A New York high school student was dismissed from the rest of the college football season last month after a “rap battle” between teammates in the locker room led to an altercation, according to reports.
Newburgh Free Academy's promising season in the Hudson Valley was canceled this week before the Goldbacks were scheduled to play Middletown in the Section 9 Class AA semifinals. The Middletown Times-Herald-Record reported Tuesday.
A source said players on the team were involved in a “rap battle” in which fellow players shouted abuse at each other, but things quickly got out of control.
The players began throwing chairs at each other, leaving one student with severe bruises. sources told ABC 7.
The newspaper said several teammates intervened during the collision.
Only the players directly involved in the confrontation were suspended by head coach Bill Bianco, and many more were banned from playing for being in the locker room during the brawl.
“It's not like there was literally more than one incident,” a source told the Times Herald-Record.
School officials did not let the matter go unnoticed and began an internal investigation at the main campus and a second school campus in Newburgh without first alerting the coaching staff, sources claimed.
The coaching staff then faced suspension, and coaches from the junior varsity and freshman programs were scheduled to take their place before the playoff games were forfeited.
“Unfortunately, due to the circumstances, the remainder of the football season has been canceled,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jacquilynn Manning Campbell told parents in a letter Tuesday, according to the Times Herald-Record.
“While we regret this outcome, this is a necessary step as we continue to gather information, support those affected, and ensure accountability for those involved.”
The Newburgh Free Academy principal told ABC 7 last week that her team takes allegations regarding the incident “very seriously” after becoming aware of a potential code of conduct violation on Oct. 25. he said.
“As part of our oversight of the investigation, we will ensure that the details of the investigation will guide our next steps and decision-making process,” Campbell said. “These allegations are serious and we need to take this matter seriously.”
