Haverhill High School is shutting down all football activities, canceling all future practices and forfeiting the Thanksgiving Day game, due to serious misconduct involving some members of the school’s team. The mayor of the Massachusetts city later specified that the misconduct was a hazing incident.In a message obtained by NewsCenter 5, Haverhill Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Marotta, Haverhill High Interim Principal Kevin Soraghan and Haverhill High Athletics Director Thomas O’Brien informed the school community that “significant material” was uncovered Wednesday in the investigation into misconduct involving some members of the high school football team.”Given the seriousness of the misconduct, the district has decided to end the current football season — canceling all future practices and forfeiting future games,” the message reads.In a statement shared Wednesday evening, Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said he received a call from Marotta earlier in the day and briefed him on a hazing incident at the high school.”I am alarmed, concerned and frankly disgusted by what I have been told and by the video that I was shown,” reads the statement from Fiorentini, who also stated he is on vacation this week. “I fully support the superintendent’s actions in cancelling the Thanksgiving game, suspending those involved and conducting a full investigation.”The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team,” the mayor said in his statement. “Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe. I look forward to being further briefed on this tomorrow by phone and when I return this weekend. This can never be allowed to occur again.”Paul Magliocchetti, an attorney and member of the Haverhill School Committee, told NewsCenter 5’s Peter Eliopoulos there is video that shows the hazing and that he is disheartened by the situation.”I condemn this behavior and there are laws against this kind of behavior, and they crossed some serious lines,” Magliocchetti said. “We’re going to abide by the law, abide by our policy and we’ll make sure this is handled appropriately and that the people involved are disciplined accordingly.”The school officials also said members of the football coaching staff have been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation out of an abundance of caution.The matter has also been referred to the Haverhill Police Department for further investigation, according to the school officials’ message.”Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment or retaliation in any form,” the message reads. “Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved.”Marotta, Soraghan and O’Brien said the school district is prohibited from disclosing any further information under federal and state student privacy laws, including any discipline or specific safety measures that have already been or will be imposed as a result of the investigation.The only game left on the 2022 Haverhill High football schedule was the Thanksgiving rivalry game against Lowell High School.In April, seven Woburn High School students were charged after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates in September 2021.
Haverhill High School is shutting down all football activities, canceling all future practices and forfeiting the Thanksgiving Day game, due to serious misconduct involving some members of the school’s team. The mayor of the Massachusetts city later specified that the misconduct was a hazing incident.
In a message obtained by NewsCenter 5, Haverhill Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Marotta, Haverhill High Interim Principal Kevin Soraghan and Haverhill High Athletics Director Thomas O’Brien informed the school community that “significant material” was uncovered Wednesday in the investigation into misconduct involving some members of the high school football team.
“Given the seriousness of the misconduct, the district has decided to end the current football season — canceling all future practices and forfeiting future games,” the message reads.
In a statement shared Wednesday evening, Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini said he received a call from Marotta earlier in the day and briefed him on a hazing incident at the high school.
“I am alarmed, concerned and frankly disgusted by what I have been told and by the video that I was shown,” reads the statement from Fiorentini, who also stated he is on vacation this week. “I fully support the superintendent’s actions in cancelling the Thanksgiving game, suspending those involved and conducting a full investigation.
“The boys involved in this disgusting incident should be immediately permanently removed from the team,” the mayor said in his statement. “Parents deserve to know when they send their kids to play high school sports that their children will be safe. I look forward to being further briefed on this tomorrow by phone and when I return this weekend. This can never be allowed to occur again.”
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Paul Magliocchetti, an attorney and member of the Haverhill School Committee, told NewsCenter 5’s Peter Eliopoulos there is video that shows the hazing and that he is disheartened by the situation.
“I condemn this behavior and there are laws against this kind of behavior, and they crossed some serious lines,” Magliocchetti said. “We’re going to abide by the law, abide by our policy and we’ll make sure this is handled appropriately and that the people involved are disciplined accordingly.”
The school officials also said members of the football coaching staff have been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation out of an abundance of caution.
The matter has also been referred to the Haverhill Police Department for further investigation, according to the school officials’ message.
“Haverhill Public Schools will not tolerate hazing, harassment or retaliation in any form,” the message reads. “Any such misconduct will be responded to swiftly and it will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions for all of those involved.”
Marotta, Soraghan and O’Brien said the school district is prohibited from disclosing any further information under federal and state student privacy laws, including any discipline or specific safety measures that have already been or will be imposed as a result of the investigation.
The only game left on the 2022 Haverhill High football schedule was the Thanksgiving rivalry game against Lowell High School.
In April, seven Woburn High School students were charged after a 14-year-old football player reported being attacked and sexually assaulted by his teammates in September 2021.