In light of recent hazing incidents involving the football team, Middletown Area School District in Pennsylvania has made the decision to cancel its football season. This decision follows the discovery of a video showing players engaging in inappropriate behavior towards their teammates.
Superintendent Chelton Hunter addressed parents in a letter, expressing shock and disappointment over the behavior captured in the video. The video displayed teammates restraining others and using athletic equipment in a disrespectful manner.
“The video shows players fully clothed. It did not appear that any student’s body was physically penetrated,” Dr. Hunter stated in the letter, “The video is difficult to watch as this is a completely unacceptable, offensive, and highly inappropriate act.”
The school district took swift action in response to the incident, removing several players from the team and accepting the resignation of head coach Scott Acri. Superintendent Dr. Chilton Harris mentioned that a subsequent video revealed the involvement of a larger number of football players in the hazing, leading to the cancellation of the upcoming season.
“In light of this, we have made the decision to cancel the 2022 football season,” Dr. Hunter announced, acknowledging the impact this decision would have on students and families, “The kind of hazing that occurred in our facilities with this team is reprehensible. It simply cannot and will not be tolerated.”
The hazing incidents took place during heat acclimation practice sessions inside the high school turf room. The newly emerged footage has been shared with the Lower Swatara Township Police Department for further investigation and appropriate disciplinary actions according to school policy.
The school district is committed to addressing the culture within the football team and educating students about the harmful effects of hazing to prevent such behavior from resurfacing in the future.
