Conestoga Football Players Express Doubt Regarding Hazing Allegations
TREDYFFRIN Twp., Pa. (CBS) — The Conestoga High School community is reacting tonight after the bombshell that dropped regarding hazing allegations involving their football team.
Three Conestoga High School football players are facing criminal charges and teammates and students are reacting to the allegations.
"We're all just disgusted by the rumors," said Michael Stoudt, a student at Conestoga. Stoudt is referencing the alleged football team hazing ritual, "No Gay Thursday." Authorities say it led to the sexual assault of a freshman back in October.
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"It's pretty devastating," senior Conestoga football player Harrison Leon said. He added that the allegations don't reflect the teammates he knows.
"The football team, they're my brothers," Leon said. "I'll fight to the death for everyone of those people on the team.
"This physical contact that they said in the police report, I know this didn't happen," Leon said.
Alec Lantz-Goldstein is a junior at Conestoga and played two seasons on the football team before quitting -- a decision that he says had nothing to do with hazing.
"Nope, not once," Lantz-Goldstein said when asked if he ever experienced hazing. When asked about if he knew of "No Gay Thursday" he said: "Yeah, that was a thing, but it really wasn't as bad as they made it out. I never heard of a kid getting a broom in places like that."
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Lantz-Goldstein described "No Gay Thursday," saying "the worst is, like they'd run around yelling 'No Gay Thursday'." Lantz-Goldstein went on to add, "honestly, I'm not sure if all of it's true."
Several parents told Eyewitness News that they were disturbed by the charges, especially since police say adults, including head coach John Vogan, never knew about the alleged hazing.
Eyewitness News attempted to reach Vogan, who is now facing suspension, at his home on Friday. N one answered the door.