(CAPITOL CITY NOW) -While an outside attorney conducts an investigation into bullying and hazing among Rochester High School football players, head coach Derek Leonard has been suspended for one game. A law firm in Edwardsville is working to finalize a report, which is expected to be released Friday, per information released by Rochester CUSD 3A spokesperson Jon Hansen.
According to a statement from the district’s attorney, a complaint about possible hazing and bullying at a non-sanctioned gathering of football players outside of school hours was received. The district said no coaches, teachers, or staff were present. Players reportedly used airsoft guns to target other team members. Other activities included cookie races, where students placed cookies in between their buttocks, raced each other, and the loser ate the cookie,” according to the statement. The Rochester team has won multiple state titles.
The following is the full statement delivered by the district’s attorney at the Rochester School Board meeting on Thursday.
“In late September 2024, the school district received an anonymous formal complaint with an allegation of bullying and hazing during a non-sanctioned, after-school-hours gathering of football players – without coaches, teachers or staff present.
This gathering is known as “Bleachers” where football players come together for social, athletic and team-building activities.
It was determined that some football players used airsoft guns or CO2 pistols to target other team members at the football field – again, after school hours with no coaches or other supervising adults there. The investigator found that other activities were taking place including what is known as cookie races, where students placed cookies in between their buttocks, raced each other and the loser ate the cookie. The students also participated in what is termed as “wrestle offs” where lower classmen players were matched up by upper classmen to wrestle against each other.
The School Board contracted an independent and impartial attorney from Tueth Keeney – out of Edwardsville – to thoroughly investigate this allegation and to provide recommendations generally for our District extracurricular and athletic programs. These actions under the Illinois School Code mandates that a public school district conduct a thorough investigation into a report of bullying or hazing.
Tonight, the School Board is accepting the independent investigator’s report and the recommendations from the independent investigator Tueth Keeney. That report and all of the recommendations from the investigator will be released publicly Friday.”
