Long Beach Wilson High water polo team under investigation over alleged hotel hazing
Long Beach Unified School District is investigating alleged hazing by Wilson High School boys' water polo players at an out-of-town tournament near San Jose. A leaked coach's email says some athletes were physically struck and injured.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Long Beach's Wilson High School boys' water polo team is the subject of a school district investigation over alleged hazing at a hotel near San Jose during an out-of-town tournament last weekend. New York PostR “A top-ranked California high school water polo team is embroiled in a hazing scandal after players allegedly harassed teammates in a hotel room during an out-of-town tournament” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “The scandal involves Long Beach’s Wilson High School male water polo team and occurred at a hotel near San Jose last weekend.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2A leaked email from coach Zac Polmanteer to parents, obtained by the Long Beach Post, said "Multiple student athletes were subjected to humiliating and physically harmful acts" and that some were injured by being struck by teammates. New York PostR ““Multiple student athletes were subjected to humiliating and physically harmful acts. Some athletes sustained injuries from being physically struck by their teammates,” Polmanteer wrote.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “In a later-leaked email to parents, coach Zac Polmanteer said athletes were subjected to harmful acts.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2The number of students involved and the extent of the injuries have not been disclosed. New York PostR “The coach did not disclose the number of students involved or the extent of the injuries from the attack.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “The exact details and extent of the injuries students sustained have not been disclosed.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Right · 2According to the New York Post, the team won two games on the first day, and most players reportedly gathered in a hotel room on Friday night. The coach was told of noise complaints the next day and warned players about curfew and conduct, but he said he learned of the alleged hazing only when the team returned to Long Beach on Sunday evening. New York PostR “The team had secured two victories on the first day of competition before most of the players reportedly gathered in a hotel room on Friday night.”“He did not learn of the alleged hazing until the team returned to Long Beach on Sunday evening.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “Polmanteer said he did not learn of the incident until the team returned to Long Beach on Sunday” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2The Long Beach Unified School District confirmed the investigation. A spokesperson said hazing "has no place in our schools or athletic programs" and that the district was limited in what it could disclose because of confidential student and employee information. New York PostR ““Hazing is not allowed and has no place in our schools or athletic programs,” a district spokesperson said.”“The district said it was limited in what it could disclose while the investigation continued, citing confidential student and employee information.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “The Long Beach Unified School District has confirmed it is investigating the incident.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Per the coach's email as reported by the New York Post, players were interviewed individually on Monday by the athletic director and several coaches, and administrators devised consequences including suspensions from school and water polo plus a prevention plan. Polmanteer called hazing "a cultural problem, even when only a handful of athletes directly participate." New York PostR “Players who travelled on the trip were interviewed individually on Monday by the school’s athletic director and several water polo coaches.”“The email said school administrators and coaching staff devised consequences, including suspensions from school and water polo, alongside a plan to prevent similar incidents.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR ““Hazing is a cultural problem, even when only a handful of athletes directly participate,” he added.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Right · 1On Tuesday, when Wilson played Long Beach Poly, 13 players on the September roster were absent, including most of the seniors who had been starters. It is unclear how many absences relate to discipline, injuries or other reasons, and the coach declined to say whether they would return this season. Wilson was ranked fourth in the CIF Southern Section's first playoff rankings, last updated on September 28. New York PostR “13 players listed on the team’s September roster absent from the lineup, including the majority of the seniors who had previously made up the Bruins’ starting squad.”“It remained unclear how many absences were linked to disciplinary action over the alleged hazing, injuries or other reasons.”“Wilson ranked fourth in the CIF Southern Section’s first playoff rankings of the season, last updated on September 28.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The New York Post also linked the case to a separate one involving former Harvard-Westlake player Lucca Van der Woude, who was arrested over allegations made by teammate Aidan Romain in a March lawsuit of racist harassment and sexual abuse. New York PostR “Former Harvard-Westlake player Lucca Van der Woude was arrested over allegations involving teammate Aidan Romain.” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present a 'hazing scandal' rocking a top California team, built on the leaked coach's email and the district's confirmation of an investigation. The New York Post gives much more detail and context; Breitbart is a short summary.
- Emphasis
- The coach's strong language, the injuries from being struck, the district's investigation, and (NY Post) the missing players and the unrelated Harvard-Westlake case.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet reports a response from Wilson High School or the players' families; the NY Post says Wilson and the booster foundation were contacted. Breitbart omits the discipline, absences and district statement details.
- Charged language
- “rocks elite California high school”“Rocked by Hazing Scandal”“‘Humiliating’”
- For example
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“‘Humiliating’ sports hazing scandal rocks elite California high school” — New York Post
“California High School Water Polo Team Rocked by Hazing Scandal” — Breitbart
What every side reports
- Wilson High School's boys' water polo team in Long Beach is involved, with the incident at a hotel near San Jose last weekend.
- Coach Zac Polmanteer's leaked email said athletes were subjected to humiliating and physically harmful acts and some were injured by teammates.
- The coach said he learned of the incident only after returning to Long Beach on Sunday.
- Long Beach Unified School District confirmed it is investigating.
- The extent of the injuries has not been disclosed.
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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‘Humiliating’ sports hazing scandal rocks elite California high school
Alarmist Detailed scandal framing around the leaked email, district probe and missing starters, with a link to another high-profile water polo case.
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California High School Water Polo Team Rocked by Hazing Scandal
Mixed Brief rewrite of the same facts under a 'scandal' headline, noting that details and injuries are undisclosed.
- 15 Oct 21:15 First New York PostR ‘Humiliating’ sports hazing scandal rocks elite California high school
- 16 Oct 15:34 +18h 19m BreitbartR California High School Water Polo Team Rocked by Hazing Scandal
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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