This has been, I dont want to say an open secret, but Im not surprised by the investigation, ONeil told Seattles Morning News. Supporters of the Bellevue football program have shared the letter on social media. Records reviewed by the Seattle Times, however, show that Freemans father has had a home address in Auburn. 5. It's easy to be accused of fearmongering regarding crime, but Seattle residents might have good reason to be concerned for their safety. Sophomore Ollie Sharp, and freshmen Max Jones also found the end zone, en route to a 46-7 Bellevue win, capping their first JV tour in years. To tear down this whole organization is a crime. Later, a traffic citation was issued to a Yusef Freeman with an address in SeaTac. You cheat, you steal, you lie. 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. Come celebrate Anacortes 11th annual Bier on the Pier! 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. Sports news, analysis, opinions, and rumors. The Bellevue High (Seattle) football team is reportedly aided through a diploma mill private school, according to an investigation by The Seattle Times. Bellevue High School football is banned from postseason play for two years. "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. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. 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. An interception by Caymus Rooney sealed the first half, 34-7 in favor of Bellevue. 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. 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. A KingCo committee came down hard on Bellevue football Tuesday, banning the program from postseason play and prohibiting outside donations for four years. Jones has filed an unfair-labor-practices complaint with the Public Employment Relations Commission. The players spent 75 days in the districts alternative school after the incident. The Bellevue High School administrators who allowed this to happen should also face the loss of jobs or demotions. Jessie Armstead, played for Miami and was the 207th pick in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL draft. Now, we cannot be completely naive. football coach makes appeal after ban. 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). But the program's remarkable success has. ", "Pretty serious stuff," Thiel 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 . 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. Courtesy of Stephanie Ault Justus. "This issue with Bellevue has been around for many years. With the pregame pageantry and TV interviews done, the Wolverines got to work making the Big Game a big blowout. Senior William Wang piled up 182 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 32 carries, and the Bellevue defense was tough as the top-seeded Wolverines laid a 27-3 licking on No. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook) 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. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe Bellevue's head coach and athletic director be fired immediately 2. Sat Nov 26 L . Latest Updates. In their opening possession, Carson Rubin zigged and zagged, dicing the defense with a 29-yard touchdown run. Now we have to keep the focus going next week for playoffs.. 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. On November 10, the UIL shocked Dallas Carter and the entire state when they announced the Cowboys were ineligible for the playoffs. 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. 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. Bellevue will host Mead High School in the 3A Round of 16, this Saturday at Noon. 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. Bellevue junior Cal Zimmerman (#8) scores a touchdown as Snohomish seniors Miles Lamb (#8) and Easton Leonard (#24) attempt to tackle. Coach Kneip said after the game, great to see our men get out and have fun tonight, energy on the sidelines was awesome. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The second half would be spent in running clock, ending in a final of 54-13. And we wonder where entitled athletes come from? The Wolverines found paydirt early and often, ending the first quarter with a 280 lead, eventually taking a 35-0 lead to half. With the pregame celebrations and hugs finished, the Wolverines wasted no time getting down to business. 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. 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. 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. Fire them all immediately.. "It's not just Bellevue. The Wolverines will look to keep extend their conference win streak next week, at home, against the Knights of Newport. This booster club raised more than $427,000 in 2013 according to the Seattle Times investigation. 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. "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. But Notre Dame-bound RB Jayden Limar led a second half comeback, eventually closing the game out 37-28. She handles most sports coverage at the station, including helping produce a two-part series on the 50th anniversary of Title IX and the ongoing series "Going Deep.". Set the playing field equal, limit the activity of booster clubs to support supplies and travel costs. Bellevue Independent Schools announced it has canceled the rest of its high school's football season due to multiple injuries on the team. The Wolverines will look to build on their learning from week 1 and 2 as they start KingCo 3A conference play against Liberty High School this Friday. 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. Goncharoff has argued that the decision to fire him was based on improperly applied policies. 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. Department of Commerce officials say communities will need diverse housing options in the future as well. 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. A high school state football championship in Texas is arguably about more than just temporary bragging rights. It is high time to clean up this mess. Final score, 59-0, BHS. This will essentially kill the football program. Coach Kneip said after the victory, Amazing atmosphere tonight!! I found John Harrisons (former Mercer Island High School principal and now Executive Director of Bellevue Public Schools) comments to be cavalier; aiding and abetting a serious flaw in the system and, just plain very disappointing given his stellar career as a Mercer Island principal. November 4, 2022. Discretely paid for by the booster club. 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. 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. Wangs 64-yard burst up the middle with four minutes left gave the top-seeded Wolverines (14-0) the winning margin. 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. 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. Rantz says he doesnt blame the parents whatsoever. PF 497 PA 185 STREAK 1L. Final score 42-0. Students at AI a school derided as a diploma mill by two former teachers are still allowed to play on the Bellevue football team. 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. That was released a few months ago. Now lets see a similar investigation into sports programs at every private high school in the state to determine just how many of their players parents are paying full tuition. "It was discovered that there were athletes competing under false addresses in the Bellevue district. Therevelation is not a product of bias or envy. 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. This isnt a player finding $100 cash in his locker. Medicare open enrollment is here and SHIBA can help! Final score: 48-14, Bellevue. I am also the father of a high school varsity athlete. to Bellevue so college recruiters will notice you; its absurd., An independent investigation found a series of potential violations on the Bellevue High School football program. 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. Good kids and families participated in Bellevuefootball, but there were also some people who stepped over the line. 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. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. State District . They recently had a 67-game win streak snapped in the state championship game last December. Jones began coaching at . 9 Rainier Beach into WIAA 3A state semifinals, William Wangs career night lifts No. 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. Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. At the crux of the scandal is a well to-do family that made their money in the trash/waste management industry. School district leaders initially sought to have the booster club answer questions about its relationship with Academic Institute. Theyre going to find you. "This is the most successful athletic program in state history and it's being torn down. Among those, Freeman said Goncharoff directed him to attend the Academic Institute instead of studying at Bellevue. Bellevue High School offered a Physical Education program (football) not offered by this sham institution. Brick by brick!. Tacoma WA 98418. 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. An independent investigation found a series of potential violations on the Bellevue High School football program. 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. 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. Its no surprise that we tend to have a lot of conversations about entitled young athletes. Last year, after a Seattle Times story detailed how numerous Bellevue players had taken classes at The Academic Institute, a private alternative school that former teachers described as a diploma mill, the school district called for an independent investigation. Once you address these issues, thenlets talk about a level playing field.. Allow only the students living within the boundaries to participate. If youre retired or getting ready to retire and looking for new ways to stay active, becoming a SHIBA volunteer could be for you! But KingCo officials saw Bellevues problems as requiring more severe sanctions. 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. 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. 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. That would be easy. 4. Bellevue is not allowed to play out-of-state opponents for four seasons. And the district has cut ties with longtime assistant coach Pat Jones. Following the string of robberies, six players were sentenced to prison with terms ranging from two to 25 years. 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 . Bellevue school officials have previously told Bellevue head coach Butch Goncharoff that the district will seek to terminate him for violations of district policies. Come one, come all! Among the violations, the 68-page report found thatplayers families provided false address to gain eligibility and that head coach ButchGoncharoff encouraged players to attend classes at a private alternative school where some of the players tuition was subsidized by the programs booster club. 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. We only care where they live., They are not our students, he said. Im typical Bellevue fashion, the JV Wolverines matched Bothells two big plays with long, methodical drives and stifling defense. The KingCo Conference has levied sanctions against the school that include four years of probation for the entire athletic department,no road games or out-of-conference games for two years, no money funneled into the program from any source for four years, no postseason play for four years and no out-of-state opponents (a big source of revenue) for four years. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook), (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook). On Thursday, the Bellevue High School self-imposed sanctions on its football program and head coach for violations of WIAA rules. Along the way, competitors have complained that Bellevue was bending the rules. Unphased by the change, the boys loaded up the busses on Saturday evening, and headed north to Juanita High School in Kirkland. OVERALL 9-3 0.75 Win % DISTRICT 6-0 1st3A KingCo. Court records from an eviction case also show a Yusef Freeman was renting an apartment in Sammamish in 2009. Back to work tomorrow!. That's as many as Milwaukee, two more than Indianapolis and Tampa, and six more than Oklahoma City and San Antonio.. Then, on Monday, the JV took the field north of the lake, against the Bothell Cougars. 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. Im so happy and proud of all of them. Published: Oct. 14, 2022 at 6:55 PM PDT. The booster club should be disbanded. 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. There are many changes that should be made but they will never happen because our society places much more value on their teams winning than they do on oureducation system., This incident underscores what happens when booster clubs are permitted for specific sports and when those clubs put their own egos and insecurities above the appropriate life lessons to be gained and promoted from participation in school activities. I think the system is prone to corruption. 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). Edwards was sentenced to 16 years and never played another down of football. When I saw the David Horsey cartoon, light rail ambassadors inviting a fentanyl-smoking passenger to leave, I lost it, says a listener. 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. We asked our fans to vote for the 3A Players of the Year for Texas HS Football Podcast: Championship Series. Yes, the Catholic schools do recruit, but they are not funded through public money. This is another example of the incredibly flawed process that has been guiding this investigation for months. Adults knew this was going on for years. I think its terrible when parents get involved and start trying to tilt the playing field for high school sports, he said. In the second half, Bellevue let their young guns get a taste of the MI rivalry under the big lights, and played out the remainder of the game under a running clock. WA State 3A Champs '83, '01, '02, '03, '04, '06, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12,. 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. However, the victory only lasted five months when the school became the first in the state to have their title taken from them. It's a guaranteed story that will be told for generations, with a record that will be likely painted up on a water tower or on a city's welcome sign. The Bellevue booster club in a statement early Tuesday expressed disappointment with the sanctions. Freeman met with a reporter on two separate occasions at a SeaTac restaurant. Which spelled out who could live in certain neighborhoods. Embattled Bellevue High School football coaches took another hit Friday as an executive board made up of high school principals increased penalties for the head . Final score, 49-6, Eastlake. 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. 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. If our society didnt place such a level of importance on winning at all costs, this type of thing wouldnt happen. 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.. In 1959, Stamford defeated Brady 19-14 in the state championship. But what happens when bending the rules or covering for players becomes a real life story; the infractions are so extensive and the storylines so indelicate that no TV producer would even believe it. Volunteer to help people understand their Medicare options! 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. 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. Thiel said Goncharoff has been quite vocal about his innocence.