Warren De La Salle football will not be able to defend its back-to-back MHSAA Division 2 state titles. One day before the Pilots were set to play Birmingham Groves in the first round of the state playoffs, school officials cancelled the remainder of the season due to allegations of hazing from senior football players.
After an investigation, De La Salle officials said in a statement the “hazing has deeper roots, and is more pervasive than originally thought.”
“De La Salle Collegiate is a Lasallian Catholic school. We uphold values of human dignity, good sportsmanship, and respect for all,” De La Salle President John M. Knight said in a statement. “At this time, as we continue our investigation, the school leadership feels that it best that we take a step back from the field of competition. We do so with sadness, but also with a heart and mind and spirit determined to do what is right. What is right for our young men. What is right for our community. And what is right according to our Lasallian Catholic values.”
De La Salle got into the playoffs with a 5-4 record, after winning Division 2 state championships in 2017 and 2018. Its playoff opener was to be at Groves (7-2) Friday night at 7 p.m.
This story is still developing.
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