Hey, Adults: you failed the kids in your care.
That was the bitter takeaway from an impassioned public meeting on hazing at Conestoga High School Monday night.
The school district called the pow-wow, seeking input on ways to handle the football hazing scandal that’s roiled top-rated Stoga since the Chester County DA announced juvenile assault charges against three senior players and a separate school district investigation uncovered hazing that goes back years.
What school officials got instead was an earful: an ardent defense of ousted head coach John Vogan and his staff and a lot of lip about how adults – from the DA to the district – had let kids down.
Conestoga junior Clayton Hofstetter sports a t-shirt he designed in support of his former coach at the public meeting.
Indeed, former Coach Vogan’s ears had to be burning as assistant coaches (now fired), parents and current and former players rose to his defense.
More than 150 T/E folks showed up at the public meeting, 27 of whom lined up to speak.
Starting the fireworks was fired 13-year assistant coach Tom Batgos, who played Stoga football 40 years ago alongside Vogan and whose son played eight years ago. Batgos lamented the “sensationalistic image” of Vogan “portrayed to the media,” which he says “pounced” on Vogan, a coach “who has changed many lives for the better.” He talked about how Vogan has long (and famously) welcomed Sonny DiMartini, a young man with Down Syndrome, to his teams. He mentioned how, on Senior Night, players routinely “choked up and cried” (happy tears) about their Conestoga football experience under Coach Vogan.
After that came a series of concerned folks posing questions and pointing fingers:
- From a football mom/social worker: Are adults allowed in the lockers rooms?
“Coaches are expected to supervise locker rooms,” responded Principal Amy Meisinger.
- Is the district investigating other sports besides football?
Meisinger: We will work with the captains of all teams to install “best practices” as recommended by outside expert(s) still to be hired.
- From the Head Coach/President of the Conestoga Generals: “How will T/E handle hiring a new football coach and staff?”
T/E planned to post the new position pronto and a committee of 12-15 will handle hiring. The new coach picks his own staff (5 assistant coaches). Fired assistant coaches can re-apply for their positions for the following fall season.
- From a football mom: “School board, you let our children down on a variety of levels. You’re responsible for this. You didn’t do your job … What are you going to do to make those boys [accused football players] feel welcome when they return to school? … What are you going to do tomorrow to clean up this mess?”
Although the school district can’t comment on disciplinary action, Meisinger said staff will “work with families to support” returning students. (According to the parent, the accused seniors were suspended for five days, then suspended again for another five.)
- From Sonny DiMartini’s father, Vince, a 29-year veteran of Easttown police and former security guard at Stoga: “The DA sensationalized the entire event; he took an opportunity to get in front of the microphones to discredit Conestoga High School. [Applause from many in the crowd.] Then DiMartini throws in this hot potato: “I was a victim of hazing in the 1960s. In 1970, I did the hazing.” Then adds: “There are six more victims here; they’re called assistant coaches.”
- From Bill Armiger, a founder of Conestoga Youth Lacrosse and former Stoga parent: “I want to hear about boots on the ground” for better supervision and teaching of appropriate behavior.
Meissinger: “We need to look at the whole school community.” Figuring out why no students came forward to tell adults about the hazing in their locker room is a “priority piece” for the school district.
- From Linda Jarrett Armiger, teacher and school counselor in a different district and a former Stoga parent: “The victims are the kids … I struggle [with the claim] that no adults were aware. Kids talk; that’s what they do.” Then adds: “This is a systemic problem … the only way we can make changes is to acknowledge it and not sweep it under the rug.” (Both Armigers were applauded, mostly from non-football families.)
- From a tennis and squash team mom concerned about recent changes to spirit day rules and team culture at Stoga: “This is not a systemic problem. Conestoga has many great coaches and students who are doing the right thing. Our teams don’t need any more oversight than they already have … Let’s not punish all the kids who go to the school because of what a few kids who may or may not have done.”
- From an elementary school parent: “I’ve seen nothing that makes me want to send my child to Conestoga.” Bravely (considering the mostly pro-football crowd around her) she asked, “What would happen if Conestoga didn’t have a football team?” School Superintendent Richard Gusick explained that cancelling the season would be “the easy solution” and that school officials had “five months to work with students” and make changes.
- From a former Stoga parent and grandparent: “Everyone has let the kids down. All I’ve heard [tonight] is educational psychobabble … Are you going to have adults in the locker room?”
- From Scott Born, a parent of three Stoga graduates, the first of two speakers to mention the Duke lacrosse rape scandal (after which players were exonerated). “I’ve personally witnessed the damage to a kid being convicted by the media in the court of public opinion before the case was fully investigated.” Born gave T/E the thumbs up for its investigation and determination to make changes but felt “the DA overstepped its bounds in the school district.” (The district solicitor and superintendent repeatedly emphasized that it had no control over how the DA conducted its investigation. Several football parents called out that their sons were interviewed by the DA’s office without their knowledge/consent.)
- From a current Stoga senior: “Don’t let this event cover up the amazing things Conestoga does for students.” He urged the school board to “push programs that promote a sense of school unity” because “kids take pride in one area of Stoga” (e.g. theatre, sports, etc.). He called students’ failure to report hazing “the administration’s fault. We don’t know the administration.”
- From a Stoga parent: “We’re ranked #1 in the nation, but with this issue hanging over our heads, I don’t believe we are #1.” She, too, was “baffled” that there were no adults in the locker room. She called hazing “a cultural issue” and called on the board to “look at each other” and “set the tone.” To which Board President Doug Carlson replied: “We are facing it. There is no tolerance, no place for those things in our schools.”
- From the mother of a sophomore football player: “Not everyone on the football team was involved” and players “have a target on their backs now; no one is standing up for them.” She suggested the district clearly define what constitutes hazing.
- From Bruce Ikeda, father of former Stoga athletes: “I trusted Vogan implicitly.” Ikeda called Tom Hogan “an overzealous DA up for re-election. What was he thinking?” He also wondered why, when “kids video everything,” no hazing videos have surfaced. And finally, he hoped the district would be proactive about getting the word out when the court hands down its verdict on the Oct. 15 charges. [A robust round of applause.] To which district solicitor Kenneth Roos replied, “We won’t be in a position to publicize the outcome,” explaining that the alleged assault case is a juvenile court matter so records will be sealed.
- From a former player, eight years out: “Coach Vogan abhorred hazing, in my opinion.”
- From a Stoga graduate: “I congratulate the administration on being transparent.” But “we gotta start younger,” teaching kids to respect each other at the middle schools. “Big kids always picked on little kids. Back then you got ‘initiated.’” He added: “I never had a coach in the locker room when I was taking a shower. I’m not sure how you do that.” (Meisinger had already alluded to potential Jerry Sandusky-ish complications in her opening remarks.)
- From a former football mom, regarding coaches getting the ax: “You threw the baby out with the bathwater. Now we will have strangers dealing with our children.” She hoped the new coaching staff would get “more support” and won’t get “blindsided.”
- From two junior football players who approached the podium together: “I can’t walk into a classroom or hall without getting made fun of. Even teachers look at me differently.” We have “targets on our backs by the community and the school … We don’t know the principal at all. You got rid of the only people I feel comfortable talking to at that school [i.e. the coaches].”
Meisinger: “I’m sorry this has continued to be a burden for you to carry. You should be proud to walk onto the football field as Conestoga players.”
- From youth sports coach and district parent Mark Mayock came pointed questions about the athletic director’s role in supervising the locker room. “Why is the athletic director not up here tonight?”
Gusick explained that district felt that those involved in the investigation: the principal, the district solicitor, the superintendent, along with the school board president, were the proper people to face the public. The rest of the school board sat in the front row.
After the meeting, fired assistant coach Tom Batgos clarified a point with SAVVY. “There is no policy that coaches have to be in the locker room.” He said he’s always parked his car, walked to the field for practices, then returned to his car. “We did nothing different than the head coaches of the other 17 sports.” He also said Coach Vogan was busy dealing with minor kids’ issues before and after practice, implying there was little time for him to even think about patrolling the locker room.
SAVVY also caught up with a half-dozen junior football players, including Kade Lamarre, who expounded on his earlier gripe: “I have not gone through the [school] halls a single day without a broom or hazing joke.” (The alleged victim told authorities he was penetrated with a broom as part of ritual hazing.) We overheard Meisinger making plans to meet with Lamarre this week.
Other junior players told SAVVY about how an area rugby team recently chanted: “3-2-1-Broom” to Stoga players.
Still others complained about the torrent of online abuse they’ve received.
One thing’s for sure: The community is still smarting over this whole sordid and sorry mess – there’s anger, there’s sadness, there’s shame, there’s frustration.
Another thing that’s clear: T/E is working hard to heal the wounds – self-inflicted and otherwise.
“I hope we will remain Stoga Tall and won’t allow this to define us and that we will come out stronger on the other side,” affirmed Principal Meisinger,
And at the end of the day, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?
Thank you for the interesting and thorough article. One note – Lower Merion does not have any rugby teams associated with its schools. There is a Narberth Rugby Club but it has no affiliation with the LM school district.
Thanks, C. I should have checked before printing what the players told me re:Lower Merion. Will take it out, pronto! And thanks for reading SAVVY Main Line!
Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School was the team that repeatedly berated the Stoga Rugby players from the beginning to the end of the game. It was truly a disgrace of sportsmanship and their coaching staff should be ashamed.
Excellent summary of the meeting! For me, one of the most disturbing things revealed was that the district allowed the DA’s office access to students without parental notification. They were so eager to appease the DA that they failed to properly protect the children in their care. I would be livid if my child were interviewed by law enforcement without my knowledge! Shame on T/E for participating in this witch hunt and for throwing children and coaches to the wolves!
Listening to these parents scold staff it seems that their heads are in the clouds. These kids are examples of how not to be raised and the bulk of the blame should be on the parents. So these parents scolding staff is merely just shifting the blame and nothing will really be fixed. Pat yourselves on the back perfect parents and give yourselves some trophies.
@PT You are right on! High school kids know right from wrong but they live in the TE bubble and their parents never take blame for anything. It’s always someone else’s fault.
AMEN!
For sure, these parents are as bad as the kids
I agree!
The coaches are responsible to supervise. They don’t need to be right in there, but they should be close by with a presence. The day had a name. Yes, it is sad. However, the blame for this ongoing hazing rests on the coaches in my opinion.
Thanks for the update. What is very upsetting to me is that sexual assault or violation are terms that didn’t show up. This was not hazing!
You’re welcome and thanks for reading SAVVY and for weighing in, L. T/E officials stressed last night that the alleged sexual assault/violation charges wre strictly the DA’s business and the result of an entirely separate government investigation upon which the school district could not comment. When the DA told the district it was charging the senior players in early March, the district immediately undertook its own investigation into the hazing part of the DA’s charges. T/E officials specifically asked the public not to comment on the ongoing criminal case last night – although some did anyway. Hope this helps clarify your concerns.
PT sounds like a fourth grade math teacher.
He seems to be the only who understands what school was and is like.
Yeah let’s just blame everyone else except for the the kids in the locker room, I forgot that the mainline kids have their parents to protect them. Wether it happened or not, it’s not the coaches, players should take some responsibility
Im sorry but i have to add this. Its completely the parents fault. I grew up with kids like this. You wanna know where they got these habbits? PARENTS. GROW UP PARENTS AND STOP BLAMING SOMEONE ELSE. ITS YOUR FAULT AND DEAL WITH IT
typical main line parents taking all the blame away from the kids. We shouldn’t be worried about how the school is working to make these kids feel welcome. They are a bunch of psychos who dedicated an entire day of the week to homosexual activities. While the coaches are not to blame, the football program should be discontinued at conestoga because the kids clearly abused their privilege of having a football team.
There really needs to be some clarification as to what hazing is and what happened. If you consider having underclassmen carry water to the field, cleaning up a mess or carry equipment as hazing then yes hazing is happening at every school in every sport. Let’s be real here. I would also like to point out that the hazing that the DA portrayed on the TV and people being afraid and quitting is ludicrous. If you look back at some of the kids interviewed on TV that actually are no longer on the team they said that no bullying, hazing, intimidation or ridicule ever happened to them or any others that they can recall. This is from kids that stopped playing on their own will because football wasn’t for them. They have nothing to gain why would they lie about that?
I know the first day of work that I had in my professional career I was told my job was to make sure we always had coffee and never ran out because I was the rookie. Guess I was hazed and didn’t even know it. We all need to realize that these are kids and that people don’t have all the facts. In fact does anyone realize that the kids haven’t even been charged yet? They have been accused not charged but because the media and the DA have said this happened and they were charged everyone thinks they did it and there were charged. Very sad that everyone have forgotten that there are many people affected here and the majority of them have nothing to do with the football team. They are the community, members of band, other district families and the list goes on. The biggest bully of all here is the DA! I hope that he is dealt with properly if these accusations come out to be false for all of the pain and suffering he has caused within a community for his own selfish gain. Truly sad.
Coach Vogan is and always will be one of the greatest coaches I was fortunate enough to play for. Ive never met someone that cares about his players the way that he does, and someone that was always as proactive as humanly possible to prevent hazing. This case is a perfect example of how the media jumps on anything that will get them viewers and how the DA thinks it will get him re-elected. I don’t know whether the accusations are true or not although I truly doubt they are. I urge you to watch the 30 for 30 called, “Fantastic Lies”, to gain a better understanding of how the DA and the Media can use a team like this to gain popularity. Congrats Stoga you fired the one guy who truly cares about this school and his players. Finally Bruce Ikeda is legend!
It’s interesting no one made the point of any other players being responsible than the three that were charged. Every kid who didn’t tell an adult and looked away at what was happened is complicit and part of the problem. The parents need to realize this is the effect of not holding children responsible for their actions.
So why were the 3 football players suspended for 10 days? That seems like an awful lot if nothing happened.
Let’s please take a look at what the real problem at Stoga is…not to change the subject but how many of you parents as students remember attending funerals of classmates? Maybe one if any at all…Correct? I as a parent in the last 3 years accompanied my children and their friends to four…yes four funerals of Conestoga students! Wow! This in my opinion is more of an issue and something that would definitely be more of a priority than hear say or false accusations. The proof is seeing the sorrow and grief of the parents, family and friends that lost their loved ones to drugs…Opps did I say drugs? Please stop pushing this under the rug and open your eyes!! All I can say is the coaches at Stoga view our students as their own and would never set out to harm our children!!
Thanks for that comment. My daughter lost several of her Stoga classmates to drug overdoses and suicides. I absolutely plan a follow-up story to my recent article about the now clean/sober Stoga grad/photographer Reilly McCloskey (a post so popular SAVVY kept crashing). If ANYONE (from any school) wants to talk to me about personal experiences with opiate-addicted relatives/friends or about your own struggles with opiates, PLEASE E-MAIL me at [email protected]. I’m trying hard here at SAVVY to pull back the rug on opiate addiction. Thank you.
Much to my surprise, none of the parents came to the mic to express outrage that the children witnessed hazing for 3 years and never told anyone… Never told their coaches… never told their parents… How does that not bother these parents as much as the coaches being removed? As a mom with no ties to this football program and having listened to the administrators and audience of speakers I walked away with these conclusions:
1) The coaches (a staff of 6?) all failed to supervise these players and as a direct result, lives have been ruined and the school’s overall reputation has been negatively impacted. Of course they were relieved of their coaching duties.
2) The sexual assault of Oct 15 aside, the investigation conducted by the board confirmed there was hazing. This is not the 1950s version of hazing/”initiation” where the lower class-men carry equipment or water to the field). Today’s version of hazing is lewd and obscene and is harmful. This has no place within the school walls that our tax dollars fund.
3) So we know there was hazing. What we don’t know is whether these 3 boys are guilty of what they are accused of. These are serious charges, not hazing. We must assume their innocence until they are proven guilty. Remember Duke.
4) The football players do not have insight into why their fellow students are mad at them and why they have a “Target on our backs.” Really? Could it be that the student population does blame the entire team for not putting a stop to the hazing, to the No Gay Thursday or for not reporting any of this to their parents or to the coaches? The responsibility for what has happened is shared. Coaches, players, athletic director, principal AND parents are responsible for enabling an environment that allowed for hazing to escalate to this mess. Turning a blind eye or not being a snitch when someone is being bullied or hazed should not be tolerated and that is the backlash these kids are feeling. Parents, if you really didn’t know this was going on be worried about what else you don’t know. If your child was only comfortable talking to the coaches and has never had a conversation with their guidance counselor, there is a fundamental problem. That is not a reflection of the board or the school administrators, that is on you as parents.
I don’t doubt for a minute, that the coaches are great guys that cared for their players. But sadly that was not enough. They should have cared a little bit more and popped their heads into the locker room from time to time. Making their presence known would have erased the notion that the locker room belonged to the players.
Duke lacrosse- 30 for 30. Own bad decisions and tell the truth. The media jumps and would have hesitated if this was lacrosse team. If they’re guilty, they’re guilty and this is a disgusting atrocity. If they’re innocent, it’s a wake up call to for the community as to trusting the judicial system’s innocent until proven guilty yet again. Also, athletes or band members, do ‘normal’ carry the pads and helmets-like “hazing” that is actually not hazing (i.e. Abuse of power), it’s about putting your time in and establish respect for elders (student, athlete, parents, teachers, bosses, otherwise)as a hard worker.
-Former athlete, captain of a d1 team perspective
This “assault” was a story made up by a parent looking for a reason to sue the school district after his son was expelled in the sexting scandal. He is being aided and abetted by an overzealous DA looking to make a name for himself by bringing down the rich school district. None of this is true.
I am the parent of a Conestoga graduate who played football for several years and having been an active parent in the district, knowing the kids and the families, I have a very hard time believing these accusations and think it is more a “copy-cat” story by the alleged victim in retaliation for being expelled for sexting, sending pornographic photo’s and bullying the young woman he involved.
This is from an ESPN article in 2014…
BURLINGTON, Vt. — As part of initiations into a high school football team, players sexually assaulted younger teens with broom sticks or pool cues, according to court records made public when five former athletes were charged with related crimes.