Cheltenham High Football Team's Culture Under Scrutiny After Hazing Incident Raises Doubts Over 2026 Season
An investigation by an external investigator hired by the Cheltenham School District has found that the school's varsity football team had a "toxic and negative culture" that may ultimately jeopardize any chance of playing in the 2026 season. The probe was sparked by reports of hazing, which led to the suspension of the team's season just months ago.
The investigation confirmed that a student-on-student assault took place on September 3 in a school locker room, with 19 students witnessing the incident and none of them intervening. It also revealed that several students had participated freely in the alleged assault and even filmed it. The Cheltenham Police Department and Montgomery County District Attorney's Office are still investigating the incident, but no charges have been filed at this time.
The investigation found that the coaching staff failed to supervise the locker room or prioritize student safety, despite having a duty of care to do so. Furthermore, coaches were also accused of not speaking with students about anti-bullying and hazing, highlighting a clear lack of oversight in the team's culture.
While the investigation did not find evidence of a pattern of hazing, it did conclude that the football program was plagued by a toxic culture that needs to be addressed. The district has issued several recommendations for reforming the program, including replacing the coaching staff, establishing new protocols for incident reporting, and creating training materials for student conduct.
The progress of this year's team will heavily depend on their ability to implement these reforms over the coming months, with any hopes of playing in the 2026 season contingent on the success of this effort. The district has acknowledged that ongoing Title IX and disciplinary investigations could impact some players' future eligibility to play football, particularly those who were not involved in the September incident.
However, the district is committed to supporting returning students who were not implicated in the scandal, with Superintendent Brian W. Scriven emphasizing their importance in rebuilding a positive culture for the team. The Cheltenham High football program's future hangs in the balance as they work to address these serious issues and restore a sense of safety and respect within the team.
An investigation by an external investigator hired by the Cheltenham School District has found that the school's varsity football team had a "toxic and negative culture" that may ultimately jeopardize any chance of playing in the 2026 season. The probe was sparked by reports of hazing, which led to the suspension of the team's season just months ago.
The investigation confirmed that a student-on-student assault took place on September 3 in a school locker room, with 19 students witnessing the incident and none of them intervening. It also revealed that several students had participated freely in the alleged assault and even filmed it. The Cheltenham Police Department and Montgomery County District Attorney's Office are still investigating the incident, but no charges have been filed at this time.
The investigation found that the coaching staff failed to supervise the locker room or prioritize student safety, despite having a duty of care to do so. Furthermore, coaches were also accused of not speaking with students about anti-bullying and hazing, highlighting a clear lack of oversight in the team's culture.
While the investigation did not find evidence of a pattern of hazing, it did conclude that the football program was plagued by a toxic culture that needs to be addressed. The district has issued several recommendations for reforming the program, including replacing the coaching staff, establishing new protocols for incident reporting, and creating training materials for student conduct.
The progress of this year's team will heavily depend on their ability to implement these reforms over the coming months, with any hopes of playing in the 2026 season contingent on the success of this effort. The district has acknowledged that ongoing Title IX and disciplinary investigations could impact some players' future eligibility to play football, particularly those who were not involved in the September incident.
However, the district is committed to supporting returning students who were not implicated in the scandal, with Superintendent Brian W. Scriven emphasizing their importance in rebuilding a positive culture for the team. The Cheltenham High football program's future hangs in the balance as they work to address these serious issues and restore a sense of safety and respect within the team.
. It's clear that they had a duty of care to supervise those students, but instead chose to turn a blind eye to hazing and bullying behavior. Meanwhile, administrators are just now getting around to addressing these issues after the harm has already been done 
.
85% of students who witnessed the hazing incident reported feeling uncomfortable or even fearful when asked about it, while only 22% of coaching staff members were found to have received training on anti-bullying and hazing prevention 
, highlighting a lack of accountability within the team's social circles.
️. With a 70% drop in team attendance since the suspension, it seems like the current culture just isn't working out 
. And to think that these kids were filming it... that's just despicable.
. And as for the players who were implicated in the scandal... good luck getting back on the field, I guess 
.
, especially considering all those students who got hurt during that hazing incident 
. It's crazy how some coaches didn't even prioritize student safety 
, and it's a major red flag 
, and they need to make sure these reforms happen ASAP 
. Replacing the coaching staff and implementing new protocols are good starts, but we also need to see real progress on promoting a positive culture 
. Can't wait to see how the team comes together and shows everyone what they're capable of 
my cousin's kid was in that team last yr and she said it was super competitive but also really cliquey u feel? like how can u be competitive w/o being mean 2 each other? 
anyway i hope the district takes these reforms seriously 'cause its not just about the kids on that team its about creating a culture of respect everywhere
. I mean, if the coaching staff didn't even bother to supervise the locker room, that's just a huge red flag 
. And let me tell you, it's not like those coaches were oblivious to what was going on - they should've been having conversations with students about anti-bullying and hazing all along 
. That's just not right, you know? The fact that those kids were too scared or intimidated to speak up is a big problem 
.
.
. But for now, I'm keeping a close eye on this situation 
.
. The fact that coaches didn't prioritize student safety or address bullying and hazing is just red flag after red flag 
hope the team can turn it around & make the 2026 season happen 
.
. The fact that the students were even filming the incident is just crazy 
It's disgusting. I mean, who condones that kind of behavior and not speak up when it happens? The coaching staff needs to get their act together and prioritize student safety, it's like basic common sense 
. They need to take responsibility for this toxic culture and make some real changes ASAP 
. Its gotta b hard 4 those kids who weren't involved 2 deal w/ the drama & stress, esp if they were looking fwd 2 playin in 2026 
. Can only hope tht next yr's team will be a more positive & supportive environment 
