Im so happy and proud of all of them. And I think the only thing that can be a positive is major reformation. 1 Bellevue back into 3A state semifinals: 4 observations KIRO Radios Jason Rantz thinks they are just doing their job. 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. BHS cheated its own eligible students of playing. If youre retired or getting ready to retire and looking for new ways to stay active, becoming a SHIBA volunteer could be for you! Blame needs to fall primarily on Bellevue High School. 5 seeded Wolverines (8-2) walloped No. 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. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. 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. Hogwash! 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. If you would like to share your thoughts or experiences in relation to this story, please email the reporter or. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. I am old enough to remember corruption being the norm in the old Southwest Conference: fake jobs, hundred dollar handshakes and far, far worse. Head coach Butch Goncharoff has been fired. Lake Washington Windows and Doors is a local window dealer offering the exclusive Leak Armor installation. And oh, by the way, how is it fair that a public school has limits on the geographic locations of its players homes,but private schools players can live anywhere? The team should have to forfeit the championships it won. Mind you, this is not the kind of booster club that has bake sales to pay for road trips. 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. Students at a private school without a football team can play for a public-school team in their home district. Until 1968, Washington state allowed restrictive housing covenants. 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. November 4, 2022. KingCo will have stricter guidelines and oversight for incoming transfer student-athletes for two years. 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. Here is a selection of the. 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. KNKX Public Radio | Coach Kneip said after the game, great to see our men get out and have fun tonight, energy on the sidelines was awesome. lots and lots of money going around. 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. 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. 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. 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. With their sights set on a state championship run, the Cowboys began preparing for the playoffs. 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. Final score 42-0. Did The Truth Even Matter: The Real Bellevue Football Story (Did The June 29, 2022 Posted in&nbspkawasaki monster energy jersey. Goncharoff has argued that the decision to fire him was based on improperly applied policies. 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. But, after a brief email exchange, they let it drop. 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. To tear down this whole organization is a crime. Thiel said Goncharoff has been quite vocal about his innocence. Come one, come all! Brady rolled through the playoffs that year up until the state game beating Belton (66-8), Taylor (30-8), Jasper (24-0) and Palacios (22-0). Ask yourself these questions while you scan the details: Where in the name of all that is right were the parents? This is a public high school and a strong message needs to be sent that this type of practice cannot be tolerated. The parents disputed Freemans account in which he said his father had asked him to thank Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff for helping pay rent. The Bellevue High (Seattle) football team is reportedly aided through a diploma mill private school, according to an investigation by The Seattle Times. That would be a likely violation of rules that generally require student-athletes to live within a schools attendance boundary. On November 10, the UIL shocked Dallas Carter and the entire state when they announced the Cowboys were ineligible for the playoffs. Among those, Freeman said Goncharoff directed him to attend the Academic Institute instead of studying at Bellevue. 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. 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 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. But the program's remarkable success has. One family complained their son was told his scholarship at the Institute would be revoked if he stopped playing football at Bellevue. They said Goncharoff never gave the family money to pay for rent. Five days after bringing home the state title, a string of events began that would blemish the reputation of the Dallas Carter program. My son plays football as a freshman at Liberty High School, and of course the teams one loss this past year was 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. David R. Evans Butch Goncharoff is banned from coaching in Washington State, 3. Debate: Are the parents to blame in the Bellevue football scandal 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. Now we have to keep the focus going next week for playoffs.. Staff reporter Mike Baker contributed to this report. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps is the traditional American response to anyone who complains about his lot in life. "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. Set the playing field equal, limit the activity of booster clubs to support supplies and travel costs. Flashback: Carter High Stripped of 1988 State Title After Win "He's still a vital part of the picture. 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. That would be easy. Luke Scoma wins it for Bellevue with his 43-yard field goal in Wolverines' 22-20 win over Lincoln of Tacoma in Class 3A quarterfinals. Tacoma WA 98418. "It was discovered that there were athletes competing under false addresses in the Bellevue district. 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. And the idea that you need to move from wherever you live Carnation, Concrete, etc. The Times uncovered 17 instances. Now we need to do it again! Bellevue Wolverines | Bellevue WA - Facebook Later, a traffic citation was issued to a Yusef Freeman with an address in SeaTac. 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. Some prominent college football players are named in the report as having been cycled through The Academic Institute. You can find Art Thiel's work at Sportspress Northwest and Crosscut.com. This type of illegal and unethical activity runs through sports programs at all levels. The Bellevue High football team is reportedly aided by a diploma mill private school. 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. It should not be about winning at all costs to include cheating by parents. ", "Pretty serious stuff," Thiel said. The deluge culminated in a 34-0 halftime lead for BHS. In their opening possession, Carson Rubin zigged and zagged, dicing the defense with a 29-yard touchdown run. 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. His older brother became vice president of the teams booster club. 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! Bellevue football banned from postseason for 4 years 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. It's false. On the first play from scrimmage, freshman Max Jones took a handoff 65 yards to the house, and the JV squad never looked back. "This is the most successful athletic program in state history and it's being torn down. Bellevue High School (WA) Varsity Football - MaxPreps.com At least two families of football players received tuition assistance coordinated by the teams wealthy supporters, according to interviews and documents. Final score: 20-14, bringing the JV to 1-1. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory 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. 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. Other families allegedly acquired apartments within the schools boundaries, with the rent being paid by boosters. ONeil, however, says its misguided to think playing for Bellevue will be a ticket to free higher education, even if its a slightly more noble idea than parents creating super teams to win high school championships. 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. 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. 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. Unphased by the change, the boys loaded up the busses on Saturday evening, and headed north to Juanita High School in Kirkland. Final score, 59-0, BHS. Rescind the championship titles, and ban the team from any post-season playoffs for five years. Thiel said the complaints have been leveled at the Bellevue High School football program for years, but the scandal erupted after an investigation by the Seattle Times last year. Bellevue High is an extremely successful football program. With the pregame celebrations and hugs finished, the Wolverines wasted no time getting down to business. Thiel: Bellevue Football Scandal Highlights Need For Statewide Reform 2023 Bonneville International. 4. 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. There are a lot of reasons why he thinks the rules were wrongly interpreted by the investigators. Of the 24-23 loss, Coach Kneip said, Theyre a really, really well-coached, high quality program. A native of Southern California, now living in North Carolina, he has been working in broadcast, print and digital media for nearly 30 years. This is another example of the incredibly flawed process that has been guiding this investigation for months. How did parents never ask how their kid had so much walking around money? A committee of athletic directors from KingCo cited in its report a preponderance of evidence that violations had occurred. All rights reserved. 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. Bellevue High School cancels rest of football season due to 'limited Bellevue High stained by football scandal | The Spokesman-Review How did parents move into a new apartment and never pay a dime of rent and never ask how that came to be? And that lofty tuition bill? Go re-read this story, and you will have your answers. I think its terrible when parents get involved and start trying to tilt the playing field for high school sports, he said. Yes, the Catholic schools do recruit, but they are not funded through public money. 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. Jessie Armstead, played for Miami and was the 207th pick in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL draft. The win at all costs mentality, and the sad state of parents living vicariously through their childs athletic accomplishments, has put a pockmark on youth sports. Some of Bellevue football's top players came from South Sound schools This booster club raised more than $427,000 in 2013 according to the Seattle Times investigation. Police plan football game to send off Bellevue seniors after season After the Seattle Times story was published on Sunday, a distraught Darien Freeman called a Times reporter, saying hed just spoken with Goncharoff. The conferences action sets a precedent that should raise a red flag to everyone, the statement said. Who do these kids think they are? What makes them think they are so deserving? You know what? Rantz is much less critical of the Bellevue parents saying that, assuming the allegations are true, putting a student in the position to gain a college scholarship is a noble pursuit. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. Its a disgrace that this has gone on as long as it has. 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. On Thursday, the Bellevue High School self-imposed sanctions on its football program and head coach for violations of WIAA rules. Weve seen a couple of surveys about Seattles happiness rating, one shows us near the top for happiness, and one has us closer to the bottom. 5. There are no legitimate answers to those questions. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. Members of the booster club have criticized the investigation, which was conducted bytwo former federal prosecutors hired by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). 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. Bellevue will be on bye this week, ahead of a Week 9 home game against Hazen to finish off the regular season. Kirsten Kendrick has been hosting Morning Edition on KNKX/KPLU since 2006. Fire and fine all involved. The investigators report and your editorial finally nailed it.. The second half once again belonged to the youngsters and up-and-comers, who finished strong to the tune of a 56-14 victory. As crime increases, our safety measures must too, GSBA is closing the disparity gap with Ready for Business Fund. 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. We love the playoffs, Coach Kneip said postgame, this is the best time of the year, and were ready to get after it!. "The Bellevue High School football cheating scandal is 'American Greed' at it worst.". Great highlight video Players speak out about Bellevue High coaching shake-up Comments (-1) BPS Summer STEM Camps. 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. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory 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. Touchdowns by Daniels, Hansen, Rubin, Moon, Smith, and Matsudaira. 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. In 2012, Freeman was among 17 boys pictured in the sophomore, junior and senior pages of an Academic Institute yearbook reviewed by the Times. There are plenty of opinions during the aftermath of an investigation that found the Bellevue High School football team engaged in potentially illegal recruiting tactics, but one common thread is a lack of shock. During that conversation on Sunday, Freeman reaffirmed the other aspects of his account. "This issue with Bellevue has been around for many years. It's easy to be accused of fearmongering regarding crime, but Seattle residents might have good reason to be concerned for their safety. Goncharoff built Bellevue into a football dynasty. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook), (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook). 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. You depend on KNKX for trusted, in-depth local news, music by knowledgeable hosts and enlightening NPR programs. 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. Kirsten is also a sports lover. This will essentially kill the football program. 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. The following Monday, the Bellevue JV had their first home game of the season, hosting Juanita. 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. Updated: 7:13 PM PDT July 8, 2016. Coach Kneip said, after the game, What an awesome night to celebrate a group of guys who have given so much to this program! Have no fear, Bellevue Faithful, the East Channel Bridge rivalry is very much alive. Led by senior running back William Wang as the wrecking ball of destruction in Bellevues vaunted Wing-T rushing attack, the Wolverines dogged Rainier Beach all night on the ground in a 56-22 triumph on Friday night in Class 3A state quarterfinals at Bellevue High School, Highlights of Bellevue's 56-22 win over Rainier Beach in the quarterfinals of the 3A State Playoffs.
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