Bellevue school officials have previously told Bellevue head coach Butch Goncharoff that the district will seek to terminate him for violations of district policies. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook) KingCo left the question of whether Bellevue should forfeit state titles up to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). 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. Washington state wants to be a leader in climate change, but I sense that the voters are not as concerned about that these days. Art Thiel is a co-founder and writer for the rising sports website Sportspress Northwest. This has been, I dont want to say an open secret, but Im not surprised by the investigation, ONeil told Seattles Morning News. "This is the most successful athletic program in state history and it's being torn down. It should not be about winning at all costs to include cheating by parents. "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. During that conversation on Sunday, Freeman reaffirmed the other aspects of his account. BHS cheated its own eligible students of playing. 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. Touchdowns by Daniels, Hansen, Rubin, Moon, Smith, and Matsudaira. On the first play from scrimmage, freshman Max Jones took a handoff 65 yards to the house, and the JV squad never looked back. The Wolverines found paydirt early and often, ending the first quarter with a 280 lead, eventually taking a 35-0 lead to half. Published: Oct. 14, 2022 at 6:55 PM PDT. Supporters of the Bellevue football program have shared the letter on social media. Great highlight video Carter High in Dallas took the state championship in 1988, but this new film about the team is not all about victory. Editors note: After the original Seattle Times article of Aug. 23 the newspaper followed up with another article in which the parents of Darien Freeman disputed portions of the first article that were attributed to their son. With their sights set on a state championship run, the Cowboys began preparing for the playoffs. 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. In both games, seniors Ishaan Daniels and George Kruger were standouts. "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.". The WIAS must close this loophole immediately, conduct a comprehensive investigation into the 17 Bellevue High School football players who were offered a distinct advantage over other high schools in the state and should take the following action if there is one shred of evidence of chicanery: 1. Plenty of things we need to clean up for next week, though. This isnt just about high school sports. The second quarter was the Carson Rubin Show, as he added 10- and 35-yard TD runs, and even a two-point conversion, helping the Wolverines take a 26-6 lead to the locker room. The win marks a return to the top for a former state juggernaut that won eight state championships from 2001 to 2011. As crime increases, our safety measures must too, GSBA is closing the disparity gap with Ready for Business Fund. The donors and contributors to this school should be identified. 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.. This was wealth gone greedy., Bellevue football report put asterisk on winning record. The Bellevue High (Seattle) football team is reportedly aided through a diploma mill private school, according to an investigation by The Seattle Times. Under ominous clouds and heavy winds, the Wolverines took the field in their electric yellow uniforms, to face the visiting Snohomish Panthers in a Week 10 crossover game. Finally, in the fourth quarter, Kaden Matsudaira was featured in a long drive, culminating in a 3-yard TD run to put an exclamation point on the game. Sports news, analysis, opinions, and rumors. 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. 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. Food, Drink, and Coastal Christmas Anacortes has it all. 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. An investigation released Tuesday revealed significant and long-standing violations by the Bellevue High School football program. The Academic Institute existed in a strip mall not far from Bellevue High. For a paltry $1,750 tuition per month, these student athletes supposedly got academic help. 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. In the second half, Bellevue let their young guns get a taste of the MI rivalry under the big lights, and played out the remainder of the game under a running clock. 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. Bellevue High School in Bellevue, Washington is one of the most successful high school football programs in the country, with 11 state titles in 15 years, a 67-game winning streak covering some of that period and a national footprint that has had them playing on ESPN . A 68-page report found that players' families provided false address to gain eligibility and that head coach Butch Goncharoff encouraged players to attend classes at a private alternative school. Bellevue can appeal the sanctions to KingCo principals within five school days, then can appeal to the executive board of the SeaKing District and ultimately to the executive board of the WIAA. The KingCo Conference is a 16-team conference [and] their athletic directors decided some fairly draconian punishments. They don't have subpoena power because this is a trade association. Bellevue (Wash.) School District officials are planning to fire the head coach of the Bellevue High School football team, according to a letter sent to the coach by a top district official and . After two rigorous non-conference games, Bellevue kicked off KingCo 3A conference play this past Friday night against Liberty High School of Renton. Kirsten is also a sports lover. 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. Lake Washington Windows and Doors is a local window dealer offering the exclusive Leak Armor installation. Here's the AP story SEATTLE (AP) - An investigation into illegal recruiting has resulted in the suspension of Bellevue High School's head football coach, Butch Goncharoff, and the team being placed on probation. Thanks to state-wide referee shortages, the Wolverines had to reschedule their weekly Friday night appointment to Saturday. Its no surprise that we tend to have a lot of conversations about entitled young athletes. State District . Accepted a Bellevue resolution that it will not renew contracts for two years of coaches who violated the WIAA rule that stipends and gifts of more than $500 must be approved by the school board. Volunteer to help people understand their Medicare options! June 29, 2022 Posted in&nbspkawasaki monster energy jersey. 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 has 12 buildings taller than 25 stories, 10 of them built since 2005. 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. Their punishment is that they will never be remembered well. 9-0 on the season, BACK ON TRACK! One family complained their son was told his scholarship at the Institute would be revoked if he stopped playing football at Bellevue. In their opening possession, Carson Rubin zigged and zagged, dicing the defense with a 29-yard touchdown run. Bellevue is not allowed to play out-of-state opponents for four seasons. We love the playoffs, Coach Kneip said postgame, this is the best time of the year, and were ready to get after it!. Armstead is also in the New York Giants Ring of Honor. A video of Bellevue East High School's Touchdowns from Sharp, Jones, Reed, and freshman Trevin King kept the Bellevue offense on top, for a 49-22 win. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. In 1959, Stamford defeated Brady 19-14 in the state championship. On November 10, the UIL shocked Dallas Carter and the entire state when they announced the Cowboys were ineligible for the playoffs. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. 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. 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. 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The SHIBA program part of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner is ready to help with your Medicare open enrollment decisions. Make it hurt. The team should have to forfeit the championships it won. They say proposed project will negatively impact Minidoka internment camp site. In addition to prohibiting the Bellevue football program from receiving donations, the KingCo committee said: Bellevue is not allowed to play any nonleague football games and will be limited to Class 3A league games for two seasons. Its a disgrace that this has gone on as long as it has. Daniels got the second half rolling with his fourth house call of the game, and Luke Scoma added a late field goal to give the Wolverines a 44-13 win. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds. 1 Bellevue back into 3A state semifinals: 4 observations After the game, Coach Kneip said, Our job is to put our kids in the best position to win a state championship, and that means challenging ourselves against the best opponents we can possibly find for our non-conference games.. He is now on administrative leave while this is adjudicated.". Lots of work to be done to get where we want to be, though. 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. We hear stories about competing schools. You cheat, you steal, you lie. 5. 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. You can read the Times' entire investigation here. Recent newspaper headlines should bring the immediate firing of Butch Goncharoff, Bellevue High School football coach. Michael Kneip coaches his alma mater and is bent on restoring its football greatness. 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. 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. 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. Come celebrate Anacortes 11th annual Bier on the Pier! Ban Goncharoff from coaching football in Washington for life. 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.. 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. Photos: William Wang powers No. What is your main job as a parent? Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. 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Bellevue's head coach and athletic director be fired immediately 2. 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. The following Monday, the Bellevue JV had their first home game of the season, hosting Juanita. Our guys played pretty well, its just about getting better., Then, on Monday, the LW JV made the opposite trip, visiting BHS. Mercer Island Football Booster Club President, 1988-89. Updated: 7:13 PM PDT July 8, 2016. Of the 24-23 loss, Coach Kneip said, Theyre a really, really well-coached, high quality program. The Seattle [] Yes, they broke the rules to get them on the team. In the end, nine football players at the school admitted to using over the counter steroid-like substances and prescription steroids. The Times uncovered 17 instances. "That report will be forwarded to the WIAA, which will adjudicate the punishments and will allow Bellevue High School a chance to appeal.". Bellevue High is an extremely successful football program. The conferences action sets a precedent that should raise a red flag to everyone, the statement said. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. In 2009, along with Steve Rudman and KJR 950 afternoon host Mike Gastineau, Thiel authored The Great Book of Seattle Sports Lists, a cross between historylink.org and Mad Magazine that has become mandatory reading for any sports fan who has an indoor bathroom. Here is a selection of the. In its report to KingCo, the Bellevue School District acknowledged several violations of rules while disputing other aspects of the independent investigation. An investigation into the allegations by the Dallas Morning News led to the school investigating the claims as well. The Wolverines will face Snohomish High School, at home this Friday, in the Week 10 Crossover round. Freeman met with a reporter on two separate occasions at a SeaTac restaurant. The booster club should be disbanded. 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. Carter High . It is high time to clean up this mess. "It was discovered that there were athletes competing under false addresses in the Bellevue district. The uproar began and a legal battle quickly ensued. A video of two football players from John Jay High School in San Antonio went viral in September of 2015 after they blindsided a referee near the end of a game versus Marble Falls. Rantz is much less critical of the Bellevue parents saying that, assuming the allegations are true, putting a student in the position to gain a college scholarship is a noble pursuit. That's as many as Milwaukee, two more than Indianapolis and Tampa, and six more than Oklahoma City and San Antonio.. lots and lots of money going around. Freemans parents, Yusef and Allona, wrote in a letter this week to the school district that their son lived in the Bellevue attendance area. 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. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid . Among those, Freeman said Goncharoff directed him to attend the Academic Institute instead of studying at Bellevue. Later, when the family lived in SeaTac, he said, his mother would drop him off at a bus stop in Renton to commute. 5 seeded Wolverines (8-2) walloped No. football coach makes appeal after ban. Varsity takes the field this Saturday (10/8) at Juanita, at 7pm, while the JV will face Juanita at home the following Monday. And the idea that you need to move from wherever you live Carnation, Concrete, etc. More of the money went to pay for school; the kind with no real academics. Part of Darien Freemans account, however, is corroborated by documents reviewed by the Seattle Times. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe. A high school state football championship in Texas is arguably about more than just temporary bragging rights. Theyre going to find you. The Times uncovered 17 instances of Bellevue players who attend the Academic Institute, a small private school which does not offer football, in the last seven years. McKinney North Principal Linda Thret was the mom of one of the Fab Five and eventually resigned due to mounting pressure over her lack of discipline with the group. HOME 5-1 AWAY 4-1 NEUTRAL 0-1. Jones has filed an unfair-labor-practices complaint with the Public Employment Relations Commission. Until 1968, Washington state allowed restrictive housing covenants. Here is a selection of the responses we received: Bellevue High Schools titles need to be removed. Yes, the Catholic schools do recruit, but they are not funded through public money. Per a statement, athletic director Jim Hicks said. It's false. It starts with having no sports-specific booster clubs and school administrators having the courage and will to take responsibility for sustaining integrity rather than empty victories. Yusef Freeman did not return a call Friday seeking comment on his letter. "He's still a vital part of the picture. Top-ranked Bellevue defeated Marysville Pilchuck, 27-3, in the 3A state football semifinals on Nov. 27 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle. 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. WA State 3A Champs '83, '01, '02, '03, '04, '06, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12,. Weve seen a couple of surveys about Seattles happiness rating, one shows us near the top for happiness, and one has us closer to the bottom. Its unfortunate for the kids who played therebut also hard on those who played against Bellevue, too. An Auburn woman has won the $754.6 million Powerball jackpot. Bellevue footballs promotion of a culture of cheating is a broadly understood fact. Allow only the students living within the boundaries to participate. And a large percentage of those kids were athletes," Thiel said. Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. Boosters have been barred from affiliating with the program. Now, we cannot be completely naive. Ask yourself these questions while you scan the details: Where in the name of all that is right were the parents? Final score, 59-0, BHS. 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. The most successful and the private schools are usually those that get accused. 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. 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