bellevue high school football scandal

Goncharoff built Bellevue into a football dynasty. The Bellevue High School administrators who allowed this to happen should also face the loss of jobs or demotions. That would be a likely violation of rules that generally require student-athletes to live within a schools attendance boundary. Some prominent college football players are named in the report as having been cycled through The Academic Institute. And that lofty tuition bill? It should not be about winning at all costs to include cheating by parents. The train wreck at Bellevue may be symbolic of much that is wrong with high school and college athletics and the creation of the entitled teenager and the grotesque flow of money into amateur sports. Butch Goncharoff is banned from coaching in Washington State 3. 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 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. 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. ", "Pretty serious stuff," Thiel said. They said Goncharoff never gave the family money to pay for rent. The Bellevue High School football team is one victory away from the ultimate return to glory. 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. While parents arent specifically mentioned in these allegations, ONeil says they would most certainly be involved in these violations and are also culpable. Of the 24-23 loss, Coach Kneip said, Theyre a really, really well-coached, high quality program. 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 fake news reporting in the media hammered down on the program until the program was literally ripped apart at the seams. 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. Members of the booster club have criticized the investigation, which was conducted bytwo former federal prosecutors hired by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). The coach should be a faculty member and actually teach classes., These coaches and families have only helped these kids progress in a more beneficial way through life. %link% Get the days top sports headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox by subscribing here. Coach Kneip said after the victory, Amazing atmosphere tonight!! Back to work tomorrow!. Amazing game and ending for Bellevue Wolverines, The startup funding should be part of the investigation. 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. KingCo will have stricter guidelines and oversight for incoming transfer student-athletes for two years. Bellevue is not allowed to play out-of-state opponents for four seasons. 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. 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. The team has won 11 state championships in the last 15 seasons. A committee of athletic directors from KingCo cited in its report a preponderance of evidence that violations had occurred. Now we have to keep the focus going next week for playoffs.. We hear stories about competing schools. Bellevue High School Football Share this Team > Regular Season . Or, at the very least, put on administrative leave along with the schools athletic director until a thorough investigation is has been completed into the financial records (who paid what) and academic record of Academic Institute Inc., in Bellevue. If you would like to share your thoughts or experiences in relation to this story, please email the reporter or. At the crux of the scandal is a well to-do family that made their money in the trash/waste management industry. Our guys played pretty well, its just about getting better., Then, on Monday, the LW JV made the opposite trip, visiting BHS. Playoffs: No postseason games for four years, Boosters: No donations to program for four years, Games: Only KingCo 3A opponents for two years; no out-of-state opponents for four years, Transfers: Stricter guidelines, oversight for incoming transfer students for two years, Championships: Vacate Bellevues conference titles if WIAA determines that state titles should be forfeited. Here is a selection of the responses we received: Bellevue High Schools titles need to be removed. Unphased by the change, the boys loaded up the busses on Saturday evening, and headed north to Juanita High School in Kirkland. David R. Evans What is your main job as a parent? 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. GSBA, Comcast, and other partners are working to address disparities in access to financial resources with the Ready for Business fund. Bellevue junior Cal Zimmerman (#8) scores a touchdown as Snohomish seniors Miles Lamb (#8) and Easton Leonard (#24) attempt to tackle. Touchdowns from Sharp, Jones, Reed, and freshman Trevin King kept the Bellevue offense on top, for a 49-22 win. Hogwash! 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. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook) The long-running nature of the corruption uncovered by this investigation could only have occurred with the explicit or tacit approval of Bellevue High Schooland Bellevue School District administrators, as the reportvividly details. Jessie Armstead, played for Miami and was the 207th pick in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL draft. 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. 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. 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. Location: Bellevue . KingCo left the question of whether Bellevue should forfeit state titles up to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). Bellevue High is an extremely successful football program. Im so happy and proud of all of them. Have no fear, Bellevue Faithful, the East Channel Bridge rivalry is very much alive. "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. Per a statement, athletic director Jim Hicks said. 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. 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. And booster club President John Connors told supporters over the weekend that litigation may be necessary to protect the program. Coach Kneip on the game, We had a great, physical week of practice, and it really paid off. 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. It is high time to clean up this mess. Now we need to do it again! How did parents move into a new apartment and never pay a dime of rent and never ask how that came to be? The final report did not mention the Academic Institute. I think that theres a lot of different layers to understanding exactly what is going on., Related: Teen football player tackles suspected shoplifter. "That report will be forwarded to the WIAA, which will adjudicate the punishments and will allow Bellevue High School a chance to appeal.". 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. BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Bellevue High School football coach Butch Goncharoff told the school board Tuesday that an investigation of the football . Photos: William Wang powers No. The booster club should be disbanded. ', "The Bellevue School District said only one charge was valid and that was the compensation to Goncharoff, and so they recommended his firing. Yes, the Catholic schools do recruit, but they are not funded through public money. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. 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.". 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. 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. Bellevue school officials have previously told Bellevue head coach Butch Goncharoff that the district will seek to terminate him for violations of district policies. A third player whose family couldnt afford the steep tuition said he attended Academic Institute for two years without knowing who picked up the tab. 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. 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. 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. Lots of work to be done to get where we want to be, though. 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 . After the Seattle Times story was published on Sunday, a distraught Darien Freeman called a Times reporter, saying hed just spoken with Goncharoff. But many of those accomplishments are in jeopardy, because of a scandal that has now reached the punishment stage. Along the way, competitors have complained that Bellevue was bending the rules. This has been, I dont want to say an open secret, but Im not surprised by the investigation, ONeil told Seattles Morning News. Bellevue High School, Wolverine Way, Bellevue, WA, USA Sat Nov 19 W 22-20 @ Lincoln High School "Abes" Lincoln Bowl, Tacoma, WA, USA - 701 S. 37th Street. The NFL is the big example. 1 talking about this. The western-themed student section brought the energy all night, and the Wolverines did not disappoint. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory 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. Brazen Family-Central Bar + Restaurant,520 Bar and Grill, The Brazens - Windermere. My son plays football as a freshman at Liberty High School, and of course the teams one loss this past year was to Bellevue. 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. Bellevue will host Mead High School in the 3A Round of 16, this Saturday at Noon. Darien Freeman has not returned multiple messages left for him last week. 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. The donors and contributors to this school should be identified. The Bellevue football story became national news in 2016 as false accusations of recruiting by the twelve-time state champions and 2012 national champions took center stage. Fire them all immediately.. 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.' State District . Comments (-1) BPS Summer STEM Camps. KingCo will vacate Bellevues conference titles if the WIAA determines that state championships should be forfeited. Here is a selection of the. And in years where cheating was determined to have occurred, titles should be forfeited. The schools don't want to arm the WIAA with investigatory powers. Ban Goncharoff from coaching football in Washington for life. PF 497 PA 185 STREAK 1L. 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. 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 players were ejected from the game, suspended and an investigation launched. And a large percentage of those kids were athletes," Thiel said. The players reportedly said the refereewas using racial slurs and said they were instructed to hit the ref by their coach, Mack Breed. Even private schools require the students attend classes at that institution and make the grades to play, not go to a strip-mall diploma mill., The Seattle Times closes comments on particularly sensitive stories. Varsity takes the field this Saturday (10/8) at Juanita, at 7pm, while the JV will face Juanita at home the following Monday. None of our business, he said. Yesterday Kendall Alston, age 31, was sentenced in federal court to five years for selling fentanyl pills in downtown Seattle. Teaching young impressionable minds to cheat is criminal! Bellevue High School football is banned from postseason play for two years 4. Discretely paid for by the booster club. Final score: 20-14, bringing the JV to 1-1. Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. We depend on members for more than half of our financial support. 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 anonymous tip led the UIL to investigate claims Carters star player, Gary Edwards had failed Algebra and had violated the states No Pass, No Play policy. 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. 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. But the programs remarkable success has depended, in part, on players who werent actually Bellevue High students. The coaching staff should be immediately dismissed. In 1959, Stamford defeated Brady 19-14 in the state championship. 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. "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.". Bellevue football players worked hard thats how they won. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory Coach Kneip said after the game, great to see our men get out and have fun tonight, energy on the sidelines was awesome. 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. Students at a private school without a football team can play for a public-school team in their home district. BHS cheated its own eligible students of playing. 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. The win marks a return to the top for a former state juggernaut that won eight state championships from 2001 to 2011. We only care where they live., They are not our students, he said. But, we would be lying if we said that there wasnt at least a benefit to these kids.. If youre a Pac-12 talent, you are going to jump off the page at recruiters, he said. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory This decision is unfair to the players who are the heart and soul of this program. HOME 5-1 AWAY 4-1 NEUTRAL 0-1. To tear down this whole organization is a crime. All told, a 42-0 first half lead. This is another example of the incredibly flawed process that has been guiding this investigation for months. 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. Bellevue footballs promotion of a culture of cheating is a broadly understood fact. 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. His older brother became vice president of the teams booster club. You do what you can to give your kid a leg up because you want him or her on a path that maybe you werent on.. I am also the father of a high school varsity athlete. Courtesy of Stephanie Ault Justus. Until 1968, Washington state allowed restrictive housing covenants. Its no surprise that we tend to have a lot of conversations about entitled young athletes. Thanks to state-wide referee shortages, the Wolverines had to reschedule their weekly Friday night appointment to Saturday. But KingCo officials saw Bellevues problems as requiring more severe sanctions. 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. 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. Probation: Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. Department of Commerce officials say communities will need diverse housing options in the future as well. 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. 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. Unfazed by the less than hospitable conditions, the Wolverine ground game got to work against a stout Panther defense. Wangs 64-yard burst up the middle with four minutes left gave the top-seeded Wolverines (14-0) the winning margin. 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. All rights reserved. 1 Bellevue past No. Volunteer to help people understand their Medicare options! 5 Marysville-Pilchuck on Saturday in the early game of the Class 3A semifinal doubleheader at Memorial Stadium. 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. 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.. 4. And because it's now going to be subject to many lawsuits, there's going to be huge pressure and there should be huge pressure to reform the entire structure of state high school sports. "The schools want it that way. They were outlandishly gravy training on their 17 or 18 year old kids football ability. 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. This was wealth gone greedy., Bellevue football report put asterisk on winning record. It feels quaint to sit back and watch an old rerun of Friday Night Lights and see some rally girl doing Tim Riggins homework, or a star player finding a mysterious envelope with cash in it. You depend on KNKX for trusted, in-depth local news, music by knowledgeable hosts and enlightening NPR programs. In their opening possession, Carson Rubin zigged and zagged, dicing the defense with a 29-yard touchdown run. With the pregame celebrations and hugs finished, the Wolverines wasted no time getting down to business. Among the players who have attended Academic Institute were those instrumental in Bellevues recent 67-game winning streak: Myles Jack, a linebacker now at UCLA; Marcus Griffin, a defensive tackle at the University of Arizona; and Max Richmond, a wide receiver at the University of Washington. 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. The Academic Institute existed in a strip mall not far from Bellevue High. Washington state wants to be a leader in climate change, but I sense that the voters are not as concerned about that these days. Top-ranked Bellevue defeated Marysville Pilchuck, 27-3, in the 3A state football semifinals on Nov. 27 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle. The only actual answer is likely that they didnt know and they didnt care to know. They don't have subpoena power because this is a trade association. 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. How did the adults never ask how it was that their kid was taking classes in a $1,750 per month school, yet they never got a tuition bill? That was released a few months ago. Like many expectant mothers, Miranda Kekauoha had a plan. 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. Plenty of things we need to clean up for next week, though. At least 17 Bellevue football players attended the program over the past seven years, the Seattle Times has learned. This type of illegal and unethical activity runs through sports programs at all levels. 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. Adults knew this was going on for years. 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. An independent investigation found a series of potential violations on the Bellevue High School football program. It's the entire structure that needs reform and a lot of attention. However, the victory only lasted five months when the school became the first in the state to have their title taken from them. The deluge culminated in a 34-0 halftime lead for BHS. Stamford had little trouble in the playoffs with wins over Quanah (43-13), Cisco (32-22), Denver City (14-0) and Olney (15-7). 9-0 on the season, BACK ON TRACK! 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. The second half once again belonged to the youngsters and up-and-comers, who finished strong to the tune of a 56-14 victory. Bellevue wraps up undefeated season with 3A state title. One family complained their son was told his scholarship at the Institute would be revoked if he stopped playing football at Bellevue. Final score 42-0. The players spent 75 days in the districts alternative school after the incident. "This is the most successful athletic program in state history and it's being torn down. When I saw the David Horsey cartoon, light rail ambassadors inviting a fentanyl-smoking passenger to leave, I lost it, says a listener. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid . 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. I am old enough to remember corruption being the norm in the old Southwest Conference: fake jobs, hundred dollar handshakes and far, far worse. 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. KIRO Radios Jason Rantz thinks they are just doing their job. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook), (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook). The players reportedly got the steroids from a dealer named Big Mike who was a fitness trainer. 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.. 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. 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.