A season halted
Cheltenham High School announced that its varsity and junior varsity football programs will not compete this fall, a decision made in the wake of ongoing hazing investigations that include a locker‑room assault reported last year and a subsequent suspension of competition.
Superintendent Brian W. Scriven explained that the district is conducting both internal and external reviews to address the culture within the football program, noting that definitive corrective actions cannot be outlined until the investigations are complete.
An outside investigator was brought in during September after a student‑on‑student assault was reported in the team’s locker room, a case that saw 19 students witness the incident and several others actively film it. The inquiry concluded that the program suffered from a toxic and negative environment, largely attributed to insufficient supervision by coaching staff.
Head coach Terence Tolbert, a business education teacher and former semipro football player, led the team in the previous season, but the district has now placed the entire program under review while it works with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association on next steps.
The district has canceled the final two games of the season, rescheduled the traditional Senior Night, and will redirect the pep band, drumline, color guard and cheerleading squads into alternative school activities. Counseling services will be made available to any student affected by the cancellation.
Although the Pennsylvania State Police and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office have opened separate investigations into the assault, no charges have been filed to date. The external review recommended replacing the coaching staff, establishing new incident‑reporting protocols and developing training materials for student conduct.
Superintendent Scriven acknowledged that the uncertainty is challenging for students, families and staff, and reaffirmed the district’s commitment to ensuring that no one faces this transition alone.