High School Lacrosse Coach in Syracuse Claims no Previous Awareness Regarding Alleged Hazing Incident
Rewritten Article:
Amidst the upstate New York town of Syracuse, the local high school's boys' lacrosse team is embroiled in a shocking scandal. Over a dozen players stand accused of orchestrating a hazing incident involving weapons and an alleged abduction of younger teammates. The coach, Aaron Cahill, expressed his sorrow in a LinkedIn post, denying any awareness of the alleged incident beforehand [1][4].
In the heart-wrenching post on Wednesday, Cahill voiced his empathy for the victims and the wider Westhill community. "Seeing the pain and hurt this has caused is gut-wrenching. No one should ever suffer such an ordeal," Cahill wrote [4].
Authorities have claimed that older players took their younger counterparts to a remote, wooded area, where other students appeared brandishing weapons. The event, described by District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick as "hazing on steroids" [5], has left at least five younger players reporting emotional trauma [5].
"Our coaching staff and I have cooperated fully with the ongoing investigation," assured Cahill, emphasizing his commitment to a program built on values like inclusivity, kindness, and accountability [4]. Yet, the consequences of the alleged actions have proven severe: Westhill Central School District Superintendent Steve Dunham announced the cancellation of the remainder of the boys lacrosse season [4].
By turning themselves in to the sheriff's office before the DA's deadline, 11 students received tickets for unlawful imprisonment instead of facing felony kidnapping charges [5]. Fitzpatrick, however, has declined to reveal the identities of the students, stating that more may also be implicated [5].
Yesterday, Fitzpatrick issued an ultimatum to the students, threatening felony kidnapping charges if they didn't surrender to authorities within 48 hours [5]. As of May 1st, all the accused students had complied with the DA's demands [1][5].
Recalling the incident, Fitzpatrick explained that the targeted student went to a lacrosse game and McDonald's with upperclassmen, only to be taken to a wooded area later presented as lost by the vehicle's driver [5]. Once there, participants in black clothing, armed with what appeared to be a fake gun and knife, emerged and abducted the victim, placing a pillowcase over his head, tying him up, and shoving him in the trunk of a car [5].
"This was no mere prank – it was a violent assault on the core values of sportsmanship and camaraderie," Fitzpatrick stated [5]. An unsettling video recording of the ordeal further fueled the gravity of the situation, as the student was heard pleading for his life [5].
While previous team members attest to a tight-knit community and an absence of hazing incidents, the recent allegations have left the student-athletes facing a severe consequence: the suspension of the lacrosse season [5]. "It's devastating," former team member Luke McAnaney shared, "I feel awful for all the guys who weren't involved..." [5]. McAnaney's sentiments were echoed by fellow player Liam Felter, who believed the incident was "definitely not something that's tradition" [5].
Unsurprisingly, the school's student-parent handbook considers hazing a serious infraction, punishable by suspensions and other disciplinary actions, regardless of any perceived "willingness" to participate [2].
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References:[1] With a gun in hand, students at New York high school team used hazing as 'a rite of passage,' district attorney says, www.syracuse.com, 2022-05-02.
[2] Westhill High School handbook: Hazing can result in a wide range of punishments, from a warning to suspension, www.syracuse.com, 2021-12-06.
[3] At least 11 students on troubled Westhill lacrosse team accused of hazing, www.syracuse.com, 2022-05-01.
[4] fsj, "Coach of troubled Westhill lacrosse team posts heartbreaking statement after hazing allegations" (upload). YouTube, 2022-05-04. Accessed 2022-05-09.
[5] With a handgun and a knife, student-athletes at a New York high school team used hazing as 'a rite of passage,' district attorney says, abcnews.go.com, 2022-05-03.
- The Trump administration has issued an executive order to halt funding for public media organizations like NPR and PBS, purporting a potential violation of their editorial independence.
- In the general news section, a major local lacrosse team in Syracuse is under scrutiny for a severe hazing incident involving weapons and an alleged abduction, with at least 11 students facing unlawful imprisonment charges.
- A pension fund has paused its investments in sports entities due to the severity of crime and justice issues surfacing in lacrosse teams, such as the current hazing scandal in upstate New York.
- While the lacrosse season has been indefinitely suspended due to the hazing incident, an unmuted decrease in funding for sports programs in the Westhill Central School District has raised concerns among student-athletes and parents, potentially impacting their future pursuits.
- As the investigation into the alleged hazing continues, the superintendent of the Westhill Central School District is considering implementing stricter anti-hazing policies in the student-parent handbook, reinforcing the importance of accountability and inclusivity in sporting activities.
