Accepted a Bellevue resolution that it will not renew contracts for two years of coaches who violated the WIAA rule that stipends and gifts of more than $500 must be approved by the school board. BELLEVUE, Wash. -- While the Bellevue High football scandal gets sorted out, a forgotten casualty are the players who will experience the looming sanctions and coaching shake-up firsthand.Players . 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. 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. In their opening possession, Carson Rubin zigged and zagged, dicing the defense with a 29-yard touchdown run. 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. These are the kinds of challenges we look for., Then, this past Friday, the Wolverines made the long drive up to Lake Stevens High School, home of the preseason 4A #1 Vikings. They don't have subpoena power because this is a trade association. Five days after bringing home the state title, a string of events began that would blemish the reputation of the Dallas Carter program. And oh, by the way, how is it fair that a public school has limits on the geographic locations of its players homes,but private schools players can live anywhere? The No. Hopefully something like that will come out of this mess.". NEWSLINE 425-453-4270. 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. Top-ranked Bellevue defeated Marysville Pilchuck, 27-3, in the 3A state football semifinals on Nov. 27 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle. More of the money went to pay for school; the kind with no real academics. KingCo will have stricter guidelines and oversight for incoming transfer student-athletes for two years. ", "Pretty serious stuff," Thiel said. This isnt just about high school sports. It should be a Homecoming to remember! It hid and manipulated scientific and medical research and evidence to hide the price their players were paying on the field due to head injuries. The players reportedly got the steroids from a dealer named Big Mike who was a fitness trainer. I have known athletes who have told of offers made by colleges. I correct you Sir they are in your charge as Student Athletes at Bellevue High School taking a physical education class, thereby bound by all the rules and regulations attendant to participating in any WIAA competitive sport which includes providing financial aid. Final score 42-0. Have no fear, Bellevue Faithful, the East Channel Bridge rivalry is very much alive. Yes, the Catholic schools do recruit, but they are not funded through public money. Amazing game and ending for Bellevue Wolverines, Yusef Freeman did not return a call Friday seeking comment on his letter. Recent newspaper headlines should bring the immediate firing of Butch Goncharoff, Bellevue High School football coach. Usain Bolt defeats Justin Gatlin, defends 100-meter title. 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. We depend on members for more than half of our financial support. 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. In its report to KingCo, the Bellevue School District acknowledged several violations of rules while disputing other aspects of the independent investigation. From changing grades and playing ineligible players to substance abuse and violence, these five scandals marred the face of the king of all sports in Texas. I think that theres a lot of different layers to understanding exactly what is going on., Related: Teen football player tackles suspected shoplifter. These efforts were and are fully within the rules., The boosters vowed to continue to fight. An Auburn woman has won the $754.6 million Powerball jackpot. Head coach Butch Goncharoff has been fired. ONeil, however, says its misguided to think playing for Bellevue will be a ticket to free higher education, even if its a slightly more noble idea than parents creating super teams to win high school championships. Brick by brick!. It taught them how to succeed and prepared them for the future. ', "The Bellevue School District said only one charge was valid and that was the compensation to Goncharoff, and so they recommended his firing. Goncharoff built Bellevue into a football dynasty. 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). Part of Darien Freemans account, however, is corroborated by documents reviewed by the Seattle Times. In 2012, Freeman was among 17 boys pictured in the sophomore, junior and senior pages of an Academic Institute yearbook reviewed by the Times. 5. Bellevue (Wash.) School District officials are planning to fire the head coach of the Bellevue High School football team, according to a letter sent to the coach by a top district official and . This type of illegal and unethical activity runs through sports programs at all levels. Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. Or, at the very least, put on administrative leave along with the schools athletic director until a thorough investigation is has been completed into the financial records (who paid what) and academic record of Academic Institute Inc., in Bellevue. The parents confirmed in their letter that they received financial support, but said they properly requested aid from the school. An anonymous tip led the UIL to investigate claims Carters star player, Gary Edwards had failed Algebra and had violated the states No Pass, No Play policy. 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. The specifics of what happened is more symbolic of what is preposterously wrong with parents who lack the ability to teach their kids the responsibilities of being a student athlete. Boosters have been barred from affiliating with the program. After two rigorous non-conference games, Bellevue kicked off KingCo 3A conference play this past Friday night against Liberty High School of Renton. But Notre Dame-bound RB Jayden Limar led a second half comeback, eventually closing the game out 37-28. 1 talking about this. The Seattle [] 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. The train wreck at Bellevue may be symbolic of much that is wrong with high school and college athletics and the creation of the entitled teenager and the grotesque flow of money into amateur sports. The Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. Thiel said the complaints have been leveled at the Bellevue High School football program for years, but the scandal erupted after an investigation by the Seattle Times last year. Courtesy of Stephanie Ault Justus. Final score: Wolverines 53, Panthers 12. And we wonder where entitled athletes come from? June 29, 2022 Posted in kawasaki monster energy jersey. Of the 24-23 loss, Coach Kneip said, Theyre a really, really well-coached, high quality program. The investigators report and your editorial finally nailed it.. 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. She handles most sports coverage at the station, including helping produce a two-part series on the 50th anniversary of Title IX and the ongoing series "Going Deep.". It should not be about winning at all costs to include cheating by parents. And then there is the claim within the report that some of the misdeeds were not so secretive; they were just direct cash payments to families to get players to Bellevue. I think the idea behind high school sports is pretty genuine if you get together and you play sports with the kids you grew up with.. If youre a Pac-12 talent, you are going to jump off the page at recruiters, he said. Bellevue High School football is banned from postseason play for two years. The KingCo Conference came down hard on Bellevue High School football Tuesday, banning the embattled program from postseason play for four years, prohibiting outside donations for four. We love to see the kids have fun and play ball. 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. Goncharoff has argued that the decision to fire him was based on improperly applied policies. Jessie Armstead, played for Miami and was the 207th pick in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL draft. 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. Students at AI a school derided as a diploma mill by two former teachers are still allowed to play on the Bellevue football team. While parents arent specifically mentioned in these allegations, ONeil says they would most certainly be involved in these violations and are also culpable. All Rights Reserved. The state high school governing body, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), is looking into whether state titles need to be stripped and further sanctions imposed. 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. Often it would be well past dark by the time he returned home. 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). Pull yourself up by your bootstraps is the traditional American response to anyone who complains about his lot in life. 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. When I saw the David Horsey cartoon, light rail ambassadors inviting a fentanyl-smoking passenger to leave, I lost it, says a listener. There are no legitimate answers to those questions. The coaching staff should be immediately dismissed. Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff was suspended two games for "improper out-of-season activities" and for providing money to a player. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Coach Kneip said after the game, great to see our men get out and have fun tonight, energy on the sidelines was awesome. The Academic Institute was briefly involved in a athletic district investigation after the family complaint, but no one from the school spoke to investigators. 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. 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. GSBA, Comcast, and other partners are working to address disparities in access to financial resources with the Ready for Business fund. In the second half, Bellevue let their young guns get a taste of the MI rivalry under the big lights, and played out the remainder of the game under a running clock. Among those, Freeman said Goncharoff directed him to attend the Academic Institute instead of studying at Bellevue. However, the victory only lasted five months when the school became the first in the state to have their title taken from them. Next stop for the Wolverines (13-0) is the state championship game the Gridiron Classic versus Kennewick at noon on Dec. 4 at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. You can find Art Thiel's work at Sportspress Northwest and Crosscut.com. An investigation released Tuesday revealed significant and long-standing violations by the Bellevue High School football program. 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. KingCo left the question of whether Bellevue should forfeit state titles up to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). This is a public high school and a strong message needs to be sent that this type of practice cannot be tolerated. The scandal rocked the affluent community and brought awareness to steroid use by teens. Top-ranked 3A Wolverines get all they want for three-plus quarters, but Wing-T (342 rushing yards) generates big fourth-quarter scoring plays to pull away. But the programs remarkable success has depended, in part, on players who werent actually Bellevue High students. Rantz says he doesnt blame the parents whatsoever. This decision is unfair to the players who are the heart and soul of this program. We will continue to defend our right, and the right of booster clubs around the state, to make these activities available to kids.. A series of three books describing the storied history of the Bellevue High School Football program, and the investigations that surrounded the team from 2006 to 2018. An independent investigation found a series of potential violations on the Bellevue High School football program. 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. 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. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. 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 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. Bellevue footballs promotion of a culture of cheating is a broadly understood fact. Tony has been with Last Word on Sports for six years covering college football around the country. All rights reserved. "The schools want it that way. Here's the AP story SEATTLE (AP) - An investigation into illegal recruiting has resulted in the suspension of Bellevue High School's head football coach, Butch Goncharoff, and the team being placed on probation. Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. During that conversation on Sunday, Freeman reaffirmed the other aspects of his account. 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. And a large percentage of those kids were athletes," Thiel said. 5 Marysville-Pilchuck on Saturday in the early game of the Class 3A semifinal doubleheader at Memorial Stadium. A player for Stamford, Wendell Robinson, lived in the towns fire station and continued to play for the school after his parents moved away from Stamford. SEATTLE An independent investigation into the Bellevue High football team uncovered "significant and long-standing violations" of state sports rules and extensive evidence that the team's. The conferences action sets a precedent that should raise a red flag to everyone, the statement said. 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. Washington state wants to be a leader in climate change, but I sense that the voters are not as concerned about that these days. Volunteer to help people understand their Medicare options! McKinney North Principal Linda Thret was the mom of one of the Fab Five and eventually resigned due to mounting pressure over her lack of discipline with the group. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe "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. 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 . The coach should be a faculty member and actually teach classes., These coaches and families have only helped these kids progress in a more beneficial way through life. The second half saw more of the same stingy Wolverine defense, and scores being added by another long Daniels run, and a 30-yard TD connection from Razore to junior TE, Hogan Hansen. On the first play from scrimmage, freshman Max Jones took a handoff 65 yards to the house, and the JV squad never looked back. I found John Harrisons (former Mercer Island High School principal and now Executive Director of Bellevue Public Schools) comments to be cavalier; aiding and abetting a serious flaw in the system and, just plain very disappointing given his stellar career as a Mercer Island principal. Final score: 48-14, Bellevue. At least 17 Bellevue football players attended the program over the past seven years, the Seattle Times has learned. There's just too much 'go along, get along' over the years. Final score, 59-0, BHS. Kirsten Kendrick has been hosting Morning Edition on KNKX/KPLU since 2006. Editors note: The following is an excerpt from the Seattle Times article of Aug. 23 detailing alleged improper practices within the Bellevue High football program: Bellevue High School has established itself as one of the premier prep football programs in the nation with 11 state titles in the past 15 years. Agreed with Bellevues conclusions that athletes used false addresses to gain eligibility, and that payments were made to coaches without approval from the school district. Wangs 64-yard burst up the middle with four minutes left gave the top-seeded Wolverines (14-0) the winning margin. KNKX Public Radio | Come one, come all! Mercer Island Football Booster Club President, 1988-89. "It's not just Bellevue. 1. And the district has cut ties with longtime assistant coach Pat Jones. Bellevue football decimated the available pool of players for both Sammamish and Interlake for years to the point of Sammamish forfeiting games at the varsity level in 2015. "I would say the rules are loose. Now, we cannot be completely naive. The startup funding should be part of the investigation. The Bellevue High (Seattle) football team is reportedly aided through a diploma mill private school, according to an investigation by The Seattle Times. Art Thiel is a co-founder and writer for the rising sports website Sportspress Northwest. They say proposed project will negatively impact Minidoka internment camp site. The KingCo Conference came down hard on Bellevue High School football Tuesday, banning the embattled program from postseason play for four years, prohibiting outside donations for four years and tightening oversight of incoming transfers for two years. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook), (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook). 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. To do whats best for your kid, he said. Team supporters have battled the Bellevue School Districts decisions. Players attend the school for academics but are allowed to play football at Bellevue if they live in the proper district. Tornados drive 94 yards on 16 plays, capped by Damian Aalona's 1-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown, to win action-packed Class 3A semifinal game at Art Crate Field. And the idea that you need to move from wherever you live Carnation, Concrete, etc. Bellevue can appeal the sanctions to KingCo principals within five school days, then can appeal to the executive board of the SeaKing District and ultimately to the executive board of the WIAA. With ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary What Carter Lost screening Aug. 24, audiences are primed to remember the glory and scandal that surrounded Dallas Carter High School's football team nearly 30 . 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. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. After the game, Coach Kneip said, Our job is to put our kids in the best position to win a state championship, and that means challenging ourselves against the best opponents we can possibly find for our non-conference games.. Strip them of their titles going back to 2001. 9 Rainier Beach into WIAA 3A state semifinals, William Wangs career night lifts No. He is now on administrative leave while this is adjudicated.". Unfazed by the less than hospitable conditions, the Wolverine ground game got to work against a stout Panther defense. There are absolutely no facts to support KingCos conclusion they have foolishly relied on the false inferences of the WIAAs original report, Goncharoffs statement said. "The Bellevue High School football cheating scandal is 'American Greed' at it worst.". (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook) Bellevues head coach and athletic director be fired immediately, 2. Which spelled out who could live in certain neighborhoods. Senior running back William Wang rushed for 243 yards and two touchdowns to lead Bellevue to a 3A state championship win over Kennewick on Saturday afternoon at Sparks Stadium. 5. The team won 11 state championships in 15 years, including a 67-game winning streak. The Bellevue High School administrators who allowed this to happen should also face the loss of jobs or demotions. 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. Their punishment is that they will never be remembered well. My son plays football as a freshman at Liberty High School, and of course the teams one loss this past year was to Bellevue. The final score is simply listed as Brady 1 Stamford 0 in the states record books. Playoffs: No postseason games for four years, Boosters: No donations to program for four years, Games: Only KingCo 3A opponents for two years; no out-of-state opponents for four years, Transfers: Stricter guidelines, oversight for incoming transfer students for two years, Championships: Vacate Bellevues conference titles if WIAA determines that state titles should be forfeited. These findings only corroborate what is probably the worst kept secret in the history of high school sports. Published: Oct. 14, 2022 at 6:55 PM PDT. 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. The Academic Institute has a monthly tuition of $1,750. Following the string of robberies, six players were sentenced to prison with terms ranging from two to 25 years. Coach Kneip said after the victory, Amazing atmosphere tonight!! That was released a few months ago. Freeman met with a reporter on two separate occasions at a SeaTac restaurant. 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. In the end, nine football players at the school admitted to using over the counter steroid-like substances and prescription steroids. We asked our fans to vote for the 3A Players of the Year for Texas HS Football Podcast: Championship Series. Among the players who have attended Academic Institute were those instrumental in Bellevues recent 67-game winning streak: Myles Jack, a linebacker now at UCLA; Marcus Griffin, a defensive tackle at the University of Arizona; and Max Richmond, a wide receiver at the University of Washington. Later, a traffic citation was issued to a Yusef Freeman with an address in SeaTac. Later, when the family lived in SeaTac, he said, his mother would drop him off at a bus stop in Renton to commute. BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Bellevue School District officials and booster club members are fighting back against a blistering report that alleged recruitment violations within the Bellevue High. This was wealth gone greedy., Bellevue football report put asterisk on winning record. 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. The players reportedly said the refereewas using racial slurs and said they were instructed to hit the ref by their coach, Mack Breed. By: Logan Newman, https://usatodayhss.com/2016/bellevue-wash-expected-to-fire-coach-butch-goncharoff-cheating-scandal, Bellevue (Wash.) expected to fire coach at center of alleged football cheating scandal. "This issue with Bellevue has been around for many years. 5 seeded Wolverines (8-2) walloped No. Coach Kneip said, after the game, What an awesome night to celebrate a group of guys who have given so much to this program!
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