*State criminal investigators launch probe into Eastside. When one Disciple wanted to get out earlier this year, he was told in no uncertain terms that leaving was not an option. Aquino made it to the U.S. after a Paterson resident named Felix Ayala discovered her playing on ESPN, according to an internal school report obtained by NJ Advance Media. The girls won just three out of 19 games, which some officials said resulted from players' transferring to other schools. *Hoops power packs roster from overseas; state questions safety of teens living with coach. But over here, you're like a god.". 1 Union City. She applied to Yale in 2017 and paid an . Gregory Cooper, the Eastside athletic director cut loose, says he was an 'easy target' and made a scapegoat. Father Heric will go back to being the school chaplain. "Over there if you're that tall, you're like a monster. So these guys got her over here and then everybody dropped the ball on her.". We now recognize that this timing was a mistake, and we are working to rectify the impact it has had. On Tuesday, New Jersey's governing body for high school sports levied an unprecedented level of sanctions against the Eastside boys and girls basketball programs, including a two-year state. Rodriguez scored 20 points in a head-to-head matchup with Karl-Anthony Towns, who eventually became the No. Head coaches and assistants in all sports had to take the exam, which also included questions about the city school districts policies and procedures, officials said. "It's very unfortunate that she's caught up in the middle of something like this.". Father Heric remains our chaplain and community liaison. Father Heric was appointed to be interim president after the previous president, John Kennedy, resigned over the summer. The officials at the post office insisted it was left in a safe place. According to that action , Brian Gem Garrison - a former adjunct tennis coach at Eastside High School in Taylors, S.C. - was protected in allegedly predatory activities by the school's . Seattle Times staff reporter A Seattle high school teacher is accused of repeatedly having sex with a 16-year-old student, who reported their encounters to school officials and police last. "As a result of the information that Andrea has shared, it is evident that Andrea may be the victim of neglect, child exploitation, emotional abuse and child endangerment," the report reads. It took3teachers who risked everything tohelp the final 2 African players escape the mess at Eastside High. Ayala also told people he was related to Aquino, and the ESPN articlerefers to Aquino having a cousin in New Jersey. All Rights Reserved. According to our sources, the deputy in question was not disciplined by the sheriffs office however he is likely to be questioned by HSI regarding his alleged knowledge of the various scandals and proximity to some of its protagonists. Viewer discretion is advised. In a practice last week with the Vaqueros, Selwyn finished every drill with a flourish. Once there, the mission began to crystallize. Frame. Deputy reportedly cleared after being accused of failing to report intimate knowledge of Upstate scandals . Or an issue youd like to address proactively? I think things like this happen all the time.. More:Paterson Eastside High School basketball ban upheld by state commissioner, More:Paterson names new coach for Eastside girls basketball team, More:Michael Baker named boys basketball coach as Eastside looks to rebound from scandal. In her resignation letter teacher Lisa Abraham wrote, "Justyna stands up for each, individual student. Anthony McGilcrist, who last year served as athletics coordinator at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, started working at Eastside September 1 at a salary of $98,701, according to district . He left Paterson midway through the season and returned to Puerto Rico. As for SLED, as of Thursday afternoon the statewide agency had not received a formal request from any local or federal law enforcement agency or subdivision of the state to assist in any investigation related to Thornblade, per spokesman Tommy Crosby. Griles, the Rodriguezes said, approached the family after Selwyn led Puerto Rico to the Under-17 championship in a 2011 Central America tournament. According to our sources, most of the initial speculation has centered around Eastside High Schoolin Taylors, S.C. - and perhaps one other nearby school in the South Carolina government-run. LAPD Deputy Chief Gerald Woodyard said LAPD narcotics detectives working with the Long Beach-based Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents recovered 82 firearms, including 42 ghost guns used by the Eastside Wilmas gang, along with 19 pounds of methamphetamine, 5 pounds of cocaine and 3 kilograms of fentanyl. A few minutes later, the emcee hummed a few bars from "The Final Countdown" as a basketball-shaped mascot with a cowboy hat and bushy moustache made its grand entrance. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). In short, the district and the students fully understand the infractions that took place at last night's game.The students involved in the incident from both schools have had a tremendous season and have worked incredibly hard to be successful. Based on all the feedback, we realized that both the changes and their timing were a mistake. Luis says he reads up on the college application process and what his peers say about their experiences. when she graduated from high school. Sherri Davis, NCSS director of public relations, said the students involved have been disciplined. Aquino was moved to a Prospect Park apartment with a district employee, an arrangement that "was supposed to last a couple weeks." CLICK HERE. Ortiz, an undersized point guard with electric ball-handling skills, said no journey was too long to dish on Juan Griles. Selwyn Rodriguez never imagined a basketball journey that included meeting reporters in front of a giantbottle of seasoning salt. Coaches Juan Griles, Alberto Maldonado, and supervisor of athletics Gregory Co That trust has cost her a scholarship to Vanderbilt and forced her back to Africa, where she remains a prisoner of immigration rules. According to videos shared on social media, a male student can be seen escorting a female student with hands behind her back. PATERSON - Eastside boys basketball coach Juan Griles, assistant coach Alberto Maldonado, and the school's athletics supervisor Gregory Cooper were terminated Wednesday night as a . Seattle Times staff reporter On the night of April 20, 2018, five players from Eastside Catholic's powerhouse high school football team rode through Bellevue in a pickup with a 16-year-old. *District busted budget on$90k Wallace report. Carol said she was talking to her father about the scandal, and they wondered where the cheating stopped. Olivia Teforlack, a junior at Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet who wants to go to a University of California campus, said the pressures of high school and the college admission process were overwhelming enough without having to worry about reverse discrimination for the privileged. The punishments imposed against Cooper and the others stemmed from an investigation conducted by a. Eastside HS Athletic Department Contacts downloadable PDF . She wants to major in psychology and build a career helping students who feel as stressed as she does now. Now, the state wants answers as the district takes action. He told his father he needed a mattress and a TV, but even after the father sent $600 to buy both, they never materialized. On Friday, an unidentified boy, 14, was fatally stabbed during a fight outside Paterson's Eastside High School at dismissal, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office. But there he was Wednesday in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, at a massive Goya factory. Good question. "'An outstanding educator': Paterson Eastside High School principal dies," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Gerald Glisson, who was principal of Paterson's Eastside High . Some kids are saying, Oh, youre only taking two APs. ICE officials are in the process of interviewing officials and players. Agents of the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) could soon be called upon to join an investigation into a myriad of allegations involving the exclusive Thornblade neighborhood and its scandal-scarredcountry club, multiple law enforcement and prosecutorial sources tell this news outlet. Selwyn Rodriguez with Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico. Coaches from the powerhouse Paterson Eastside's boys basketball team served as legal guardians to six playersand had them living in their homes. And that consensual sex acts between individuals of consenting age are, well, consensual.. Meanwhile, sources tell us the Greenville county sheriffs office which was first made aware of the allegations involving the clubs finances in May of this year has launched an internal investigation into the proximity of one of its officers to the related scandals. We came to Eastside on a very big lie.". Community Forums on the 2023-2024 District Budget Tuesday, February 28 th, 6 p.m. - Virtual Forum hosted by the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) CLICK HERE to join the virtual forum.. Wednesday, March 1st, 6 p.m. International High School auditorium, 200 Grand St., or CLICK HERE to watch the live stream.. Thursday, March 2nd, 6 p.m. Eastside High School, 150 Park Ave. or A big shakeup happened at. Thornblade Saga: Could SLED Join Investigation? When I think about even if it was just 50 students whose parents cheated for them, those 50 spots could have actually gone to someone who gained those positions.. The school serves the city's Ironbound neighborhood. More:Paterson picks new AD to replace one fired in Eastside hoops scandal, More:Lawyer says Paterson Eastside coach victim of fake news in hoops scandal, More:Paterson's Eastside loses appeal of ban from state basketball tourney. Paterson Eastside High School basketball ban upheld by state commissioner, Paterson names new coach for Eastside girls basketball team, Michael Baker named boys basketball coach as Eastside looks to rebound from scandal, Paterson picks new AD to replace one fired in Eastside hoops scandal, Lawyer says Paterson Eastside coach victim of fake news in hoops scandal, Paterson's Eastside loses appeal of ban from state basketball tourney, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. And Blessing Ejioforlanded in the U.S. on the fast track to college, via Nigeria, but her dreams were crushed by the adults she trusted most. From news that sixoverseas players were living with the boys coach to the discovery of an international pipeline funneling athletes to Paterson since 2013 and the waves of fallout pounding the school and its officials, here's the reporting of Steve Politi and Matt Stanmyre: *The Fast Break: How final 2 players escaped Eastside. In April 2015, the teenager moved to New Jersey, using a visa issued for a New York-based private school, the document said. A big shakeup happened at Eastside Catholic after two principals were fired and 13 faculty members quit in protest. Eastside had been one of the favorites to win both county and state titles. "I don't want him to coach again," Ortiz said from the arena in Bayamon. "I'm willing to go as far as I have to. They said they came because Juan Griles, the basketball coach at Eastside, sold a future that this working-class family from Caugas could not resist. [4] Should they lose their jobs? VIDEO: Eastside Catholic HS teachers quit Classes could be delayed at a high school sports power house after more than a dozen teachers walked off the job. NJ man had guns, ammo, fake marshal ID at airport: FBI, 'Havana syndrome' 'unlikely' caused by foreign adversary: US intel, Eli Lilly cuts insulin prices up to 70% amid pressure to slash costs. Edwin Rodriguez said he paid Griles $900 a month for an apartment for Selwyn, then 17, and Esteban, then 24. *The (many!) "It was like he offered me heaven," Ortiz said. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? I help her set the whole thing up, said Andrea, a Roosevelt High senior who is waiting to hear back from some of the colleges shes applied to. Calendar & Category Legend: Eastside High School. Additionally, our news outlet has been sharply critical in the past of law enforcement investigations conducted into allegedly lewd and lascivious conduct. ", "As I'm sure you can understand, I am not able to provide specific personnel details. What sort of proximity are we talking about? Again, though, we are told HSI is looking to question the deputy in connection with its investigation. *15 questions we still want answered after taxpayer-funded special report. She planned to study pharmacology at Vanderbilt. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The now-deceased woman who owned the house, the brothers said, was a drug addict who regularly used while they were upstairs. Here's why. Christine Kelley, an adult advisor to the Beat which operates under the auspices of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism said shed been on the job eight years and had never seen students deal with more pressure. 2023 Cox Media Group. Contact Us, 973-321-1000. A basketball powerhouse is under fire after packing its roster from overseas, leaving players to live with their coach. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. "She's a mature, strong kid and she's hanging in there," Vanderbilt head coach Stephanie Smith said earlier this year. PATERSON A security guard at Eastside High School has been removed from his job after allegations surfaced this week about "inappropriate contact" between him and a student, officials said. Griles, the Rodriguezes said, then became a ghost, leaving the brothers to taxi to doctor's appointments in Fort Lee. Griles had taken the role of legal guardian for most of those players, the schools subsequent investigation found. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, million college entrance racketeering scandal, reverse discrimination for the privileged, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. Three employees fired, two others disciplined. Paterson officials 'highly troubled' by latest bombshell in scandal that began with report of 6 overseas players living in coach's condo and widened to include concerns of human trafficking. Excellence for All Students Through Strong Relationships & Instructional Strategies Delivered by Effective Educators. Both the Paterson Eastside High boys and girls basketball teams have seen an influx of international players enter their programs, raising concerns over immigration statuses. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, or NJSIAA, recruiting sanctions against Eastside stemmed from a series of stories by the Star-Ledger exposing the fact that six players from Puerto Rico and Nigeria were living at Griles Paterson condominium. Same goes for any attempt at blackmail. EHS ASB. The Paterson Public School District announced wide-ranging penalties to its athletics department. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? The players came to Paterson Eastside from Nigeria, Paraguay and Puerto Rico in search of their own hoops dream. That the athletic directors job.. "I should have been properly advised by those (at the school) and told the implications because I didn't even know I was out of status. A video posted on social media shows fans, players and coaches rushing the court. According to videos shared on. Days after a report detailed that six overseas basketball players were living with a coach, a number of pressing issues remained. "I ended up in Jersey.". Thanks To Our Sponsors. ", "Here I am sitting there watching her. CLICK HERE. Got a tip for a story? She said she learned of the problem after enrolling last summer at Vanderbilt, where she had earned a full athletic scholarship. No one was seriously injured in the melee. No at least not in our view. But Esteban, who admits crying when he read the first story about the Eastside scandal, said Selwyn was . In the meantime, we are told half of Greenville is lawyered up in response to our ongoing reporting on the Thornblade saga prompting several of our sources to warn us to be careful how we proceed. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? "He was very intrigued and impressed with her level and quality of skills and wanted to speak more in depth with her and her family about the opportunity of a lifetime," the report said. The ongoing drama tied to this upscale Upstate neighborhood which was first reported by this news outlet a week ago has been dominating discussions in the greater Greenville, S.C. area. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The students also talked about how, at a high-powered school, they might be in a distinct minority and be looked at as students who maybe didnt deserve to be there but got a break. I would call the school about that.". Andrea Galdmez apologized for arriving a few minutes late. Now, the state is taking a closer look at how they got here. 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