. Brady rolled through the playoffs that year up until the state game beating Belton (66-8), Taylor (30-8), Jasper (24-0) and Palacios (22-0). It was a back and forth affair from the beginning that saw the Wolverines take a 21-17 lead into the locker room at halftime. On the eve of a Halloween weekend, the Bellevue faithful showed up in droves (and costumes) to celebrate another fantastic class of Bellevue High seniors. Rescind the championship titles, and ban the team from any post-season playoffs for five years. The coaching staff should be immediately dismissed. A talented Wolves team got out to a very fast start and never looked back, and the Wolverines found themselves on the wrong end of a running clock in the second half. It was so one-sided and evident that something was different about this team in comparison to the other nine teams Liberty played against., For every year they won the state championship, that should be the number of years they are not qualified to compete in theplayoffs. Allow only the students living within the boundaries to participate. The defense continued their stifling business, while the offense added a 27-yard Lucas Razore-to-Hogan Hansen TD, and a 39-yard Daniels TD run, leading to a comfortable first quarter lead. It taught them how to succeed and prepared them for the future. Junior Carson Rubin was the first to take the spotlight two long runs and two TDs got BHS on the board in Q1. This is a public high school and a strong message needs to be sent that this type of practice cannot be tolerated. It is high time to clean up this mess. KingCo left the question of whether Bellevue should forfeit state titles up to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). Get the days top sports headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox by subscribing here. Blame needs to fall primarily on Bellevue High School. Freemans parents criticized the Times reporters who wrote the Bellevue High story, saying they hounded and harassed their son and tricked him into saying things that he has no knowledge of. Bellevue is a public school district. Bellevue will host Mead High School in the 3A Round of 16, this Saturday at Noon. Amazing game and ending for Bellevue Wolverines, "He's still a vital part of the picture. Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff was suspended two games for "improper out-of-season activities" and for providing money to a player. On Thursday, the Bellevue High School self-imposed sanctions on its football program and head coach for violations of WIAA rules. Voted as the KING 5 Sports Big Game of the Week, the 4-2 Wolverines once again headed north on 405 for a KingCo 3A showdown, this time with the 4-1 Lake Washington Kangs. "The report then went to a panel of KingCo Conference athletic directors. He is a member of the Football Writers Association of America, and is a voting panelist for the Outland Trophy, the Nagurski Award, and the Biletnikoff Award. June 29, 2022 Posted in&nbspkawasaki monster energy jersey. Come one, come all! Maybe there is some truth to some stories, and maybe it is just random speculation, but it is out there, usually in the private school arena. Because of the legal challenge, Carter was allowed to go forward in the playoffs and they went on to a state title after defeating Converse Judson in the title game 31-14. Cheerleaders capture the crowds attention during the game, but one group of Texas high school cheerleaders captured the attention of the entire nation due to their outlandish behavior. The KingCo Conference is a 16-team conference [and] their athletic directors decided some fairly draconian punishments. Which spelled out who could live in certain neighborhoods. This has been, I dont want to say an open secret, but Im not surprised by the investigation, ONeil told Seattles Morning News. A 68-page report found that players' families provided false address to gain eligibility and that head coach Butch Goncharoff encouraged players to attend classes at a private alternative school. Unfazed by the less than hospitable conditions, the Wolverine ground game got to work against a stout Panther defense. According to the findings, 17 players were funneled to a for-profit private school for extra classes and academic help. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Bellevue wraps up undefeated season with 3A state title. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe. Despite the short week, the Wolverines came out fast against a spirited Islander squad, thanks to TDs from Ishaan Daniels, Carson Rubin, and Kaden Matsudaira, culminating in a 35-0 halftime lead. What sanction to impose if they will not resign in disgrace? All told, a 42-0 first half lead. The conferences action sets a precedent that should raise a red flag to everyone, the statement said. The Bellevue football story became national news in 2016 as false accusations of recruiting by the twelve-time state champions and 2012 national champions took center stage. Bellevue High School, Wolverine Way, Bellevue, WA, USA Sat Nov 19 W 22-20 @ Lincoln High School "Abes" Lincoln Bowl, Tacoma, WA, USA - 701 S. 37th Street. Last year, after a Seattle Times story detailed how numerous Bellevue players had taken classes at The Academic Institute, a private alternative school that former teachers described as a diploma mill, the school district called for an independent investigation. Bellevue school officials have previously told Bellevue head coach Butch Goncharoff that the district will seek to terminate him for violations of district policies. They happen to go to a private school that doesnt offer a (football) program.. We love the playoffs, Coach Kneip said postgame, this is the best time of the year, and were ready to get after it!. State District . Theyre going to find you. Later, a traffic citation was issued to a Yusef Freeman with an address in SeaTac. Edwards was sentenced to 16 years and never played another down of football. More of the money went to pay for school; the kind with no real academics. Yusef Freeman did not return a call Friday seeking comment on his letter. Bier on the Pier takes place on October 7th and 8th and features local ciders, food trucks and live music - not to mention the beautiful views of the Guemes Channel and backdrop of downtown Anacortes. In Q2, senior Ishaan Daniels added his own long TD run, and quarterback Lucas Razore added not one, but two, TD passes to fellow junior Blake Teets (one for 19 yards, one for 43). The silver lining from one of the biggest scandals in Texas high school football history is the number of players who went on to continue their football careers in college. Later, when the family lived in SeaTac, he said, his mother would drop him off at a bus stop in Renton to commute. Two former teachers told the Times the Academic Institute doesnt adhere to basic educational standards. Players need a 2.0 GPA with no more than one failing class to compete athletically. An independent investigation found a series of potential violations on the Bellevue High School football program. Brick by brick!. ', "The Bellevue School District said only one charge was valid and that was the compensation to Goncharoff, and so they recommended his firing. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Bellevue High's football squad completed an undefeated season by winning the 3A state championship with a 17-13 triumph over Kennewick High on Dec. 4 at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. Nobody is talking about the kids who lived in-district whose spots were taking by athletic carpetbaggers., Sothe investigation found that, among other things, Bellevue boosters paid tuitionfor some players to attend an alternative school (just like many kids do) in order to receive instruction, compatible with their learning styles,that they needed to improve their academic standing. Bellevue High School Football; Bellevue Football. Bellevue H.S. Plenty of things we need to clean up for next week, though. We hear stories about competing schools. Students at AI a school derided as a diploma mill by two former teachers are still allowed to play on the Bellevue football team. A video of two football players from John Jay High School in San Antonio went viral in September of 2015 after they blindsided a referee near the end of a game versus Marble Falls. In the post-game interview, Coach Kneip told KING5, Its really fun to come out here in this great environment, packed house, theyre a great football team. At a Tuesday news conference, Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills said the report contains information that requires immediate action, but the district has not saidwhat that action will be. Brick by brick!. When I saw the David Horsey cartoon, light rail ambassadors inviting a fentanyl-smoking passenger to leave, I lost it, says a listener. But KingCo officials saw Bellevues problems as requiring more severe sanctions. Sophomore Ryken Moon took the opening kickoff back for a TD, junior Colin Miller had an interception, junior Luke Soma added a field goal, and junior Cal Zimmerman had his own pick-6. All Rights Reserved. Coach Kneip on the game, We had a great, physical week of practice, and it really paid off. Just one play into Hazens opening drive, senior Joel Schneider made an acrobatic interception, which moments later led to a sight thats become the terror of KingCo 3A: an Ishaan Daniels long run and touchdown this time from 63 yards. There are many changes that should be made but they will never happen because our society places much more value on their teams winning than they do on oureducation system., This incident underscores what happens when booster clubs are permitted for specific sports and when those clubs put their own egos and insecurities above the appropriate life lessons to be gained and promoted from participation in school activities. Boosters have been barred from affiliating with the program. Photos: William Wang powers No. Dinner and dancing may have been the order of the day on Saturday, but on Friday night, Wolverine students packed the stands to see the Bellevue High football team demolish their crosstown rival Newport Knights. Our guys played pretty well, its just about getting better., Then, on Monday, the LW JV made the opposite trip, visiting BHS. For more high school stories, stats and videos, visit http://usatodayhss.com. Sophomore Ollie Sharp, and freshmen Max Jones also found the end zone, en route to a 46-7 Bellevue win, capping their first JV tour in years. By, Its almost like a cult. Activists shout down rural renewable energy projects, Amazon pauses construction in Virginia on its second headquarters, Dam owner guilty in field turf pollution of Puyallup River, First auction held for licenses to pollute in Washington, How this year's Selma Bridge Crossing could mark a community renaissance, Russia's foreign minister gets laughed at over Ukraine remarks at a global conference, Students learn lessons on climate change, pollution through raising salmon. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe I think the system is prone to corruption. lots and lots of money going around. The movie portrayed the girls as ruthless in their quest to run the school. It's easy to be accused of fearmongering regarding crime, but Seattle residents might have good reason to be concerned for their safety. New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory, Back on top: Bellevue beats Kennewick to win 3A state title behind William Wangs 243 yards, Bellevue runs over Marysville-Pilchuck to return to state football championship game, William Wangs career night lifts No. No, its not something we want to teach our kids as the right thing to do, he said. The families of two other players have described how supporters of the football program had a role in coordinating scholarships for the players. We asked readers for their thoughts on what repercussions the Bellevue football program should face, as well as what the scandal says about high-school sports. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. None of our business, he said. ", "Pretty serious stuff," Thiel said. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. "They also discovered that there was a small school within the school called the Academic Institute, which was privately funded by a lot of the boosters to give educations to students who were struggling. Published: Oct. 14, 2022 at 6:55 PM PDT. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Jones began coaching at . The first loss came at the hands of back-to-back Oregon 6A state champions, Central Catholic, on a field goal as time expired, which gave CCHS the first lead theyd had since early in the second quarter. The ref denied any use of racial slurs during the game.