By Hector Flores
According to authorities, the incident occurred at Camp Wayne, in Preston Park, Pa., a football camp commonly visited by high-school teams.
No arrests were made in the case as of press time, and Pennsylvania troopers say that state law prohibits them from releasing the names of the victims or the alleged attackers because they are all minors.
Officials said that state troopers received a report of a sexual assault that occurred at the camp between Friday, Aug. 22 and Wednesday, Aug. 27. Authorities have offered no specific details about the incident, but published reports suggest that one of the victims was sodomized with a broomstick. The attack or attacks allegedly took place late at night in a cabin where the football players were rooming. The Mepham coaches were lodging in a different cabin.
As part of an ongoing investigation, Pennsylvania troopers traveled to Mepham High School in Bellmore last Thursday and Friday to interview the victims and Bellmore-Merrick Central School District officials.
Kate Collins, the Central district spokeswoman, would not confirm if the attack was a hazing ritual, as has been reported, and said that school officials are investigating allegations involving several members of Mepham's football team.
"These allegations are of a very serious nature, and once our investigation is completed, we will take the appropriate action," Collins said.
Last Friday, a few members of the football team, who were interviewed outside the school by the Herald, said that they were surprised by the incident and just wanted the media attention to stop. "It was only a few kids, and none of us knew that something had happened until we saw it in the papers," said one of the players, who wanted to remain anonymous. "We just hope we can put this past us and concentrate on the season."
Another student, who also did not wish to be identified, said, "I think the problem is that the whole school is being represented by the acts of a few people, and that is wrong."
