The long-running nature of the corruption uncovered by this investigation could only have occurred with the explicit or tacit approval of Bellevue High Schooland Bellevue School District administrators, as the reportvividly details. 12 Mead in the first round of the Class 3A state football playoffs 41-10 as Bellevue rode its potent rushing attack to a dominant victory that puts it just two wins from their second consecutive state championship game appearance. Bellevue is not allowed to play out-of-state opponents for four seasons. "The schools want it that way. The KingCo Conference has levied sanctions against the school that include four years of probation for the entire athletic department,no road games or out-of-conference games for two years, no money funneled into the program from any source for four years, no postseason play for four years and no out-of-state opponents (a big source of revenue) for four years. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook) Later, when the family lived in SeaTac, he said, his mother would drop him off at a bus stop in Renton to commute. 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. One family complained their son was told his scholarship at the Institute would be revoked if he stopped playing football at Bellevue. Coach Kneip said, after the game, What an awesome night to celebrate a group of guys who have given so much to this 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. The Times uncovered 17 instances of Bellevue players who attend the Academic Institute, a small private school which does not offer football, in the last seven years. 56-0 win over Juanita! I think that theres a lot of different layers to understanding exactly what is going on., Related: Teen football player tackles suspected shoplifter. 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. In 2009, along with Steve Rudman and KJR 950 afternoon host Mike Gastineau, Thiel authored The Great Book of Seattle Sports Lists, a cross between historylink.org and Mad Magazine that has become mandatory reading for any sports fan who has an indoor bathroom. 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. 1. It's not a state agency. Brick by brick!. Mind you, this is not the kind of booster club that has bake sales to pay for road trips. The NFL is the big example. We hear stories about competing schools. On BHSs ensuing possession, junior QB Lucas Razore found Ishaan Daniels in the flat, and Daniels scampered 30 yards for the Bellevue score. Mercer Island Football Booster Club President, 1988-89. Strip them of their titles going back to 2001. 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. Im already excited for next week. JV plays at Lake Washington on Monday 9/26. Finally, in the fourth quarter, Kaden Matsudaira was featured in a long drive, culminating in a 3-yard TD run to put an exclamation point on the game. OVERALL 9-3 0.75 Win % DISTRICT 6-0 1st3A KingCo. They recently had a 67-game win streak snapped in the state championship game last December. The team has won 11 state championships in the last 15 seasons. The Bellevue High School football cheating scandal is American Greed at it worst! Lots of work to be done to get where we want to be, though. 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. 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. Court records from an eviction case also show a Yusef Freeman was renting an apartment in Sammamish in 2009. It's a guaranteed story that will be told for generations, with a record that will be likely painted up on a water tower or on a city's welcome sign. June 29, 2022 Posted in kawasaki monster energy jersey. Great highlight video
In 2012, Freeman was among 17 boys pictured in the sophomore, junior and senior pages of an Academic Institute yearbook reviewed by the Times. Final score: 48-14, Bellevue. The Times found at least three instances in which families of players attending the school were either given financial assistance by the team's boosters or didn't pay for the tuition themselves, a violation of state athletic rules. Butch Goncharoff is banned from coaching in Washington State 3. 9-0 on the season, BACK ON TRACK! The western-themed student section brought the energy all night, and the Wolverines did not disappoint. In its findings released a few hours earlier, the KingCo committee: Found a preponderance of evidence that Bellevue illegally recruited athletes to the school and coordinated payments for athletes, and that Bellevue failed to self-report money provided to players families. Brazen Family-Central Bar + Restaurant,520 Bar and Grill, The Brazens - Windermere. And I think the only thing that can be a positive is major reformation. With the pregame pageantry and TV interviews done, the Wolverines got to work making the Big Game a big blowout. To deny them the ability to compete with their peers is wrong and goes against every principle of youth sports.. 9 Rainier Beach into WIAA 3A state semifinals, William Wangs career night lifts No. Per a statement, athletic director Jim Hicks said. "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. 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. Bellevue junior Cal Zimmerman (#8) scores a touchdown as Snohomish seniors Miles Lamb (#8) and Easton Leonard (#24) attempt to tackle. "The Bellevue High School football cheating scandal is 'American Greed' at it worst.". Ban Goncharoff from coaching football in Washington for life. Bellevue High School in Bellevue, Washington is one of the most successful high school football programs in the country, with 11 state titles in 15 years, a 67-game winning streak covering some of that period and a national footprint that has had them playing on ESPN. The KingCo Conference is a 16-team conference [and] their athletic directors decided some fairly draconian punishments. You cheat, you steal, you lie. As crime increases, our safety measures must too, GSBA is closing the disparity gap with Ready for Business Fund. The Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. The booster club should be disbanded. It should be a Homecoming to remember! KNKX Public Radio | Usain Bolt defeats Justin Gatlin, defends 100-meter title. ", "Pretty serious stuff," Thiel said. David R. Evans Darien Freeman had said he lived in that city during his 2009-10 freshman season. 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. Thanks to state-wide referee shortages, the Wolverines had to reschedule their weekly Friday night appointment to Saturday. Head coach Butch Goncharoff has been fired. Bellevue High School offered a Physical Education program (football) not offered by this sham institution. Now, we cannot be completely naive. A high school state football championship in Texas is arguably about more than just temporary bragging rights. This has been, I dont want to say an open secret, but Im not surprised by the investigation, ONeil told Seattles Morning News. "Goncharoff, the booster club at Bellevue, and many people objected said 'No, this is all inaccurate. On the first play from scrimmage, freshman Max Jones took a handoff 65 yards to the house, and the JV squad never looked back. Bellevue H.S. 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. It's the entire structure that needs reform and a lot of attention. Carter High in Dallas took the state championship in 1988, but this new film about the team is not all about victory. Bellevue footballs promotion of a culture of cheating is a broadly understood fact. I have known athletes who have told of offers made by colleges. KingCo will vacate Bellevues conference titles if the WIAA determines that state championships should be forfeited. Yesterday Kendall Alston, age 31, was sentenced in federal court to five years for selling fentanyl pills in downtown Seattle. 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. 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 . There's just too much 'go along, get along' over the years. And the district has cut ties with longtime assistant coach Pat Jones. 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. "I would say the rules are loose. Touchdowns from Sharp, Jones, Reed, and freshman Trevin King kept the Bellevue offense on top, for a 49-22 win. JV Head Coach Danny Salonen was upbeat after the game, we never like to lose games like this, there are plenty of fundamentals on both sides of the ball that need cleaning up, but I cant imagine a better opportunity for our young guys and newer players to play a ton of football. After the half, the BHS offense really got rolling, including a 44-yard TD run from junior Blake Teets, a 24-yard TD run from sophomore Ryken Moon, and a screen pass from Razore that junior Cal Zimmerman took 21 yards to pay dirt. Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. As reported by the Seattle Times, which has led the investigation of the Bellevue scandal throughout, the Bellevue program made at least $175,000 in payments to on leave head football coach Butch . The startup funding should be part of the investigation. "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. 5. 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. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory All rights reserved. On Thursday, the Bellevue High School self-imposed sanctions on its football program and head coach for violations of WIAA rules. 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 . 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. In the second half, the Highlanders were haunted by a flurry of big plays on special teams and defense, by the Wolverines. 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. That would be a likely violation of rules that generally require student-athletes to live within a schools attendance boundary. Edwards was sentenced to 16 years and never played another down of football. Probation: Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. Coach Salonen said, We feel incredibly lucky to have the numbers to support a JV program this year, we love seeing the additional reps these players are getting, and the improvement that comes with those reps.. Editors note: After the original Seattle Times article of Aug. 23 the newspaper followed up with another article in which the parents of Darien Freeman disputed portions of the first article that were attributed to their son. The Bellevue High (Seattle) football team is reportedly aided through a diploma mill private school, according to an investigation by The Seattle Times. Unphased by the change, the boys loaded up the busses on Saturday evening, and headed north to Juanita High School in Kirkland. 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. GSBA, Comcast, and other partners are working to address disparities in access to financial resources with the Ready for Business fund. A native of Southern California, now living in North Carolina, he has been working in broadcast, print and digital media for nearly 30 years. The deluge culminated in a 34-0 halftime lead for BHS. We will continue to defend our right, and the right of booster clubs around the state, to make these activities available to kids.. And the idea that you need to move from wherever you live Carnation, Concrete, etc. On the shoulders of some hard running by junior Carson Rubin and sophomore Ryken Moon, a long reception by senior Ishaan Daniels, and a heaping helping of stingy defense, Bellevue took a 47-7 lead to the locker room at half time. lots and lots of money going around. 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. 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. Final score: 20-14, bringing the JV to 1-1. This isnt just about high school sports. 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. You do what you can to give your kid a leg up because you want him or her on a path that maybe you werent on.. Rantz says he doesnt blame the parents whatsoever. 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. Arguably one of the best high school teams ever fielded in Texas, the 1988 Dallas Carter Cowboys were loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. That's as many as Milwaukee, two more than Indianapolis and Tampa, and six more than Oklahoma City and San Antonio.. To tear down this whole organization is a crime. The ref denied any use of racial slurs during the game. Sat Nov 26 L . And booster club President John Connors told supporters over the weekend that litigation may be necessary to protect the program. Sports news, analysis, opinions, and rumors. 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. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. After their work in the back half of the Friday night game, the Bellevue JV made the Monday drive to the Sammamish Plateau, to face off against KingCo 4A opponent Eastlake Wolves. 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. They were outlandishly gravy training on their 17 or 18 year old kids football ability. 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. The KingCo Conference report, released earlier this week, said that while players were illegally recruited to play for Bellevue, some used false addresses to be eligible within Bellevues residential district. But KingCo officials saw Bellevues problems as requiring more severe sanctions. But the programs remarkable success has depended, in part, on players who werent actually Bellevue High students. 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. 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. The following Monday, the Bellevue JV had their first home game of the season, hosting Juanita. 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 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. That would be easy. Tony has been with Last Word on Sports for six years covering college football around the country. The Bellevue High School administrators who allowed this to happen should also face the loss of jobs or demotions. 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. Following the varsitys team lead from Friday night, the Wolverine JV got things going quickly with several big runs by sophomore Matt Reed, and the race was on. Kirsten Kendrick has been hosting Morning Edition on KNKX/KPLU since 2006. Carter High . 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. While parents arent specifically mentioned in these allegations, ONeil says they would most certainly be involved in these violations and are also culpable.
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