Teachers told KIRO 7 Eastside Catholic has buses that bring students who live far away to Eastside Catholic to play football -- with tuition paid for through the Independent School Association. What sort of activities are the feds looking into in connection with all of this? All four ended up in Paterson, playing for the powerhouse teams at Eastside High School, . After that, theres figuring out how to pay for it. "I can't say no to this,"Ortiz, now 20, remembers thinking. Andrea Aquino began her journey in Paraguay. Now, the state is taking a closer look at how they got here. He was visiting family in Queens and playing for a club team in a tournament at Eastside. Ortiz found himself leaving practice many nights in tears, wondering why this coach brought him to New Jersey if he didn't let him step onto the court. 1:07. Here's why. For now, however, he thinks about other opportunities he had after that big international tournament in 2011, and how his career might have been different had he never met Griles. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It happened during the Camden County Tournament Championship game between Camden High School and Eastside High School. But Johnson, who is Shafers domestic partner, remains on the districts payroll with a total salary of $170,000, according to public records. This news outlet previously reported that an Upstate family court drama was somehow connected to the Thornblade saga and the Mathews case certainly seems to fit the bill. A big shakeup happened at Eastside Catholic after two principals were fired and 13 faculty members quit in protest. Calendar & Category Legend: Eastside High School. *Hoops power packs roster from overseas; state questions safety of teens living with coach. Teachers are concerned those athletes are not being supported academically. "Here in Puerto Rico, I was a top prospect," Selwyn, now 22, said as he sat on a weight bench in his carport adjacent to his grandmother's house. 2023 www.northjersey.com. "No, I'm not her legal guardian," Ayala said when reached by phone earlier this year. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Griles, he said, promised to handle the rest, leaving Edwin to assume his boys would be safe and comfortable. The college scouts never came, either. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com). Faculty members don't believe it and told KIRO 7 high school Principal Justyna King worked to improve the culture at the school, increased diversity and cared about academics for all students. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association said in a statement Friday it approved the . The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Four players from three continents -- all bound by the same dream and pitch: Leave your friends and family behind, travel thousands of miles and use basketball to find a better life. "She didn't know any English, so I just kind of guided her through that," Fontan said. supports HTML5 video. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? Some kids are saying, Oh, youre only taking two APs. A big shakeup happened at. *Fired coach wonders: How did I become guardian for 7-foot Nigerian player? Another school board member, Emmanuel Capers, said he still believes the actions taken as a result of the news stories were excessive. I found out in late June of this year that my wife, Jennifer Mathews, had engaged in multiple extramarital activities, Mathews said in the statement. VIDEO: Eastside Catholic HS teachers quit Classes could be delayed at a high school sports power house after more than a dozen teachers walked off the job. After a series of winning seasons and strong showings in the state tournaments, Eastsides girls and boys teams finished with losing records this year. Good question. "She was treated like a freak because she was so tall," said a New Jersey coach familiar with Aquino who declined to be identified due to the delicacy of the situation. The fight happened Thursday night between Camden High School and Camden Eastside High School. "Over there if you're that tall, you're like a monster. It did not escape the notice of the Boyle Heights Beat reporters that a USC student had put out a video in which she said she didnt care about college but was looking forward to games and parties. We want to make sure everything is done properly, Castillo said. Gregory Cooper, the Eastside athletic director cut loose, says he was an 'easy target' and made a scapegoat. In the last week, these students have looked across the divide at youngsters their own age who live in an alternate universe of abundance and entitlement. What if she owed money to drug dealers? Eastside Catholic later issued the following statement: "Thank you for your interest in our school. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Absolutely. She filed for medical leave in spring 2017 and has been on paid leave since then. "I am the one who has missed out (on) a school.". The change was posted the day after the school had a meeting with parents. Their experiences cover six years and account for four of at least 13 players NJ Advance Media has identified as coming through Eastside's ambitious and bold pipeline. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, million college entrance racketeering scandal, reverse discrimination for the privileged, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. At 6-foot-7, people in her village thoughtshewas a freak --all arms and legs clinging to themotorcycle she and her mother sold clothes from to support themselves. I help her set the whole thing up, said Andrea, a Roosevelt High senior who is waiting to hear back from some of the colleges shes applied to. ", "As I'm sure you can understand, I am not able to provide specific personnel details. Our Upstate sources which include law enforcement officers, prosecutors, attorneys and private investigators, among others have conveyed a remarkably consistent narrative about what allegedly transpired behind the scenes in this exclusive enclave. But even after winning the MVP at a holiday tournament, Griles ignored him. VIDEO: Eastside Catholic HS teachers quit Classes could be delayed at a high school sports power house after more than a dozen teachers walked off the job. WHAT TO KNOW: After winning Saturday's sectional semifinal at No. "Nobody ever said anything to me about I-20s," Lyde said. Also, Evans had said the district would seek tenure charges against Griles in an effort to oust him from his teaching position at Eastside. As we exclusively reported on July 23, 2020, allegations ofserious financial irregularitiesatthe prestigiousThornblade Clubpromptedan investigationby the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) an agency with broad jurisdictional authority when it comes to cyber-enabled financial crimes.. The Jordans have declined multiple requests for interviews, but Aquino appears to be well clothed, well cared for and her social media accounts suggest she is adjusting to life as an American teenager. Two years later, a newspaper named him West Virginia's Player of the Year -- his father proudly holds up the story for all to see. coach blew up. North 1, Group 4: Eastside. *School suspends hoops coach who had 6 overseas players living with him. Meanwhile, sources tell us the Greenville county sheriffs office which was first made aware of the allegations involving the clubs finances in May of this year has launched an internal investigation into the proximity of one of its officers to the related scandals. 2:14. He plays wheelchair basketball, he said, hoping for a scholarship. Two days later, Mathews issued a statement through his attorney confirming our reporting. Lyde also told Ugboaja the school could accept international students with I-20s, Ugboaja said. The high and mighty went as low as they could go, and it did not play well in Boyle Heights. EHS. Ejiofor said the Jordans "did (their) best to make sure I was okay and comfortable. More specifically, we have been informed that investigators are looking to question a former athletics coach at Eastside over his alleged proximity to some of the central figures in this unspooling drama. ", "I'm the victim because I'm the one who is out of school for six months," Ejiofor said last month. The stories, including allegations of human trafficking, highlighted how players on the boys and girls teams suddenly and mysteriously arrived with promises of playing time, eventual college scholarships and new homes, according to interviews with players and internal school documents. Thornblade Saga: Could SLED Join Investigation? But Esteban, who admits crying when he read the first story about the Eastside scandal, said Selwyn was . "You gotta call her coach and whoever. This decision was announced in an email that was sent to our community last night. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. CHERRY HILL, New Jersey (WPVI) -- An altercation broke out Thursday night in the middle of a high school basketball game in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Additionally, our news outlet has been sharply critical in the past of law enforcement investigations conducted into allegedly lewd and lascivious conduct. I didn't really get into her family situation or where she was staying.". Theres the front door, which is you get through yourself. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com). Legislation would ban buying, selling, makingor altering a transcript with the intent to deceive. As for SLED, as of Thursday afternoon the statewide agency had not received a formal request from any local or federal law enforcement agency or subdivision of the state to assist in any investigation related to Thornblade, per spokesman Tommy Crosby. I think Eileen Shafer has done a tremendous job being proactive on this.. "Who's going to respect a coach like him? ASB. Here's why, This is just tip of iceberg, senator says in demanding full probe, Eastside girls team out of states, multiple suspensions announced, Troubling new questions, including concerns of human trafficking, broadside Eastside boys and girls programs, Season's over: Eastside boys pull out of Passaic County Tournament, The (many!) Over the weekend, Shafer reached out to Mayor Andre Sayegh and Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale and was put in contact with . She appears to be living in the home owned by Shirley Jordan where the Nigerian players also stayed; NJ Advance Media observed Aquino leave the home and head to school the morning of March 21. Both the Paterson Eastside High boys and girls basketball teams have seen an influx of international players enter their programs, raising concerns over immigration statuses. We have also rescheduled our back-to-school dates to allow us to refocus on the classroom and prepare adequately. A furious Edwin Rodriguez -- who said he sent more than $60,000 to Paterson in two years for rent, food, clothing and other expenses -- moved his sons to another apartment in the fall of 2012. 0:00. We heard strong opposition to the changes from both the faculty and our community. The police investigated the incident as an alleged gang rape. The female student is then placed behind a gate and the first male student states, "Justice is served." Jio Fontan, a former Sparks coach and now the head coach at Queen of Peace High, said he worked closely with Aquino early in her New Jersey stay. *NJSIAA slams Eastside with unprecedented penalties. Given the broad investigatory powers this federal agency possesses when it comes to all manner of cybercrime there is literally no telling what facets of this saga it could be probing. From the beginning of our coverage, we have been focused on three distinct Thornblade-related scandals: 1) Allegations of embezzlement involving the neighborhood golf club, 2) allegations of a prostitution ring (or sex ring) involving several Thornblade residents, and 3) allegations involving an athletics team at a government-run high school in nearby Taylors, S.C. which are said to be somehow connected to the prostitution/ sex ring accusations. Now, through interviews with players, parents, coaches and other sources, NJ Advance Media can trace the remarkable circumstances under which players were recruited, lured and even hijacked to New Jersey. The deputy in question is a family friend of both Rick and Jennifer Mathews (below), our sources say. Supervisor of Athletics at Eastside High School phone: 973 321-0515 Email: thill@paterson.k12.nj.us. We came to Eastside on a very big lie.". For most of the kids working at the Beat, getting accepted to college is only the first hurdle. As of this writing, we are told the internal investigation conducted by the Greenville sheriffs office into the deputys conduct is complete and that the local agency has no plans to investigate the matter further. In addition, the changes were announced very close to the start of the school year, which caused a lot of consternation. A fight broke out during the Camden County Tournament championship game between Camden High School and Eastside High School. The districts status update on the plan says none of its employees reported taking transfer students into their homes or becoming their guardians. That trust has cost her a scholarship to Vanderbilt and forced her back to Africa, where she remains a prisoner of immigration rules. The video recording was sent via Snapchat to a lot of their buddies at Eastside Catholic and other Eastside high schools. The split-level home sits on a congested street, about six blocks from Eastside. State Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) called on Attorney General Christopher Porrino to investigate Paterson Eastside. See the documents. NJSIAA officials say they will take action in wake of NJ Advance Media's reporting. Capers, who said he coaches football at Irvington High School in Essex County, asserted that Paterson is now being held to a higher standard than are other districts. *State athletics group orders hearing into Eastside. Upon learning of this fact, we separated and I filed for divorce in July., Mathews added that he was aware that there is an investigation being conducted and that while he was not a suspect in any illegal activity, I am cooperating fully with law enforcement and will continue to do so.. PATERSON - Eastside boys basketball coach Juan Griles, assistant coach Alberto Maldonado, and the school's athletics supervisor Gregory Cooper were terminated Wednesday night as a . *African players are flocking to top N.J. basketball teams. School is supposed to start August 23, but on Friday the school confirmed classes will be postponed one week and start August 30. Thanks to our long history of educational excellence and deeply felt sense of mission, any change at Eastside Catholic invites high interest from our current and alumnae community. *A Star-Ledger Editorial: Report flawed by 'unexpectedly bizarre conclusion', Justice Wallace's work is "relentlessly ignorant of those who coach sports on this level. Lyde, in an interviewbefore his team's season was suspended, refuted Ugboaja's story and denied any wrongdoing. Father Heric and the board co-chairs told teachers, the principals were fired due to restructuring. But who would look at a student of privilege and wonder the same thing? Those tests were part of a 50-step corrective action plan implemented by Paterson Public Schools in the aftermath of the scandal that resulted in Eastsides basketball teams being banned from this years state tournament as well as the dismissals and suspensions of several athletic department staff members. Griles, the Rodriguezes said, then became a ghost, leaving the brothers to taxi to doctor's appointments in Fort Lee. Viewer discretion is advised. * Ousted athletic director: There are others at school involved in scandal. *Report leaves more questions than answers, Wallace documentminimizes the actions of key figures, even referring to the ousted boys basketball coach as a "humanitarian. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com). Between five and six boys basketball players from Paterson Eastside lived with the team's head coach this season. On Saturday morning at the Boyle Heights Beat, a student-run journalism operation, the hot topic was the college entrance cheating scandal and how . Asked if he cared to comment, he shifted in his wheelchair and said he wanted to go to college but didnt know how hed ever come up with the money, so hes doing whatever he can. All rights reserved (About Us). 1 pick in the NBA Draft. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! "Nobody wanted to spend the money once she got here. Father Heric will go back to being the school chaplain. Again, though, we are told HSI is looking to question the deputy in connection with its investigation. Father Heric remains our chaplain and community liaison. While membership obviously had its privileges, the club apparently had a strict no cancellation policy. We will be sure to let our readers know if that changes . In response to questions raised by our faculty and community, we held a Town Hall on Wednesday August 16. We had hope," said Selwyn's older brother, Esteban, who joined him in Paterson at their father's insistence. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. Three employees fired, two others disciplined. He came to New Jersey that fall, just before basketball season began, and moved into a house where Griles lived in Somerset. The kinds of people their own parents work for. If you have difficulty accessing information on our website due to a disability, contact Ms. Green, Director of Operations, at mgreen@www.metscharterschool.org or (201) 526-8500 ext. Once students fake their way in, do the parents keep paying to have someone fix the tests they take in class? Authorities have arrested an unidentified 15-year-old in connection with the stabbing of two Paterson students at Eastside High School on Friday afternoon, which left one of the victims dead . 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