lots and lots of money going around. KIRO Radios Jason Rantz thinks they are just doing their job. 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. Location: Bellevue . 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. For more high school stories, stats and videos, visit http://usatodayhss.com. 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. There are a lot of reasons why he thinks the rules were wrongly interpreted by the investigators. Armstead is also in the New York Giants Ring of Honor. Darien Freeman has not returned multiple messages left for him last week. Wangs 64-yard burst up the middle with four minutes left gave the top-seeded Wolverines (14-0) the winning margin. Touchdowns by Daniels, Hansen, Rubin, Moon, Smith, and Matsudaira. 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. "It's not just Bellevue. On BHSs ensuing possession, junior QB Lucas Razore found Ishaan Daniels in the flat, and Daniels scampered 30 yards for the Bellevue score. 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. Lots of work to be done to get where we want to be, though. 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. ", "Pretty serious stuff," Thiel said. 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. Their punishment is that they will never be remembered well. On the first play from scrimmage, freshman Max Jones took a handoff 65 yards to the house, and the JV squad never looked back. And booster club President John Connors told supporters over the weekend that litigation may be necessary to protect the program. Part of Darien Freemans account, however, is corroborated by documents reviewed by the Seattle Times. 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. And we wonder where entitled athletes come from? 56-0 win over Juanita! An independent investigation found a series of potential violations on the Bellevue High School football program. As crime increases, our safety measures must too, GSBA is closing the disparity gap with Ready for Business Fund. %link% 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. 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. 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. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe They don't have subpoena power because this is a trade association. 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. Carter High in Dallas took the state championship in 1988, but this new film about the team is not all about victory. 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. 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. 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 No. Touchdowns from Sharp, Jones, Reed, and freshman Trevin King kept the Bellevue offense on top, for a 49-22 win. Bellevue Independent Schools announced it has canceled the rest of its high school's football season due to multiple injuries on the team. This decision is unfair to the players who are the heart and soul of this program. 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.. Which spelled out who could live in certain neighborhoods. 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 . 2023 ABG-SI LLC. "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. football coach makes appeal after ban. And the idea that you need to move from wherever you live Carnation, Concrete, etc. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook) 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. BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Bellevue High School football coach Butch Goncharoff told the school board Tuesday that an investigation of the football . The following Monday, the Bellevue JV had their first home game of the season, hosting Juanita. Great highlight video 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. 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. Brazen Family-Central Bar + Restaurant,520 Bar and Grill, The Brazens - Windermere. A committee of athletic directors from KingCo cited in its report a preponderance of evidence that violations had occurred. It's finally come to a head. 2023 Bonneville International. Now we have to keep the focus going next week for playoffs.. The Academic Institute was briefly involved in a athletic district investigation after the family complaint, but no one from the school spoke to investigators. Bellevue is not allowed to play out-of-state opponents for four seasons. They say proposed project will negatively impact Minidoka internment camp site. 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. After two rigorous non-conference games, Bellevue kicked off KingCo 3A conference play this past Friday night against Liberty High School of Renton. A native of Southern California, now living in North Carolina, he has been working in broadcast, print and digital media for nearly 30 years. 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. PF 497 PA 185 STREAK 1L. NEWSLINE 425-453-4270. 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. Yusef Freeman did not return a call Friday seeking comment on his letter. Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. 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. Amazing game and ending for Bellevue Wolverines, 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? "He's still a vital part of the picture. Coach Kneip said, after the game, What an awesome night to celebrate a group of guys who have given so much to this program! Goncharoff has argued that the decision to fire him was based on improperly applied policies. "I would say the rules are loose. The blatant efforts by school and district officials to obstruct the investigation demonstrate their complicity in cheating, their utter disregard for the truth and their complete lack of integrity. 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. That was released a few months ago. I think its terrible when parents get involved and start trying to tilt the playing field for high school sports, he said. 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. These findings only corroborate what is probably the worst kept secret in the history of high school sports. Really? For a paltry $1,750 tuition per month, these student athletes supposedly got academic help. Some prominent college football players are named in the report as having been cycled through The Academic Institute. 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. I have known athletes who have told of offers made by colleges. 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. 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. Art Thiel is a co-founder and writer for the rising sports website Sportspress Northwest. 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. 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. 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. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory 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 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. The Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. KNKX Public Radio | In 2012, Freeman was among 17 boys pictured in the sophomore, junior and senior pages of an Academic Institute yearbook reviewed by the Times. KingCo will have stricter guidelines and oversight for incoming transfer student-athletes for two years. 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. 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. 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. Hogwash! 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. Courtesy of Stephanie Ault Justus. He is now on administrative leave while this is adjudicated.". They recently had a 67-game win streak snapped in the state championship game last December. "The Bellevue High School football cheating scandal is 'American Greed' at it worst.". It is high time to clean up this mess. I am old enough to remember corruption being the norm in the old Southwest Conference: fake jobs, hundred dollar handshakes and far, far worse. "The schools want it that way. All told, a 42-0 first half lead. 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. 5. There's just too much 'go along, get along' over the years. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory You depend on KNKX for trusted, in-depth local news, music by knowledgeable hosts and enlightening NPR programs. The win marks a return to the top for a former state juggernaut that won eight state championships from 2001 to 2011. The parents confirmed in their letter that they received financial support, but said they properly requested aid from the school. 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. It taught them how to succeed and prepared them for the future. None of our business, he said. 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. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory 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. The uproar began and a legal battle quickly ensued. How did parents move into a new apartment and never pay a dime of rent and never ask how that came to be? 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. Goncharoff got a slap on the wrist, just a two-game suspension for providing cash to a player when he should have been suspended for the season and the school banned from post season play. This isnt just about high school sports. Bellevue High School Football; Bellevue Football. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Come celebrate Anacortes 11th annual Bier on the Pier! 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. If youre retired or getting ready to retire and looking for new ways to stay active, becoming a SHIBA volunteer could be for you! The players reportedly got the steroids from a dealer named Big Mike who was a fitness trainer. 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 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 KingCo Conference is a 16-team conference [and] their athletic directors decided some fairly draconian punishments. Lets be reasonable., The wrong-headed parts of the Bellevue High Schoolfootball program continued for far too long. Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff was suspended two games for "improper out-of-season activities" and for providing money to a player. Mercer Island Football Booster Club President, 1988-89. This will essentially kill the football program. But the program's remarkable success has. Final score, 49-6, Eastlake. That loss was an eye-opener, as Bellevue dominated in every aspect of the game against our team. Rescind the championship titles, and ban the team from any post-season playoffs for five years. One family complained their son was told his scholarship at the Institute would be revoked if he stopped playing football at Bellevue. A video of Bellevue East High School's A KingCo committee came down hard on Bellevue football Tuesday, banning the program from postseason play and prohibiting outside donations for four years. 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. She has worked in news radio for more than 30 years. I think the system is prone to corruption. According to the findings, 17 players were funneled to a for-profit private school for extra classes and academic help. 1 talking about this. Recent newspaper headlines should bring the immediate firing of Butch Goncharoff, Bellevue High School football coach. He can also be found on twitter @tonybruin, Unrecognizable U.S. Mens National Team Defeats Costa Rica, NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers win Game 3 Convincingly over Golden State Warriors. Of those 17 boys, seven were Bellevue football players. KingCo left the question of whether Bellevue should forfeit state titles up to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). But KingCo officials saw Bellevues problems as requiring more severe sanctions. And a large percentage of those kids were athletes," Thiel said. You cheat, you steal, you lie. Bellevue football players worked hard thats how they won. 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. 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. Freeman said he may have misunderstood the conversation about rent and that it was possible Goncharoff had only worked to help the family find a place to rent in Bellevue. The startup funding should be part of the investigation. 4. Bellevue junior Cal Zimmerman (#8) scores a touchdown as Snohomish seniors Miles Lamb (#8) and Easton Leonard (#24) attempt to tackle. In their opening possession, Carson Rubin zigged and zagged, dicing the defense with a 29-yard touchdown run. 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. Bellevue will host Mead High School in the 3A Round of 16, this Saturday at Noon. Here is a selection of the. Volunteer to help people understand their Medicare options! In January of 1991, after the UIL completed their investigation and the legal battle ended, Dallas Carter was stripped of their title and Converse Judson was named the 1988 5A champions. The schools don't want to arm the WIAA with investigatory powers. Have no fear, Bellevue Faithful, the East Channel Bridge rivalry is very much alive. 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. 1 Bellevue past No. 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. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. Allow only the students living within the boundaries to participate. 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. Ask yourself these questions while you scan the details: Where in the name of all that is right were the parents? 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. Junior Carson Rubin was the first to take the spotlight two long runs and two TDs got BHS on the board in Q1. 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. 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. 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 Wolverines found paydirt early and often, ending the first quarter with a 280 lead, eventually taking a 35-0 lead to half. The WIAS must close this loophole immediately, conduct a comprehensive investigation into the 17 Bellevue High School football players who were offered a distinct advantage over other high schools in the state and should take the following action if there is one shred of evidence of chicanery: 1. After the Seattle Times story was published on Sunday, a distraught Darien Freeman called a Times reporter, saying hed just spoken with Goncharoff. Due to state-wide ref shortages, the Wolverines trip to the jungle at Mercer Island High School was moved from Friday night to Thursday. In the end, nine football players at the school admitted to using over the counter steroid-like substances and prescription steroids. Brick by brick!. 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. 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. An investigation into the allegations by the Dallas Morning News led to the school investigating the claims as well. An investigation released Tuesday revealed significant and long-standing violations by the Bellevue High School football program.
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