A family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of their son against school officials, football coaches and players at Ursuline High School in connection with hazing and sexual abuse allegations Tuesday.
Those named and listed as defendants in the 200-page report from Chandra Law Firm are: Principal Matthew Sammartino, Assistant Principal Margaret Damore, head football coach Daniel Reardon, assistant football coaches Timothy McGlynn and Christian Syrianoudis and the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.
11 unnamed students were also listed as defendants in the report, as well as the parents of a student.
The lawsuit was filed in connection to a school-sanctioned football trip in June, where several players allegedly engaged in criminal activity, which includes “hazing, physical and sexual abuse, kidnapping, production and dissemination of child pornography and theft,” according to the lawsuit.
All football coaches and school officials previously listed allegedly knew of the activity before and after it happened. The officials allegedly had knowledge of the incidents but kept quiet and didn’t take action to help the victim.
The report also accuses Ursuline of having a “culture of hazing” that’s existed for years due to the school’s reckless and negligent hiring of football coaches that prioritize wins and glory over student safety.
According to the report, the victim was held down, attacked, stripped down and humiliated while the act was recorded and posted to the team’s Snapchat group chat. Conduct of this sort allegedly occurred multiple times during the team’s trip.
The victim allegedly faced “permanent and lasting harm” from the incidents, as well as degradation, intimidation and retaliation.
When the victim’s mother reported the attacks to McGlynn on June 16, he downplayed the incident to “just boys being boys,” according to the lawsuit. When the mother later met with Sammartino and Damore, they allegedly took note of the incident but didn’t take any meaningful action to investigate the situation further or discipline any students or coaches.
The report also alleges that upon learning about the impending criminal investigation, school officials dragged their feet in providing any potential evidence to law enforcement. Additionally, school officials were accused of attempting to cover up the activity by deleting social media posts and accounts from the school and football team.
School officials also allegedly told football players not to say anything to anyone about the activity in question.
Reardon and McGlynn each have histories marred by misconduct. Reardon’s first stint with Ursuline football ended abruptly in 2011 due to a “cloud of negativity” surrounding his recruitment of players with poor behavior, according to the lawsuit. He was later brought back in 2019.
In 2020, McGlynn, then the Champion High School football coach, was placed on administrative leave due to allegations of threatening, hazing and verbally and physically abusing players. McGlynn later resigned without challenging the allegations.
Cleveland attorney Subodh Chandra is representing the family’s victim in court. He hopes anyone with additional information on the case comes forward. In a statement, Chandra emphasized the importance of accountability.
“No family should have to endure the trauma this family suffered at the hands of other students and then at the hands of school officials who, the suit alleges, made excuses, ignored and even tried to cover up what happened,” the statement said.
Despite the lawsuit filing, Ursuline has played two games into the football season and is still scheduled to play this week. According to Chandra, more alleged victims and witnesses have come forward in light of the lawsuit.
This is a developing story.
John Engoglia is sports editor. Contact him at [email protected].
