Videos show cheerleaders repeatedly forced into splits

[Organized States]

So, as a High School athlete (Cross-Country, Baseball, and Crew), I have some opinions on this. I have had a lot of really, really excitable, hardcore coaches in my High School career. Like there have been days after practice where I physically had trouble walking anymore just because of the intensity of the drills we've done. However, every coach I've had has respected his athletes' limits. When someone could not physically do something, we would work on it until they got it or we would take a break from it. We wouldn't be forced into what was an increasingly dangerous and unacceptable workout. That's what this program has clearly and fundamentally failed to do. Additionally, it has failed to develop an initiation ritual (what a lot of you are calling hazing) that is actually safe (yes, you can haze safely).

[The Huskar Social Union]

Saw about this on FB the other day, hope they charge the fucking coach for the abuse and pain he put those girls through, and others involved with it.

That's because you don't really like black people

I despise and loathe black men.

Sad as fuck but you do you.

[Shofercia]

So I saw this on NBC News, and decided to trace it back a bit:

Denver Police are now investigating incidents involving multiple cheerleaders and the cheer coach at East High School, 9Wants to Know has learned. The cheer coach, assistant cheer coach, high school principal, assistant principal and Denver Public Schools deputy general counsel have all been placed on leave.

During the first week of cheer camp for East High School in June, Ally Wakefield, an incoming freshman was surrounded by new teammates, and forced, by the recently hired cheer coach, into an extended split position.

In videos obtained by 9Wants to Know, eight cheerleaders are shown repeatedly being pushed down into the forced splits, while their arms are held up by fellow teammates, making each cheerleader unable to move herself out of the position.

All cry out in pain. Ally Wakefield asked her coach, 9 times in less than 24 seconds to “please, stop.”

All the while, coach Ozell Williams is shown holding down each girl’s shoulders, and pushing them down further.

This video is difficult to watch and may not be suitable for all viewers.

Editor’s note: 9Wants to Know is not publishing all of the videos due to privacy concerns.

9NEWS is identifying those minors who agreed to on-the-record interviews while accompanied by their parents.

You may recognize that coach in the video. He has become a known figure for his backflips down the field during Broncos and CU football games.

This year would have been his first year coaching for the East High School cheer team, but he was placed on leave during the first week of school.

The videos, shot on a cell phone by two of the cheer team members, were sent anonymously to 9Wants to Know in August.

However, school administrators have had access to at least one video since June.

“I have attached a video of the forced splits she and her other team members were forced to do at cheerleading camp and practices; unless they had a doctor's note. This is how Ally injured her leg,” Wakefield said in the June 15 email addressed to East High School Athletic Director, Lisa Porter.

“My husband and I would like to know what the administration is going to do about my daughter's injury and how it happened,” the email continued, in part.

That’s a question Kirsten Wakefield and other parents are still asking.

“I don’t understand why that’s allowed,” said Cheri Nickolay, whose daughter, Anna, quit the cheer team.

Anna does not appear in any of the videos obtained by 9Wants to Know, but says that she was also forced into the splits in the same manner, as were additional teammates. She showed her mother a video of her teammate.

“That made me sick to my stomach,” Nickolay said. “I don’t know how you could justify that.”

“If I was to be personally present and witness to an approach to get a young girl to do the splits in that fashion, I would have stopped it,” said Cameron MacDonald, associate professor of physical therapy at Regis University. “I know from myself as a physical therapist that is not the approach I would take.”

Parents have, for months, launched complaints towards the school administrators and the coach himself. On August 22, 9NEWS requested numerous records related to those complaints and the cheer team from East High School. On August 23, Denver police launched their investigation.

Denver police released the following statement on the incident Thursday:

"On August 23, 2017, the Denver Police Department received anonymous information regarding the incidents involving a cheerleader coach at East High School, and Denver Police child abuse detectives immediately began an investigation. This is an open case, therefore no additional details or videos will be provided at this time."

Denver Public Schools Superintendent Tom Boasberg issued the following statement about the investigation:

"Earlier today, I became aware of an exercise used at cheer practices this summer at East High School. We immediately began taking steps to investigate this issue, and our Department of Safety is supporting Denver Police in this effort. In order to conduct a fair and thorough investigation, we have placed East Principal Andy Mendelsberg, East Assistant Principal Lisa Porter, East Cheer Coach Ozell Williams, East Assistant Cheer Coach Mariah Cladis and DPS Deputy General Counsel Michael Hickman on leave. This is standard practice in an investigation of this type. It does not imply or prejudge in any way the actions of the individuals or what the investigation might determine. Please know that we will share the results of the investigation as soon as possible. I want to reiterate in no uncertain terms our commitment to the safety of our students. We absolutely prohibit any practices that place our students’ physical and mental health in jeopardy. We do not and will not allow any situation in which a student is forced to perform an activity or exercise beyond the point at which they express their desire to stop. While this investigation is ongoing, we are entirely focused on ensuring our students and staff at East are receiving the supports they need. A senior leader at the school, East Assistant Principal Jason Maclin, will serve as interim principal during this time and we are providing additional counseling for our students and families. With regards to certain videos, I cannot state strongly enough – as the superintendent of the school district and as the father of two high school-aged daughters -- that the images and actions depicted are extremely distressing and absolutely contrary to our core values as a public school community."

This is an ongoing investigation and will be updated as more information is made available.

What do you guys think?
In my opinion, this isn't hazing (well, I suppose it is hazing) or exercises or anything like that. This is cold blooded torture, in my opinion, and charges should be made against all of those involved. Actually, hazing is illegal in Colorado, so how did this even happen?

Also, this is my first topic in this forum, so if the OP is lacking, can you let me know and give me a chance to fix it?

It's time to split these "public servants" from their guaranteed pensions.

[The One True Benxboro Empire]

That's because you don't really like black people

I despise and loathe black men.

Whatcha think about black women m80?

[Shofercia]

You can't do cheerleading if you aren't flexible.

Also can't do the entire football team if you aren't flexible either.

You can if your name is Jerry... damn that got dark real fast.

Also can't do the entire football team if you aren't flexible either.

What is it with you and cheerleaders gangbanging the football team?

Story! Story! Story! C'mon Costa - story!

That's because you don't really like black people

I despise and loathe black men.

That's fucked up. Don't come to Californian Sports Events, we have a Hero, and his name's Magic. There are also multiple puns about his last name. Oh yeah, he's black.

[Thermodolia]

I despise and loathe black men.

Whatcha think about black women m80?

Something something I like big butts and I cannot lie something something

[The One True Benxboro Empire]

Whatcha think about black women m80?

Something something I like big butts and I cannot lie something something

We can hope!

[Reploid Productions]

Do you watch the news or are you too busy picking thru your own shit?

*** 1-day ban for flaming/flamebaiting. *** You need to spend some quality time reviewing the site rules, sooner rather than later.


~Evil Forum Empress Rep Prod the Ninja Mod
~She who wields the Banhammer; master of the mighty moderation no-dachi Kiritateru Teikoku

[Val Halla]

The best type of training is abuse and leg injuries, clearly.

Seems like a lot of coaches just use their position as some sorta power thing

[AiliailiA]

Now you're trying to start a slap fight?

Low effort bait my man.

If you actually give out selfies on request I would like to see one. If I may.

There's only one reason you'd ask that, at that very time. You want to know Herador's race, right?

(When you're back from your ban of course)

[Thermodolia]

The best type of training is abuse and leg injuries, clearly.

Seems like a lot of coaches just use their position as some sorta power thing

It's not just coaches who go nuts with power. Many parents will do the same

[New haven america]

The best type of training is abuse and leg injuries, clearly.

Seems like a lot of coaches just use their position as some sorta power thing

It's not just coaches who go nuts with power. Many parents will do the same

Trying to live vicariously through their children.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

What the fuck?

[AiliailiA]

The best type of training is abuse and leg injuries, clearly.

Seems like a lot of coaches just use their position as some sorta power thing

It's not just coaches who go nuts with power. Many parents will do the same

And it must be said, teachers. The work attracts creeps, not just of the sexual creep kind.

Teachers (in public and most private schools) are screened, by the probation period before tenure applies. It should probably be the same for coaches.

[Serrus]

Do you watch the news or are you too busy picking thru your own shit?

*** 1-day ban for flaming/flamebaiting. *** You need to spend some quality time reviewing the site rules, sooner rather than later.


~Evil Forum Empress Rep Prod the Ninja Mod
~She who wields the Banhammer; master of the mighty moderation no-dachi Kiritateru Teikoku

There's an OSRS tag?
But, anyways:

So, as a High School athlete (Cross-Country, Baseball, and Crew), I have some opinions on this. I have had a lot of really, really excitable, hardcore coaches in my High School career. Like there have been days after practice where I physically had trouble walking anymore just because of the intensity of the drills we've done. However, every coach I've had has respected his athletes' limits. When someone could not physically do something, we would work on it until they got it or we would take a break from it. We wouldn't be forced into what was an increasingly dangerous and unacceptable workout. That's what this program has clearly and fundamentally failed to do. Additionally, it has failed to develop an initiation ritual (what a lot of you are calling hazing) that is actually safe (yes, you can haze safely).

Be that as it may, hazing is illegal in Colorado, where this occurs, but separate initiation rituals, as long as they are optional and harmless, should be fine, I think.

The best type of training is abuse and leg injuries, clearly.

Seems like a lot of coaches authority figures just use their position as some sorta power thing

Fixed for ya.

The best type of training is abuse and leg injuries, clearly.

Seems like a lot of coaches just use their position as some sorta power thing

It's not just coaches who go nuts with power. Many parents will do the same

As I said above, yep. I've seen that, and it is more ugly than a hagfish with a spray tan.

[Herador]

If you actually give out selfies on request I would like to see one. If I may.

There's only one reason you'd ask that, at that very time. You want to know Herador's race, right?

(When you're back from your ban of course)

I have pictures on this site too, it takes five seconds to find them.

Like I said, he's low effort.

It's not just coaches who go nuts with power. Many parents will do the same

Trying to live vicariously through their children.

My old high school had these rivals in another town when it came to football. A few parents from both teams would get trashed on hobobooze they snuck in and shout at the other teams. I saw this happen at a sophomore game once to fuckin' 15-year-old boys.

People just need to learn to let these kids have some god damn fun.

[New haven america]

So, as a High School athlete (Cross-Country, Baseball, and Crew), I have some opinions on this. I have had a lot of really, really excitable, hardcore coaches in my High School career. Like there have been days after practice where I physically had trouble walking anymore just because of the intensity of the drills we've done. However, every coach I've had has respected his athletes' limits. When someone could not physically do something, we would work on it until they got it or we would take a break from it. We wouldn't be forced into what was an increasingly dangerous and unacceptable workout. That's what this program has clearly and fundamentally failed to do. Additionally, it has failed to develop an initiation ritual (what a lot of you are calling hazing) that is actually safe (yes, you can haze safely).

Hazing is illegal in Colorado, so that wouldn't really do much.

[AiliailiA]

It's not just coaches who go nuts with power. Many parents will do the same

Trying to live vicariously through their children.

That's not even the worst. Abuse of authority: controlling every bit of the child's life just because they can. The "trying to live vicariously" aspect is typically pushing to kid to some achievement, which at least the kid might be proud of (or earn a living from) so at least there's some upside to having their spontaneity and development of self-determination crushed. There's a dumber and worse form, which is just ordering the kid around with no pattern or purpose at all.

[Zanera]

That don't sound too cool.

[Herador]

That don't sound too cool.

Decidedly not groovy, man

[AiliailiA]

There's only one reason you'd ask that, at that very time. You want to know Herador's race, right?

(When you're back from your ban of course)

I have pictures on this site too, it takes five seconds to find them.

Like I said, he's low effort.

I found it particularly telling that the poster wants to know your race before debating further. Wants to know if you're potentially a friend/ally or forever an enemy because your skin is the "wrong" color.

It's your business not mine though. If you don't find that offensive as I do, I guess I retract the question, and it's not like the answer would have told me anything I didn't already guess.

[Herador]

I have pictures on this site too, it takes five seconds to find them.

Like I said, he's low effort.

I found it particularly telling that the poster wants to know your race before debating further. Wants to know if you're potentially a friend/ally or forever an enemy because your skin is the "wrong" color.

It's your business not mine though. If you don't find that offensive as I do, I guess I retract the question, and it's not like the answer would have told me anything I didn't already guess.

Not offensive so much as amusing. They're probably just some kid who grew up around that shit and got caught up with it.

[Thermodolia]

I have pictures on this site too, it takes five seconds to find them.

Like I said, he's low effort.

I found it particularly telling that the poster wants to know your race before debating further. Wants to know if you're potentially a friend/ally or forever an enemy because your skin is the "wrong" color.

It's your business not mine though. If you don't find that offensive as I do, I guess I retract the question, and it's not like the answer would have told me anything I didn't already guess.

Ya that poster really doesn't like me because I'm not 100% white. I look white by I'm actually part Native American.

[Galloism]

The hell?

[Thermodolia]

The hell?

People are fucked up Gallo