LEWIS CENTER — The Olentangy Local School District is investigating an alleged hazing incident involving the Orange High School girls soccer team.
In response to the incident, the district will institute anti-hazing training to all sports and co-curricular activities at all high school and middle school levels, according to Assistant Director of Communications Amanda Beeman.
That includes band, choir and others, Beeman told Delaware Source.
Training will be for both students and coaches/directors, she said.
The district already has a policy prohibiting hazing, which says students and district staff who engage in hazing “may be subject to disciplinary action and may be held personally liable for civil and criminal penalties in accordance with the law.”
Beeman said the district does not plan to change that policy at this time.
Background on hazing incident
The district became aware of the alleged hazing incident on Sept. 16, when a district teacher told the Orange High School Athletic Director, who immediately began an investigation, Beeman said.
Olentangy Local Schools’ staff directory lists Andre Nash as the director of athletics for Olentangy Orange High School.
District staff reported the incident, which allegedly occurred over the summer, to the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) on Sept. 18, according to a DCSO press release.
The DCSO conducted a criminal investigation, and the Orange High School resource officer determined that the incident constituted a criminal offense.
However, without a victim willing to come forward and press charges, there is not much the DCSO can do, Public Information Manager Jamie Hopps said.
Last week, Olentangy officials placed all four Orange High School girls soccer coaches across the three teams on administrative leave.
Those coaches are Allie Sanders, Steve Goebel, Sam Vaughan and Payton Kaufman.
Their administrative leave lasts until the remainder of the regular season, which ends Oct. 6.
Additionally, six seniors were removed from the team and will not be allowed to participate in the remainder of the season and all post-season games and activities, Beeman said.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, there are videos of the alleged incident that show senior team members made players wear adult-sized diapers, zip-tied their wrists and wrapped their arms to their chests with plastic wrap, force-fed them raw hot dogs and sardines and more.
Beeman said since she’s worked for the district beginning in 2020, this is the only reported hazing incident.
The district will continue its investigation “based on some new information,” Beeman said, but she said there are no further details she can provide at this time.
