A second high school has cancelled its football season after freshman players were allegedly forced to sexually assault each other in humiliating hazing rites, according to officials from the Pennsylvania school district.
The final two football games at Central Bucks High School West near Philadelphia, were cancelled after it emerged that players allegedly engaged in pre-season hazing rituals such "waterboarding"at the school. The allegations were first reported on Oct. 14.
Superintendent David Weitzel said rookies were required to grab another player's genitals while fully clothed, an initiation that was carried out in front of most team members.
This comes just weeks after criminal charges were lodged against seven players at Sayreville War Memorial High School in New Jersey, over allegations of sexual hazings. Five coaches were also suspended.
In a letter to the school district, Weitzel said: "Our inquiry determined that students new to the team were expected to participate in several initiations that were both humiliating and inappropriate.
"I want to be clear that these activities did not result in physical harm, but were not harmless."
James Donnelly, chief of the Central Bucks Regional Police Department, said he had been notified about allegations of "waterboarding" at the school.
Principal Jason Bucher alerted police that young players had been placed under the shower with towels over their heads, but Donnelly said it was not the waterboarding torture as he understood it.
"The letter was pretty damning and contains some pretty scary information," said Donnelly.
"We don't know if it was just kids horsing around or if it was more serious, but we're going to investigate."
All varsity and junior varsity coaches at Central Bucks have been suspended pending further investigation, said Superintendent Weitzel.
Police said they would investigate whether any of the activity was criminal and whether staff failed to properly supervise team activities.
For years the school had one of the most successful football programs in the country, including a run of four state titles in the 1990s, when it regularly appeared in national Top 10 rankings.
Its alumni include Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine Jr. and two of his assistants at the one-time football power.
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