A federal lawsuit claims members of the Lake Zurich High School football team regularly used “sexual assault and acts of degradation” to haze teammates, while coaches and administrators turned a blind eye.
The Chicago Tribune reports the hazing may go back at least two decades.
Antonio Romanucci, the attorney representing two former football teammates, said “‘Lord of the Flies’-type tactics” were used to keep victims silent.
“They were brutally mocked, teased, humiliated, embarrassed, and emotionally harmed, all in the name of team bonding,” he claims.
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It’s the latest development in an ongoing scandal plaguing the school ever since two Lake Zurich football coaches were put on leave for unspecified reasons right before a November playoff game.
Related: Three football players admit to hazing younger player in horrific “No Gay Thursday” attack
Reports of “inappropriate activity” in the locker room after a football team dinner in October led Lake Zurich Community School District 95 to investigate along with Lake Zurich police and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office, but no charges were ultimately filed.
An investigation by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services continues.
Authorities have remained silent regarding what exactly happened in the locker room, blacking out large swaths of police files and omitting details from a report written by an outside law firm. The new lawsuit also redacts passages describing the alleged abuses, stating one boy was “hazed” in the locker room shower, and another engaged in “an unspecified act” with a teammate.
The lawsuit claims players were goaded into urinating on other members, forced to perform fellatio on one other, and slapped in the face by teammates’ genitals.
This all took place under a tradition known as “(Expletive) of the Week,” which targeted teammates by putting their names on a locker room whiteboard.
According to the lawsuit:
“(Social) pressure and bullying at such events is so severe that even unwilling participants are forced to take part in acts that are assaultive, illegal and often sexual in nature.”
Apparently this “tradition” goes back to at least 1997, and the lawsuit claims acts include players stripped naked, players sexually assaulted with broomsticks, and players punched in the genitals.
The Chicago Tribune reports:
Other teams had their own traditions within the same time period, the lawsuit alleges, from cross-country runners being duct-taped naked to a post to wrestlers punching and kicking their teammates in what was known as a “birthday beatdown.”
The lawsuit seeks damages over $50,000, and asks for required anti-hazing training for coaches, teachers and staff; assemblies for students; and a database to track complaints of hazing and bullying.
Related: Three High School Basketball Players Accused Of Gang Raping Freshmen In Cabin
Head coach David Proffitt, named as a defendant, made a statement to The Chicago Tribune via text:
We have always tried to do the right thing in preparing (players) for life’s challenges, while keeping them and the program’s best interest at heart….
In the 11 years I have been at LZ, anytime we felt that a player was being humiliated in any way what so ever, we stopped it & made sure those involved understood the wrong in what they were doing….
Never did I know of anything like that taking place. … I am amazed that because of one or two individuals’ claims, the whole program & coaches are given a black eye.
crowebobby
“… one or two individual’s claims…” And keep all the investigative reports secret so no one can dispute his take on it: that only “one or two individuals” are the problem. We can’t risk ruining the lives of the “young people” who were brutally beating and sexually assaulting the little rat fink pussies.
Hussain-TheCanadian
I was on the soccer team in high school, we never did any of this insanity to each other – I personally don’t understand why such “hazing” still persists and festers. Bullying? Sexual frustration? Why would supposed team mates and friends do this to each other?
Paco
Dominance. It is all about reinforcing the dominance hierarchy. Common in animal social groups. Humans are still animals.
Ken A.
The reason why the reports were redacted? They didn’t happen or it is unsure if anything of this nature happened at all. I find this whole thing nonsense. I never played sports and the only thing I witnessed where two guys pulling each other’s dicks in the shower as some sort of stupid contest. But no one hazed anyone and no one came out worse for wear. It was my punishment for skipping a weeks worth gym, to clean the locker room during practice. And a punishment it was. OH, they knew I was gay and no one harassed me, they just kept making messes so I’d have to clean it up.
nebskram
what i am hearing is that because it did not happen to you it cant be happening to anyone else and the reason things get redacted is that from the info redacted you can id the victims thus more harassment
Juanjo
Well Ken has spoken and so it must be true. Everyone can just go home now.
jkthsnk
This is what happens when closet cases run the show. Expect more of the same.
Sluggo2007
Bingo!
Woody
Why do straight guys get their jollies watching and subjecting other straight guys having gay sex or sex-like acts?
Sluggo2007
They want to watch what they want to do.
tacoma4x4
It’s a dominance thing. And yes, sometimes acting out things they secretly want to do is part of it, but more importantly it is to humiliate and dominate. And the aggressors are usually closet cases. Sometimes the lesser ones involved go along with it so they won’t become victims themselves.
GayEGO
Football Jocks, as we called them back in the 1950s, like to get their rocks off, however they do it.
Prax07
There were similar stories circulating in my HS back in the 90’s. These focused mainly on the teams forcing oral from new team members and the use of a broom handle up the rear. All done to make unwanted guys quit the teams.