Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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. The booster club should be disbanded. 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. It's easy to be accused of fearmongering regarding crime, but Seattle residents might have good reason to be concerned for their safety. I have been watching professional and college sports for more than 40 years, and have been covering college football for Last Word on Sports for two years. 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. 2021 State Champs! The investigators report and your editorial finally nailed it.. The KingCo Conference is a 16-team conference [and] their athletic directors decided some fairly draconian punishments. 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. Bellevue school officials have previously told Bellevue head coach Butch Goncharoff that the district will seek to terminate him for violations of district policies. Freeman met with a reporter on two separate occasions at a SeaTac restaurant. To deny them the ability to compete with their peers is wrong and goes against every principle of youth sports.. Other families allegedly acquired apartments within the schools boundaries, with the rent being paid by boosters. 4. Per a statement, athletic director Jim Hicks said. An independent investigation found a series of potential violations on the Bellevue High School football program. Final score: 20-14, bringing the JV to 1-1. Bellevue is not allowed to play out-of-state opponents for four seasons. Bellevue High School Football; Bellevue Football. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. Here is a selection of the. 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. Goncharoff released a statement after KingCos sanctions were handed down. 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. Final score 42-0. You can read the Times' entire investigation here. 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. Records reviewed by the Seattle Times, however, show that Freemans father has had a home address in Auburn. 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. At least two families of football players received tuition assistance coordinated by the teams wealthy supporters, according to interviews and documents. 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. I am also the father of a high school varsity athlete. However, the victory only lasted five months when the school became the first in the state to have their title taken from them. Later, a traffic citation was issued to a Yusef Freeman with an address in SeaTac. Kirsten Kendrick has been hosting Morning Edition on KNKX/KPLU since 2006. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe. Court records from an eviction case also show a Yusef Freeman was renting an apartment in Sammamish in 2009. Final score, 59-0, BHS. I have known athletes who have told of offers made by colleges. An interception by Caymus Rooney sealed the first half, 34-7 in favor of Bellevue. WA State 3A Champs '83, '01, '02, '03, '04, '06, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12,. Instead, athletes became eligible to play for the football powerhouse by traveling to a Bellevue office park for classes at an obscure, 40-student private school: The Academic Institute, Inc. Fire and fine all involved. Carter High . 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.. Plenty of things we need to clean up for next week, though. "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. At the crux of the scandal is a well to-do family that made their money in the trash/waste management industry. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid . 1 Bellevue back into 3A state semifinals: 4 observations To tear down this whole organization is a crime. 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. In the end, nine football players at the school admitted to using over the counter steroid-like substances and prescription steroids. Coach Kneip said, after the game, What an awesome night to celebrate a group of guys who have given so much to this program! 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. He is now on administrative leave while this is adjudicated.". Saint Mary's guard Logan Johnson knows both sides of the Zags-Gaels rivalry , "It should be an awesome environment": Gonzaga's WCC title hopes depend on outcome vs. Gaels , Gonzaga rewind: Ben Gregg continues to thrive in expanded role, helps Gonzaga thump San Diego , Daily marijuana use raises risk of heart disease by 34%, study indicates, 'Growing up I can say I fell victim to being a Gonzaga fan.' Bellevue High School offered a Physical Education program (football) not offered by this sham institution. The Seattle [] 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. Im typical Bellevue fashion, the JV Wolverines matched Bothells two big plays with long, methodical drives and stifling defense. In both games, seniors Ishaan Daniels and George Kruger were standouts. 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. All Rights Reserved. The Bellevue High football team is reportedly aided by a diploma mill private school. State District . Ban Goncharoff from coaching football in Washington for life. Sports news, analysis, opinions, and rumors. The Wolverines found paydirt early and often, ending the first quarter with a 280 lead, eventually taking a 35-0 lead to half. The second half would be spent in running clock, ending in a final of 54-13. Even private schools require the students attend classes at that institution and make the grades to play, not go to a strip-mall diploma mill., The Seattle Times closes comments on particularly sensitive stories. The parents confirmed in their letter that they received financial support, but said they properly requested aid from the school. This booster club raised more than $427,000 in 2013 according to the Seattle Times investigation. An investigation into the allegations by the Dallas Morning News led to the school investigating the claims as well. But many of those accomplishments are in jeopardy, because of a scandal that has now reached the punishment stage. In order to remedy the violations, the district had proposed a suspension of the teams booster club along with meetings, training programs and policy reviews to ensure rules are followed in the future. A committee of athletic directors from KingCo cited in its report a preponderance of evidence that violations had occurred. 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. Lake Washington Windows and Doors is a local window dealer offering the exclusive Leak Armor installation. If youre retired or getting ready to retire and looking for new ways to stay active, becoming a SHIBA volunteer could be for you! 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. This type of illegal and unethical activity runs through sports programs at all levels. This fake news reporting in the media hammered down on the program until the program was literally ripped apart at the seams. 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. The western-themed student section brought the energy all night, and the Wolverines did not disappoint. The players reportedly got the steroids from a dealer named Big Mike who was a fitness trainer. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe The Wolverines got off to their usual fast start, with a whopping three rushing touchdowns from Ishaan Daniels, another from Carson Rubin, and a passing TD from Lucas Razore to Hogan Hansen. How did the adults never ask how it was that their kid was taking classes in a $1,750 per month school, yet they never got a tuition bill? Stamford had little trouble in the playoffs with wins over Quanah (43-13), Cisco (32-22), Denver City (14-0) and Olney (15-7). KingCo left the question of whether Bellevue should forfeit state titles up to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). The Academic Institute existed in a strip mall not far from Bellevue High. The Bellevue High School football cheating scandal is American Greed at it worst! Until 1968, Washington state allowed restrictive housing covenants. 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. He played for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins and was a five time Pro Bowl selection. The movie portrayed the girls as ruthless in their quest to run the school. PF 497 PA 185 STREAK 1L. Which spelled out who could live in certain neighborhoods. 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. Art Thiel is a co-founder and writer for the rising sports website Sportspress Northwest. Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff was suspended two games for "improper out-of-season activities" and for providing money to a player. 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. 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. Once you address these issues, thenlets talk about a level playing field.. Varsity takes the field this Saturday (10/8) at Juanita, at 7pm, while the JV will face Juanita at home the following Monday. Five days after bringing home the state title, a string of events began that would blemish the reputation of the Dallas Carter program. Brazen Family-Central Bar + Restaurant,520 Bar and Grill, The Brazens - Windermere. 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 . 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. I think its terrible when parents get involved and start trying to tilt the playing field for high school sports, he said. They recently had a 67-game win streak snapped in the state championship game last December. That leads to what the money was used for. Great highlight video Really? KNKX Public Radio | Thanks to state-wide referee shortages, the Wolverines had to reschedule their weekly Friday night appointment to Saturday. Or that they never had homework from that school? On November 10, the UIL shocked Dallas Carter and the entire state when they announced the Cowboys were ineligible for the playoffs. Photos: William Wang powers No. After two rigorous non-conference games, Bellevue kicked off KingCo 3A conference play this past Friday night against Liberty High School of Renton. Its unfortunate for the kids who played therebut also hard on those who played against Bellevue, too. Usain Bolt defeats Justin Gatlin, defends 100-meter title. How did parents never ask how their kid had so much walking around money? 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. Tacoma WA 98418. The Academic Institute was briefly involved in a athletic district investigation after the family complaint, but no one from the school spoke to investigators. If youre a Pac-12 talent, you are going to jump off the page at recruiters, he said. Coach Kneip on the game, We had a great, physical week of practice, and it really paid off. On BHSs ensuing possession, junior QB Lucas Razore found Ishaan Daniels in the flat, and Daniels scampered 30 yards for the Bellevue score. 5 Marysville-Pilchuck on Saturday in the early game of the Class 3A semifinal doubleheader at Memorial Stadium. Recent newspaper headlines should bring the immediate firing of Butch Goncharoff, Bellevue High School football coach. 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 . When I saw the David Horsey cartoon, light rail ambassadors inviting a fentanyl-smoking passenger to leave, I lost it, says a listener. Boosters have been barred from affiliating with the program. That loss was an eye-opener, as Bellevue dominated in every aspect of the game against our team. This begins the discussion of the penalty phase of the violations, and there are several steps working through that process, said Mike Colbrese, WIAA executive director. 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. Head coach Butch Goncharoff has been fired. The second half once again belonged to the youngsters and up-and-comers, who finished strong to the tune of a 56-14 victory. Now we need to do it again! Jessie Armstead, played for Miami and was the 207th pick in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL draft. Department of Commerce officials say communities will need diverse housing options in the future as well. An Auburn woman has won the $754.6 million Powerball jackpot. Yes, they broke the rules to get them on the team. They don't have subpoena power because this is a trade association. More of the money went to pay for school; the kind with no real academics. 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. Carter High in Dallas took the state championship in 1988, but this new film about the team is not all about victory. Darien Freeman had said he lived in that city during his 2009-10 freshman season. They say proposed project will negatively impact Minidoka internment camp site. Im already excited for next week. JV plays at Lake Washington on Monday 9/26. "Goncharoff, the booster club at Bellevue, and many people objected said 'No, this is all inaccurate. The No. We asked our fans to vote for the 3A Players of the Year for Texas HS Football Podcast: Championship Series. However, the school often had no teachers in the classrooms; little, if any homework was ever given, and the players received full class credit. Updated: 7:13 PM PDT July 8, 2016. 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 depend on KNKX for trusted, in-depth local news, music by knowledgeable hosts and enlightening NPR programs. 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. Teaching young impressionable minds to cheat is criminal! 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. 9 Rainier Beach into WIAA 3A state semifinals, William Wangs career night lifts No. This is another example of the incredibly flawed process that has been guiding this investigation for months. During that conversation on Sunday, Freeman reaffirmed the other aspects of his account. And the district has cut ties with longtime assistant coach Pat Jones. 710 ESPN Seattles Danny ONeil thinks the parents are misguided. 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. You can find Art Thiel's work at Sportspress Northwest and Crosscut.com. It's finally come to a head. The Wolverines will face Snohomish High School, at home this Friday, in the Week 10 Crossover round. Its no surprise that we tend to have a lot of conversations about entitled young athletes. What is your main job as a parent? Strip them of their titles going back to 2001. If our society didnt place such a level of importance on winning at all costs, this type of thing wouldnt happen. The investigation was prompted, in part, by an exposure in the Seattle Times last summer that found an underbelly of fraudulent academics, illegal recruiting and of course, money. The NFL is the big example. This is a public high school and a strong message needs to be sent that this type of practice cannot be tolerated. Junior Carson Rubin was the first to take the spotlight two long runs and two TDs got BHS on the board in Q1. 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. Now, we cannot be completely naive. 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. Bellevue High is an extremely successful football program. In the second quarter, junior Carson Rubin got on the board with an thrilling 80 TD run, Razore completed his second TD pass of the day (once again to Hansen, of course), and senior DB Caymus Rooney took an interception 40 yards to the house. Three players robbed a Jack in the Box, two star players robbed a video exchange at gunpoint and walked away with $256 and robbed a mexican restaurant taking $11,000. 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. Get the days top sports headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox by subscribing here. Bellevue wraps up undefeated season with 3A state title. 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. School district leaders initially sought to have the booster club answer questions about its relationship with Academic Institute. "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 uproar began and a legal battle quickly ensued. Its a disgrace that this has gone on as long as it has. 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. Tony has been with Last Word on Sports for six years covering college football around the country. With their sights set on a state championship run, the Cowboys began preparing for the playoffs. 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. Bellevue footballs promotion of a culture of cheating is a broadly understood fact. Medicare open enrollment is here and SHIBA can help! 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. Earlier this year, one family complained that an assistant coach threatened to revoke their sons financial aid at Academic Institute if the student didnt continue playing football at Bellevue. Then, on Monday, the JV took the field north of the lake, against the Bothell Cougars. It is high time to clean up this mess. "I would say the rules are loose. Freemans parents, Yusef and Allona, wrote in a letter this week to the school district that their son lived in the Bellevue attendance area. Amazing game and ending for Bellevue Wolverines, Thiel said Goncharoff has been quite vocal about his innocence. Supporters of the Bellevue football program have shared the letter on social media. 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.. What sanction to impose if they will not resign in disgrace? 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. Mind you, this is not the kind of booster club that has bake sales to pay for road trips. I think that theres a lot of different layers to understanding exactly what is going on., Related: Teen football player tackles suspected shoplifter. There's just too much 'go along, get along' over the years. Hogwash! Probation: Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. The parents disputed Freemans account in which he said his father had asked him to thank Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff for helping pay rent. 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. After finding steroids in her sons athletic bag in September of 2004, a Colleyville Heritage mom approached school administrators after verifying the contents through a local drug store. 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. Michael Kneip coaches his alma mater and is bent on restoring its football greatness. Edwards was sentenced to 16 years and never played another down of football. 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. "It was discovered that there were athletes competing under false addresses in the Bellevue district. 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.. Here is a selection of the responses we received: Bellevue High Schools titles need to be removed. Bellevue High School has the most successful football program in state history - winning 11 titles in the last 15 years. 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. We only care where they live., They are not our students, he said. Players attend the school for academics but are allowed to play football at Bellevue if they live in the proper district. 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. As crime increases, our safety measures must too, GSBA is closing the disparity gap with Ready for Business Fund. 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. Dubbed The Fab Five, McKinney North High Schools Fab Five became the focus of a made for TV movie when photos of the cheerleaders drinking, scantily clad and engaging in risque behavior landed them in hot water with the cheer sponsor. You cheat, you steal, you lie. 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. 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. The Academic Institute has a monthly tuition of $1,750. The Times uncovered 17 instances. 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. To do whats best for your kid, he said. 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. There are a lot of reasons why he thinks the rules were wrongly interpreted by the investigators. 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. Found a preponderance of evidence that Bellevue boosters paid the tuition of athletes at The Academic Institute. 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. She has worked in news radio for more than 30 years. 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. With the pregame pageantry and TV interviews done, the Wolverines got to work making the Big Game a big blowout. The schools don't want to arm the WIAA with investigatory powers. And I think the only thing that can be a positive is major reformation. The scandal rocked the affluent community and brought awareness to steroid use by teens. Darien Freeman has not returned multiple messages left for him last week. 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.