The Middletown Area School District in Pennsylvania has canceled its football season following hazing incidents.
In a letter to parents, Superintendent Chelton Hunter said the decision came after the district obtained an additional video showing another hazing incident involving the football team.
Cell phone video shows two teammates restrained by a group of fellow students and getting their butts poked with a muscle therapy gun and other athletic equipment.
“The video shows players fully clothed. It did not appear that any student’s body was physically penetrated,” Dr. Hunter said in the letter on Monday.
“The video is difficult to watch as this is a completely unacceptable, offensive, and highly inappropriate act.”
This incident is disturbing and upsetting, and we understand both the desire for more information and a call for action.”
Several players were kicked off the team and the head coach Scott Acri resigned.
Additional video has since emerged of the hazing and the school district decided to cancel the Blue Raiders’ upcoming season on Wednesday.
“In light of this, we have made the decision to cancel the 2022 football season,” Dr. Hunter said, “I know this decision will be met with many different opinions and emotions and will impact many 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. We know we must work to address the culture of this team, educate our student body about hazing, and put programs in place to help us ensure that this kind of atmosphere is never allowed to exist in our school facilities.”
The school says the incident happened inside the high school turf room for heat acclimation practice sessions.
Dr. Hunter also revealed the new footage has been shared with the Lower Swatara Township Police Department and says those involved will be disciplined per school policy.
We reached out to LSTPD, who told us they had “no comment” at this time, sighting the active investigation.
