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Meeting held at Conestoga High on hazing allegations regarding football team

Published  March 29, 2016 6:57am EDT
U.S.
FOX 29 Philadelphia

Berwyn, Pa. (WTXF) It was a packed crowd at Conestoga High School auditorium filled with parents. School officials held what they called a community meeting for an open discussion about a hazing investigation allegedly involving members of the school football team.

"Until they actually find out the full details I really just don't think to jump to conclusion. For me it's about the kids, it's about the program and it's about Conestoga," said Kevin Stroman who attended the meeting and is a graduate of the school.

The incident was reported last October. District Attorney Tom Hogan said then that 3 seniors held down a 14-year old freshman in the locker room and sexually assaulted him with a broomstick when he refused to be hazed. The investigation has led to head coach John Hogan stepping down and the district relieved the entire Varsity and JV staff of their duties saying there was insufficient adult presence in the locker room.

"I think sometimes we're coming down too hard on the administrators and then at the same time something happens so we got to find out what's happening," said graduate and community member Kevin Stroman. John Kincade said, "I think they were judged too early and I think if this meeting had happened before it would have been really good for the community."

Our cameras were not allowed inside. Kincade filled us in on what people who spoke during the meeting had to say.

"I think most of it was in support of the players because not everybody was involved in the hazing. I think a lot of support for the coaches and there was talk about the administrations role in this that they really didn't do a good job in creating the policies and procedures for the coaches to follow," said Kincade.

Others believe there's a lot more to the incident that's not being reported by officials.

"I think eventually that you'll see that everything is false regarding the incident. I think it's complete fabrication. It's a hoax," said Jim Batgos.