BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Bellevue High School football coach Butch Goncharoff told the school board Tuesday that an investigation of the football . They recently had a 67-game win streak snapped in the state championship game last December. The Wolverines got off to their usual fast start, with a whopping three rushing touchdowns from Ishaan Daniels, another from Carson Rubin, and a passing TD from Lucas Razore to Hogan Hansen. But Notre Dame-bound RB Jayden Limar led a second half comeback, eventually closing the game out 37-28. 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. BHS cheated its own eligible students of playing. These findings only corroborate what is probably the worst kept secret in the history of high school sports. At least 42 transfer students contributed to Bellevue's football team from 2008 to 2015, according to the report, for a program that has reached 13 Class 3A state championship games in the past. 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. 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. 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. 1 Bellevue back into 3A state semifinals: 4 observations, Week 11 Playoff Matchups - Bellevue 42, Lakes 21, (Nov 12, 2021), This website is powered by SportsEngine's. 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. 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. Food, Drink, and Coastal Christmas Anacortes has it all. The Bellevue High School football team is one victory away from the ultimate return to glory. Part of Darien Freemans account, however, is corroborated by documents reviewed by the Seattle Times. 9-0 on the season, BACK ON TRACK! I correct you Sir they are in your charge as Student Athletes at Bellevue High School taking a physical education class, thereby bound by all the rules and regulations attendant to participating in any WIAA competitive sport which includes providing financial aid. Five days after bringing home the state title, a string of events began that would blemish the reputation of the Dallas Carter program. In an article about how Bellevues success was aided by a small private school, Freeman, 20, told the Times that he lived in four different cities during his years with the Bellevue football team Sammamish, Bellevue, Auburn and SeaTac. That's as many as Milwaukee, two more than Indianapolis and Tampa, and six more than Oklahoma City and San Antonio.. 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Following the varsitys team lead from Friday night, the Wolverine JV got things going quickly with several big runs by sophomore Matt Reed, and the race was on. Published: Oct. 14, 2022 at 6:55 PM PDT. Im so happy and proud of all of them. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. 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. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory All rights reserved. The following Monday, the Bellevue JV had their first home game of the season, hosting Juanita. 2021 State Champs! Mind you, this is not the kind of booster club that has bake sales to pay for road trips. This was wealth gone greedy., Bellevue football report put asterisk on winning record. An independent investigation found a series of potential violations on the Bellevue High School football program. The first loss came at the hands of back-to-back Oregon 6A state champions, Central Catholic, on a field goal as time expired, which gave CCHS the first lead theyd had since early in the second quarter. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Touchdowns by Daniels, Hansen, Rubin, Moon, Smith, and Matsudaira. Earlier this year, one family complained that an assistant coach threatened to revoke their sons financial aid at Academic Institute if the student didnt continue playing football at Bellevue. KingCo will vacate Bellevues conference titles if the WIAA determines that state championships should be forfeited. Lets be reasonable., The wrong-headed parts of the Bellevue High Schoolfootball program continued for far too long. Recent newspaper headlines should bring the immediate firing of Butch Goncharoff, Bellevue High School football coach. In Q2, senior Ishaan Daniels added his own long TD run, and quarterback Lucas Razore added not one, but two, TD passes to fellow junior Blake Teets (one for 19 yards, one for 43). Allow only the students living within the boundaries to participate. When I saw the David Horsey cartoon, light rail ambassadors inviting a fentanyl-smoking passenger to leave, I lost it, says a listener. In all, six players were connected with 21 robberies that occurred in Carter neighborhoods. The startup funding should be part of the investigation. If you would like to share your thoughts or experiences in relation to this story, please email the reporter or. In the end, nine football players at the school admitted to using over the counter steroid-like substances and prescription steroids. As crime increases, our safety measures must too, GSBA is closing the disparity gap with Ready for Business Fund. Some prominent college football players are named in the report as having been cycled through The Academic Institute. The players were ejected from the game, suspended and an investigation launched. "The Bellevue High School football cheating scandal is 'American Greed' at it worst.". GSBA, Comcast, and other partners are working to address disparities in access to financial resources with the Ready for Business fund. The players spent 75 days in the districts alternative school after the incident. PF 497 PA 185 STREAK 1L. The Times found at least three instances in which families of players attending the school were either given financial assistance by the team's boosters or didn't pay for the tuition themselves, a violation of state athletic rules. 4. For a paltry $1,750 tuition per month, these student athletes supposedly got academic help. In response to allegations against the Bellevue booster club, KingCo ruled that the Bellevue football program cannot receive any donations for four years, including money, equipment and products from outside entities. David R. Evans On November 10, the UIL shocked Dallas Carter and the entire state when they announced the Cowboys were ineligible for the playoffs. School district leaders initially sought to have the booster club answer questions about its relationship with Academic Institute. Sophomore Ryken Moon took the opening kickoff back for a TD, junior Colin Miller had an interception, junior Luke Soma added a field goal, and junior Cal Zimmerman had his own pick-6. 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. Texas HS Football State Champions: 1920-2022, 2022 3A Fan Vote All-Texas High School Football Team, TXHSFB Podcast Championship Edition: Benjamin Mustangs, 2022 2A Fan Vote All-Texas High School Football Team, Texas HS Football Fan Vote Player Of The Year. KNKX Public Radio | However, the school often had no teachers in the classrooms; little, if any homework was ever given, and the players received full class credit. 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. Now lets see a similar investigation into sports programs at every private high school in the state to determine just how many of their players parents are paying full tuition. Touchdowns from Sharp, Jones, Reed, and freshman Trevin King kept the Bellevue offense on top, for a 49-22 win. And I think the only thing that can be a positive is major reformation. Later, when the family lived in SeaTac, he said, his mother would drop him off at a bus stop in Renton to commute. The team should have to forfeit the championships it won. He openly shared details of his high school experiences, saying he felt like the program was putting kids in a poor position to succeed after high school and that he didnt want to see the program have a negative impact on others in the future. One son married a runner-up from The Bachelor TV show and became an assistant football coach at Bellevue. Later, a traffic citation was issued to a Yusef Freeman with an address in SeaTac. The Bellevue High (Seattle) football team is reportedly aided through a "diploma mill" private school, according to an investigation by The Seattle Times . Saint Mary's guard Logan Johnson knows both sides of the Zags-Gaels rivalry, 35-year-old loved his dog, the outdoors and his mother who is accused of killing him, Accused killer returns to Spokane to face murder charge in 40-year-old South Hill cold case. In their opening possession, Carson Rubin zigged and zagged, dicing the defense with a 29-yard touchdown run. Amazing game and ending for Bellevue Wolverines, But KingCo officials saw Bellevues problems as requiring more severe sanctions. Arguably one of the best high school teams ever fielded in Texas, the 1988 Dallas Carter Cowboys were loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. Bellevue High School football is banned from postseason play for two years. 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. This decision is unfair to the players who are the heart and soul of this program. I found this story on USA TODAY High School Sports and wanted to share it with you: Onside kick with less than 2 minutes to go to setup Scoma winning field goal (Photo credit - Pete Caster / The News Tribune), Luke Scoma converts a must-have onside kick, then boots the game-winning field goal in the reigning Class 3A champions' 22-20 state quarterfinal victory over Gabarri Johnson-led Lincoln of Tacoma, A cadre of Lincoln defenders take down Bellevue running back Blake Tests during the first quarter of a Class 3A state quarterfinal game on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at the Lincoln Bowl in Tacoma, Wash. PETE CASTER Pete Caster / The News Tribune Read more. Its a disgrace that this has gone on as long as it has. All told, a 42-0 first half lead. Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. 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. They said Goncharoff never gave the family money to pay for rent. Top-ranked 3A Wolverines get all they want for three-plus quarters, but Wing-T (342 rushing yards) generates big fourth-quarter scoring plays to pull away. She has worked in news radio for more than 30 years. You cheat, you steal, you lie. The blatant efforts by school and district officials to obstruct the investigation demonstrate their complicity in cheating, their utter disregard for the truth and their complete lack of integrity. 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. One family complained their son was told his scholarship at the Institute would be revoked if he stopped playing football at Bellevue. Our guys played pretty well, its just about getting better., Then, on Monday, the LW JV made the opposite trip, visiting BHS. Just one play into Hazens opening drive, senior Joel Schneider made an acrobatic interception, which moments later led to a sight thats become the terror of KingCo 3A: an Ishaan Daniels long run and touchdown this time from 63 yards. That was released a few months ago. The Times uncovered 17 instances. I think the idea behind high school sports is pretty genuine if you get together and you play sports with the kids you grew up with.. In both games, seniors Ishaan Daniels and George Kruger were standouts. An investigation into the allegations by the Dallas Morning News led to the school investigating the claims as well. 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. SEATTLE An independent investigation into the Bellevue High football team uncovered "significant and long-standing violations" of state sports rules and extensive evidence that the team's. I found John Harrisons (former Mercer Island High School principal and now Executive Director of Bellevue Public Schools) comments to be cavalier; aiding and abetting a serious flaw in the system and, just plain very disappointing given his stellar career as a Mercer Island principal. On the shoulders of some hard running by junior Carson Rubin and sophomore Ryken Moon, a long reception by senior Ishaan Daniels, and a heaping helping of stingy defense, Bellevue took a 47-7 lead to the locker room at half time. To do whats best for your kid, he said. The only actual answer is likely that they didnt know and they didnt care to know. We depend on members for more than half of our financial support. Unphased by the change, the boys loaded up the busses on Saturday evening, and headed north to Juanita High School in Kirkland. Freeman described in detail the hours he spent busing from Auburn to Bellevue, catching a 5:30 a.m. bus to start class around 8:15. In 1959, Stamford defeated Brady 19-14 in the state championship. Darien Freeman has not returned multiple messages left for him last week. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory Sanctions need to be put in place against the school as well as the BHS booster club to ensure the high-school programs for our conference and state are fair, as all sports should be. But, after a brief email exchange, they let it drop. Coach Kneip said after the game, great to see our men get out and have fun tonight, energy on the sidelines was awesome. 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. That leads to what the money was used for. While the Institute touts its focus on education at a full-time cost of $1,750 per month two former teachers label Academic Institute a diploma mill that doesnt adhere to basic educational standards. Carter High . The Bellevue booster club in a statement early Tuesday expressed disappointment with the sanctions. I think the system is prone to corruption. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Final score: 20-14, bringing the JV to 1-1. The Academic Institute has a monthly tuition of $1,750. How did parents never ask how their kid had so much walking around money? That probe confirmed some of the problems that The Times found and also detailed other issues, including families that had used false addresses to gain eligibility, a school district that had obstructed the investigation and evidence that Goncharoff had been paid beyond the bounds of WIAA rules. The conferences action sets a precedent that should raise a red flag to everyone, the statement said. Freemans parents, Yusef and Allona, wrote in a letter this week to the school district that their son lived in the Bellevue attendance area. 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. After their work in the back half of the Friday night game, the Bellevue JV made the Monday drive to the Sammamish Plateau, to face off against KingCo 4A opponent Eastlake Wolves. The investigators report and your editorial finally nailed it.. But the program's remarkable success has. You can read the Times' entire investigation here. 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. This is a public high school and a strong message needs to be sent that this type of practice cannot be tolerated. He can also be found on twitter @tonybruin, Unrecognizable U.S. Mens National Team Defeats Costa Rica, NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers win Game 3 Convincingly over Golden State Warriors. 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. 9 Rainier Beach into WIAA 3A state semifinals, William Wangs career night lifts No. No, its not something we want to teach our kids as the right thing to do, he said. 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. Washington needs more than 1 million homes in the next 20 years, Islanders speak out against Lava Ridge Wind Project, WA Lottery reveals Auburn woman as winner of $754.6 million Powerball jackpot, Victim energy is a siren song to which we must stop our ears | Whales Tales, Teams roll into action on renovated South Mercer Playfields. 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. 1 Bellevue past No. Varsity takes the field this Saturday (10/8) at Juanita, at 7pm, while the JV will face Juanita at home the following Monday. Ask yourself these questions while you scan the details: Where in the name of all that is right were the parents? A judge has sentenced 10 current and former high school athletes to prison terms of up to 25 years for their roles in numerous armed robberies in the Dallas area over the past year. Washington state wants to be a leader in climate change, but I sense that the voters are not as concerned about that these days. By: Logan Newman, https://usatodayhss.com/2016/bellevue-wash-expected-to-fire-coach-butch-goncharoff-cheating-scandal, Bellevue (Wash.) expected to fire coach at center of alleged football cheating scandal. "They also discovered that there was a small school within the school called the Academic Institute, which was privately funded by a lot of the boosters to give educations to students who were struggling. Location: Bellevue . It taught them how to succeed and prepared them for the future. 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.' Kirsten is also a sports lover. I am also the father of a high school varsity athlete. 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. Head coach Butch Goncharoff has been fired. We asked our fans to vote for the 3A Players of the Year for Texas HS Football Podcast: Championship Series. Bellevue's head coach and athletic director be fired immediately 2. An independent investigation found a series of violations at the powerhouse football program, including that coaches directed athletes to attend the school, that boosters paid for athletes tuition, that false addresses were used to gain eligibility and that coaches coordinated tuition payments for athletes. The Bellevue High School administrators who allowed this to happen should also face the loss of jobs or demotions. Bellevue has also been the subject of a nearly year-long investigation by the KingCo Conference, the league governing body for high school athletics in King County. Final score: 48-14, Bellevue. Which spelled out who could live in certain neighborhoods. 1. The evidence shows that the practices KingCo now is penalizing including summer sports camps for kids and paying coaches for extra work outside of the season were approved by Bellevue School District and are shared by many, many area schools, the statement said. With ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary What Carter Lost screening Aug. 24, audiences are primed to remember the glory and scandal that surrounded Dallas Carter High School's football team nearly 30 . I have been watching professional and college sports for more than 40 years, and have been covering college football for Last Word on Sports for two years. His older brother became vice president of the teams booster club. 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.
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