YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WOIO) – A now former freshman football player and his family filed a federal lawsuit accusing Youngstown’s Ursuline High School football players of hazing, sexual assault, and disseminating child pornography.
Amid the newly filed lawsuit, the school cancelled its Friday night game against Farrell.
According to the lawsuit, during a nine-day football team trip in June, the player endured an “initiation” that was a part of the team’s “hazing culture.”
Attorney Subodh Chandra is representing the player and his family.
“The suit alleges a comprehensive set of wrongs against the plaintiffs that includes everything from sexual assault, hazing, dissemination of child pornography, and a variety of other allegedly criminal acts across four states,” Chandra said.
The lawsuit claims the player was attacked, assaulted, and stripped by several other players while it was filmed and posted on the team’s group Snapchat.
The complaint goes on to allege the coaches were aware of the hazing but did nothing to stop it.
“It also alleges cover up, it alleges intimidation, there’s a comprehensive set of poor judgements that are alleged in this lawsuit,” Chandra said. “Including, the original sin which is the alleged negligent hiring, supervision, training, and retention of the coaches to begin with.”
Chandra said the player, who has since transferred to a different school, is traumatized by what he allegedly suffered.
“The student is experiencing a great deal of trauma, this student is survivor of a sexual assault, according to the lawsuit,” Chandra said.
Ursuline High School released a statement to 19 News.
“The safety and well-being of our students is Ursuline High School’s top priority. Ursuline parents can and should feel confident that their sons and daughters are in a safe environment every day. To that end, we want to highlight the steps we’ve taken in regard to the allegations about the football program.
After the students and coaches returned from the trip in question, one family made a formal report to the school alleging misconduct. Once informed, Ursuline’s administration timely opened an investigation. Immediately thereafter, Diocesan representatives and local authorities were notified of the allegations. Both Ursuline and the Diocese of Youngstown continue to cooperate fully with the authorities’ investigation, which is ongoing. Both out of concern for the identity of minors and at the request of the police, Ursuline has not discussed the allegations in public.
Disciplinary actions against some students most directly involved were imposed under Ursuline policies. Other students involved voluntarily left the football program or Ursuline entirely before discipline could be imposed. Further administrative actions will be communicated once the investigations and legal process are complete.
In the meantime, an increased chaperone presence and mandatory training reviews are in place to further protect student safety.
The Ursuline Board has decided to cancel the game against Farrell scheduled for September 5th.”
Chandra said the player and his family want accountability to come from this lawsuit.
“What we do hope and what my clients hope is that ultimately that there will be so much accountability here that this will have a significant impact on other institutions indulging the kind of nonsense alleged in the suit here and making sure that children are safe,” Chandra said.
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This article was published by WTVG on 2025-09-05 23:03:00
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