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Patchogue-Medford High School’s varsity football team has forfeited its final game of the season, after officials determined players were responsible for vandalizing bathroom facilities at Lindenhurst School District’s Allegheny Elementary School on Saturday, the district’s superintendent said.
In a letter to the community, Patchogue-Medford Schools Superintendent Donna Jones said the decision was made on Wednesday after “no player was willing to come forward to take responsibility for the defacement” that occurred over the weekend.
“We waited until today to make this decision, hoping a player or players would come forward for the benefit of their teammates, who were all going to be penalized by the actions of a few,” she wrote. “Sadly, it did not happen.”
Team members used the gymnasium and bathrooms at Allegheny Elementary during the Raiders’ away game at Lindenhurst on Saturday afternoon, according to Dr. Jones. Pat-Med fell 34-0 in the 3 p.m. game.
“No one but the Patchogue-Medford High School Varsity Football Team members were in the elementary school all weekend,” Jones said, adding that although adult supervision was provided, privacy protocols meant adults did not accompany players into the bathrooms where the damage occurred.
Pat-Med football coaches and Athletic Director Anthony Cracco met with the team and held individual discussions on Monday and Tuesday, encouraging those responsible to come forward.
While several players indicated they had heard about the vandalism, “no player was willing to come forward to take responsibility for the defacement,” Jones said, stressing that the players’ collective silence came knowing that Friday’s home game against rival Sachem East would be forfeited if no one came forward.
Friday’s game had been designated as the Veterans Recognition Game in partnership with the Patchogue-Medford Hall of Fame. Dr. Jones assured the community in her letter that the district is working to reschedule the veterans’ recognition ceremony for an athletic event in the winter or spring.
Jones said that defacing another school’s property as guests was “completely unacceptable” and that Patchogue-Medford remains dedicated to fostering responsibility and respect among its students.
“It is our commitment as a District to develop our scholars into responsible citizens who demonstrate accountability and respect, and the decision to forfeit the game aligns with this mission,” Jones said. “We deeply apologize to the Lindenhurst School District and community for what took place.”
Pat-Med has only won two of its seven games this season and is not headed to the playoffs. Friday’s game would not have had playoff implications.
The team, under first-year coach Bob DeSilva, has been outscored 187-94. DeSilva replaced Tom Piccirillo several weeks into the season. Last year, under Piccirillo, the Raiders were 0-8.
Superintendent’s letter to Pat-Med community
Below is Superintendent Jones’ letter to the district community, in its entirety.
Dear Patchogue-Medford School District Community,
We write to you today with great disappointment and sadness that as a result of the inexcusable behavior and vandalism by members of the Patchogue-Medford High School Varsity Football Team to bathroom facilities at Lindenhurst School District’s Allegheny Elementary School during an away game this past weekend, Friday’s varsity football game against Sachem has been forfeited. This decision was made after careful consideration and in light of the fact that following multiple meetings with team members this past Monday and Tuesday, no player was willing to come forward to take responsibility for the defacement.
At Lindenhurst High School football games, visiting teams are provided access to the Allegheny Elementary School gymnasium, two faculty bathrooms, and one student bathroom for before- and after-game preparations. Based on testimony and interviews with Lindenhurst School District maintenance personnel, no one but the Patchogue-Medford High School Varsity Football Team members were in the elementary school all weekend. Expected adult supervision of the team in the elementary school gymnasium was present; however, in recognition of privacy guidelines, adults do not accompany students into bathroom facilities, which is where the vandalism took place.
Upon learning of the defacement of the Lindenhurst facilities by Patchogue-Medford student-athletes, the football coaching staff and the District’s athletic director met with the team and held individual discussions, encouraging those responsible to come forward. These meetings were held on both Monday and Tuesday of this week. While several players indicated they had heard about the vandalism, no student, as noted above, took responsibility for the damage that took place or presented any video evidence of the actual vandalism. As of this morning, even with the knowledge that Friday’s final season game would be forfeited if no one came forward, there was only silence from all team members.
The decision to forfeit Friday’s game was a difficult one for the District. We waited until today to make this decision, hoping a player or players would come forward for the benefit of their teammates, who were all going to be penalized by the actions of a few. Sadly, it did not happen. We realize the importance of this final game, especially since this was designated as our Veterans Recognition Game in partnership with the Patchogue-Medford Hall of Fame. However, we believe it is essential to set a clear standard for our students that upholds the values and integrity of our teams and our District. The damage and defacement of another school’s facilities while we are guests in their district is completely unacceptable. It is our commitment as a District to develop our scholars into responsible citizens who demonstrate accountability and respect, and the decision to forfeit the game aligns with this mission. We deeply apologize to the Lindenhurst School District and community for what took place.
We have engaged in substantial conversations with the Hall of Fame and the Veterans Recognition Ceremony organizers, and they expressed their absolute support for our decision as we look to ensure our veterans are properly honored. We are coordinating to reschedule the Veterans Recognition Ceremony for an athletics competition in the winter or spring to appropriately recognize and celebrate our veterans.
Sincerely,
Donna Jones, Ed.D.
Superintendent of SchoolsTop photo: Lindenhurst defeated Pat-Med 34-0 on Saturday (Credit: Frank D’Agostino Photography).
