‘Consequences are needed’: Report details allegations of ‘Bleachers’ bullying incidents on Rochester HS Football team

7 p.m. Update:

ROCHESTER, Ill. (WCIA) — WCIA read the full report on the bullying investigation involving varsity football players at Rochester High School.

Merry Rhoades of Tueth Keeney conducted the investigation. 74 students and 19 coaches were interviewed as a part of the investigation.

The report found 10 sophomores participated in “Bleachers” on Sept. 26. On the football field, the sophomores were lined up at a fence before being shot with air soft guns, leaving some with small marks, bruising or scabs.

One parent of a student-athlete reported to the school district “an allegation of hazing” the next day, as their athlete had “welts that broke the skin in some instances” from being shot.

Of the students interviewed, most denied any involvement or being aware of any of the activities involved in “Bleachers”. For example, of the 22 seniors interviewed, 19 denied any knowledge of shooting fellow players with airsoft guns. Two confirmed it happened, and one said “no comment.”

Rhoades called these responses “troubling.”

“While some students acknowledged attending “bleachers”, these same students stated that nothing happened,” the report reads. “These were not truthful statements.”

Rhoades later classifies varsity players shooting younger players with airsoft guns as the criminal acts of “battery” and “aggravated assault”. She does not recommend criminal charges against any student athletes, however.

The report also found it credible that football players also held “cookie races” and “fight nights” this school year, but could not identify specific dates the offense occurred.

No students were able to identify which players organized “Bleachers” in the interviews.

While eight coaches knew of the unsupervised Thursday night gatherings, all denied knowing any activities the athletes participated in during “Bleachers”.

“This investigator had the sense that the coaches did not want to know what was happening at these Thursday night gatherings,” Rhoades wrote.

Rhoades recommends 5 to 10 hours of community service for all football players, except seniors. The investigator did not recommend community service for graduating seniors, “given that the season will be ending soon.”

Rhoades also criticized Head Coach Derek Leonard for not imposing consequences past community service, and recommended the board to sideline him for Friday’s game.

“While this investigator understands and appreciates the concerns about maintaining a winning football team, it cannot be win at all costs.” Rhoades recommended to Leonard. “When players hurt or otherwise intimidate fellow players, consequences are needed. It is the coach that needs to take that leadership role.”

3:45 P.M. Update:

ROCHESTER, Ill. (WCIA) — The Rochester school district has released the report on hazing and bullying on the high school varsity football team.

The report details “Bleachers”, the unsupervised gatherings on the high school football field on Thursday evenings where hazing and bullying occurred. The law firm Tueth Keeney found the gatherings included shooting fellow players with airsoft and CO2 pistols, conducting “cookie runs”, urinating on or around the visiting team’s bleachers and holding “wrestle-offs” where two underclassmen would wrestle until one is pinned.

Investigators did not recommend student punishments.

“While the investigation confirmed that bullying occurred, a lack of evidence identifying specific individual participants resulted in a recommendation that no disciplinary action could be taken against individual students,” the decision letter from the school district reads.

While some coaches were aware of gatherings, no one provided guidance or follow-up inquiry on Bleachers. The oversight is inconsistent for the Illinois Administrative Code, the law firm found.

In addition, the Board has requested more recommendations to ensure safety and well-being for all students in extracurriculars.

The full report can be found on the Rochester School District’s website .

This is a developing story.

ROCHESTER, Ill. (WCIA) — A Central Illinois school district has suspended one of their coaches after a report of bullying and hazing on one of the sports teams.

A spokesperson for the school district confirmed with WCIA an independent investigator has looked into allegations of bullying and hazing at Rochester High School on their football team. The investigation came after an anonymous formal complaint submitted to the school district in late September.

The hazing happened at a non-sanctioned gathering after school hours with no adults (coaches, teachers, or staff) present.

“It was determined that some football players used airsoft guns or CO ₂ 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.”

Jon Hansen, Director of Communications & Engagement at Rochester CUSD

The head coach, Derek Leonard, has been suspended for their Friday night game. A final report will be released Friday. Any students’ punishments will be included in the final report.

This is a developing story.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.