bellevue high school football scandal

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. KingCo reviewed sanctions that Bellevue had proposed for itself in the wake of a 68-page independent report that found wide-ranging rules violations within the program. 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). Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory June 29, 2022 Posted in&nbspkawasaki monster energy jersey. The following Monday, the Bellevue JV had their first home game of the season, hosting Juanita. 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. Per a statement, athletic director Jim Hicks said. In addition to prohibiting the Bellevue football program from receiving donations, the KingCo committee said: Bellevue is not allowed to play any nonleague football games and will be limited to Class 3A league games for two seasons. 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. 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. That would be easy. The Wolverines found paydirt early and often, ending the first quarter with a 280 lead, eventually taking a 35-0 lead to half. 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. Sanctions need to be put in place against the school as well as the BHS booster club to ensure the high-school programs for our conference and state are fair, as all sports should be. In 1959, Stamford defeated Brady 19-14 in the state championship. 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. With their sights set on a state championship run, the Cowboys began preparing for the playoffs. Bellevue junior Cal Zimmerman (#8) scores a touchdown as Snohomish seniors Miles Lamb (#8) and Easton Leonard (#24) attempt to tackle. Michael Kneip coaches his alma mater and is bent on restoring its football greatness. This isnt just about high school sports. 5 seeded Wolverines (8-2) walloped No. 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. 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. An investigation released Tuesday revealed significant and long-standing violations by the Bellevue High School football program. "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 schools want it that way. The coaching staff should be immediately dismissed. The newspaper further documented its original article: The parents of a former Bellevue High School football player have disputed their sons account of his time on the team, calling a Sunday Seattle Times articleon the subject false and misleading.. The second half once again belonged to the youngsters and up-and-comers, who finished strong to the tune of a 56-14 victory. For a paltry $1,750 tuition per month, these student athletes supposedly got academic help. 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.. 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. 5. The uproar began and a legal battle quickly ensued. 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. Probation: Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. 1 Bellevue past No. While the Institute touts its focus on education at a full-time cost of $1,750 per month two former teachers label Academic Institute a diploma mill that doesnt adhere to basic educational standards. 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. We only care where they live., They are not our students, he said. The conferences action sets a precedent that should raise a red flag to everyone, the statement said. 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 . In the second half, the Highlanders were haunted by a flurry of big plays on special teams and defense, by the Wolverines. 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. 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. 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. Bellevue High School has the most successful football program in state history winning 11 titles in the last 15 years. 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. 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. KingCo will vacate Bellevues conference titles if the WIAA determines that state championships should be forfeited. 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 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. The players spent 75 days in the districts alternative school after the incident. Here is a selection of the responses we received: Bellevue High Schools titles need to be removed. "It's not just Bellevue. I think that theres a lot of different layers to understanding exactly what is going on., Related: Teen football player tackles suspected shoplifter. 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. None of our business, he said. Bellevue will host Mead High School in the 3A Round of 16, this Saturday at Noon. Have no fear, Bellevue Faithful, the East Channel Bridge rivalry is very much alive. 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 families of two other players have described how supporters of the football program had a role in coordinating scholarships for the players. To do whats best for your kid, he said. Bellevue school officials have previously told Bellevue head coach Butch Goncharoff that the district will seek to terminate him for violations of district policies. And that lofty tuition bill? The Academic Institute has a monthly tuition of $1,750. 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. Therevelation is not a product of bias or envy. The No. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. "It was discovered that there were athletes competing under false addresses in the Bellevue district. The most successful and the private schools are usually those that get accused. 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. Texas HS Football State Champions: 1920-2022, 2022 3A Fan Vote All-Texas High School Football Team, TXHSFB Podcast Championship Edition: Benjamin Mustangs, 2022 2A Fan Vote All-Texas High School Football Team, Texas HS Football Fan Vote Player Of The Year. 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. Head coach Butch Goncharoff has been fired. The Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. 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. Bellevue Highs 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. 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. Bellevue Independent Schools announced it has canceled the rest of its high school's football season due to multiple injuries on the team. While parents arent specifically mentioned in these allegations, ONeil says they would most certainly be involved in these violations and are also culpable. Its a disgrace that this has gone on as long as it has. How did parents move into a new apartment and never pay a dime of rent and never ask how that came to be? 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? 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. Every sport has its dark side and high school football in Texas is no exception. As crime increases, our safety measures must too, GSBA is closing the disparity gap with Ready for Business Fund. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Butch Goncharoff is banned from coaching in Washington State 3. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook), (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook). At the crux of the scandal is a well to-do family that made their money in the trash/waste management industry. 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. Often it would be well past dark by the time he returned home. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. Boosters have been barred from affiliating with the program. Thiel said Goncharoff has been quite vocal about his innocence. football coach makes appeal after ban. And in years where cheating was determined to have occurred, titles should be forfeited. Their punishment is that they will never be remembered well. Go re-read this story, and you will have your answers. "The Bellevue High School football cheating scandal is 'American Greed' at it worst.". We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. 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. With the pregame pageantry and TV interviews done, the Wolverines got to work making the Big Game a big blowout. And the idea that you need to move from wherever you live Carnation, Concrete, etc. The win marks a return to the top for a former state juggernaut that won eight state championships from 2001 to 2011. This has been, I dont want to say an open secret, but Im not surprised by the investigation, ONeil told Seattles Morning News. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Usain Bolt defeats Justin Gatlin, defends 100-meter title. All Rights Reserved. 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. Im already excited for next week. JV plays at Lake Washington on Monday 9/26. Final score: 20-14, bringing the JV to 1-1. 5. 9 Rainier Beach into WIAA 3A state semifinals, William Wangs career night lifts No. Brick by brick!. Junior Carson Rubin was the first to take the spotlight two long runs and two TDs got BHS on the board in Q1. Really? "The report then went to a panel of KingCo Conference athletic directors. This booster club raised more than $427,000 in 2013 according to the Seattle Times investigation. 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. The Bellevue High (Seattle) football team is reportedly aided through a diploma mill private school, according to an investigation by The Seattle Times. 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. Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy, A Grip on Sports: The action, good and bad, hits a little closer to home today, ESPN analysts expect 'rocking' Kennel for GameDay show, 'heavyweight fight' in Gonzaga-Saint Mary's nightcap , 'Growing up I can say I fell victim to being a Gonzaga fan.' At least two families of football players received tuition assistance coordinated by the teams wealthy supporters, according to interviews and documents. 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.. 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. A KingCo committee came down hard on Bellevue football Tuesday, banning the program from postseason play and prohibiting outside donations for four years. 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. A talented Wolves team got out to a very fast start and never looked back, and the Wolverines found themselves on the wrong end of a running clock in the second half. Freeman met with a reporter on two separate occasions at a SeaTac restaurant. This isnt a player finding $100 cash in his locker. Fire them all immediately.. Bellevues head coach and athletic director be fired immediately, 2. Food, Drink, and Coastal Christmas Anacortes has it all. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid . At least 17 Bellevue football players attended the program over the past seven years, the Seattle Times has learned. In all, six players were connected with 21 robberies that occurred in Carter neighborhoods. 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. The final score is simply listed as Brady 1 Stamford 0 in the states record books. KingCo will have stricter guidelines and oversight for incoming transfer student-athletes for two years. 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. Yusef Freeman did not return a call Friday seeking comment on his letter. If youre a Pac-12 talent, you are going to jump off the page at recruiters, he said. She has worked in news radio for more than 30 years. 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. Among those, Freeman said Goncharoff directed him to attend the Academic Institute instead of studying at Bellevue. School district leaders initially sought to have the booster club answer questions about its relationship with Academic Institute. 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. Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Bellevue footballs promotion of a culture of cheating is a broadly understood fact. The parents confirmed in their letter that they received financial support, but said they properly requested aid from the school. During that conversation on Sunday, Freeman reaffirmed the other aspects of his account. If our society didnt place such a level of importance on winning at all costs, this type of thing wouldnt happen. There are no legitimate answers to those questions. Rantz says he doesnt blame the parents whatsoever. Who do these kids think they are? What makes them think they are so deserving? You know what? Tony has been with Last Word on Sports for six years covering college football around the country. Bellevue H.S. 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. He's not going quietly. Ban Goncharoff from coaching football in Washington for life. HOME 5-1 AWAY 4-1 NEUTRAL 0-1. Washington state wants to be a leader in climate change, but I sense that the voters are not as concerned about that these days. 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. Back to work tomorrow!. 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. Students at a private school without a football team can play for a public-school team in their home district. The Seattle [] 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. 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. I found this story on USA TODAY High School Sports and wanted to share it with you: Sports news, analysis, opinions, and rumors. They recently had a 67-game win streak snapped in the state championship game last December. Brazen Family-Central Bar + Restaurant,520 Bar and Grill, The Brazens - Windermere. It's finally come to a head. And we wonder where entitled athletes come from? They happen to go to a private school that doesnt offer a (football) program.. 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. This is another example of the incredibly flawed process that has been guiding this investigation for months. 1. 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. 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. 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. It is high time to clean up this mess. 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. 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. They don't have subpoena power because this is a trade association. Darien Freeman has not returned multiple messages left for him last week. The KingCo Conference is a 16-team conference [and] their athletic directors decided some fairly draconian punishments. Yes, the Catholic schools do recruit, but they are not funded through public money. 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. 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. Butch Goncharoff is banned from coaching in Washington State, 3. I think its terrible when parents get involved and start trying to tilt the playing field for high school sports, he said. I think the system is prone to corruption. Jessie Armstead, played for Miami and was the 207th pick in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL draft. Of the 24-23 loss, Coach Kneip said, Theyre a really, really well-coached, high quality program. They said Goncharoff never gave the family money to pay for rent. How did parents never ask how their kid had so much walking around money? 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. Mostly because they were too busy taking advantage of the whole in the system for their own benefit. And I think the only thing that can be a positive is major reformation. To deny them the ability to compete with their peers is wrong and goes against every principle of youth sports.. Breed initially denied any involvement, but in December of 2015 pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury, was placed on probation and gave up teaching. The 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. 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 . Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. He played for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins and was a five time Pro Bowl selection. In the end, nine football players at the school admitted to using over the counter steroid-like substances and prescription steroids. Final score: Wolverines 53, Panthers 12. In both games, seniors Ishaan Daniels and George Kruger were standouts. 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. Members of the booster club have criticized the investigation, which was conducted bytwo former federal prosecutors hired by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). That was released a few months ago. The only actual answer is likely that they didnt know and they didnt care to know. "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. 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. 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). "They said four years of probation for the entire athletic department, a four-year ban for football on postseason play, and also non-conference play, as well as inviting any out-of-state opponents to play Bellevue High School. The Bellevue High football team is reportedly aided by a diploma mill private school. Courtesy of Stephanie Ault Justus. Tacoma WA 98418. He is a member of the Football Writers Association of America, and is a voting panelist for the Outland Trophy, the Nagurski Award, and the Biletnikoff Award. 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. 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. 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.

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bellevue high school football scandal