Bentley High School Cancels Football Season Amid Hazing

With many local high schools juggling practice and game cancelations due to COVID-19 cases and exposures, one high school has had their season come to a end over hazing.

Wednesday, the Bentley Community Schools announced in a letter that their high school football season will be ending. The reason stated was the lack of eligible players following hazing allegations.

In a letter to Bentley families, Superintendent Kristy Spann states that the school district has been looking into hazing amongst the Bentley football players. In the letter Spann says, “Hazing, bullying, and other aggressive behavior are not conducive to an educational environment. Further, such allegations harm our students emotionally and at times physically. Foremost, we must be committed to our youth’s well-being.”

The letter goes on to note that the allegations are "serious", yet Spann does not elaborate on what the hazing incidents involves. She does write that, “All students ... share responsibility for avoiding, discouraging, and reporting any form of unlawful harassment.” The letter does indicate that there could be as many as four to five students involved.

Superintendent Spann made sure to assure families that the issue is being investigated, and addressed and that it does not define Bentley. “Our coaches and our youth are good people. We will not let these allegations define our athletes or staff,” Spann wrote. “We will rise up and become a better and stronger football team—one in which the entire community will be able to take pride.”

Bentley was standing with a 2-1 record when the hazing allegation came to light before their forfeit to Beecher last weekend due to not having  enough players to safely field a team due to grade ineligibility according to Mlive. The Bulldogs were set to play St. Charles this week.

You can view the entire letter below.