Cheltenham School District announced on May 26 that all games scheduled for the institution’s varsity and junior varsity football teams this season have been canceled, due to an ongoing investigation into some serious allegations.

Cheltenham District Superintendent Dr. Brian W. Scriven shed light on the scandal that led to this step being taken via a letter to the institution’s community.

According to NBC10 Philadelphia, the district has suspended all football games for the 2026 season. In the meantime, investigations into hazing and “student-on-student” a****** allegations during the 2025 season are underway.

"The completion of critical tasks required to reset the program is directly dependent on the findings from both the internal and external investigations currently underway…” Cheltenham's letter to the community stated, per NBC10 Philadelphia. "Until those investigations are concluded and their findings are known, it is not possible to define, develop, or execute the necessary corrective actions."

Per NBC10, the investigation confirmed that such an incident did take place in the high school’s locker room in September of 2025. Around 20 people witnessed the incident.

However, it was reported that nobody attempted to stop the hazing, and some students filmed it instead.

"Several participated freely in it. Several students also filmed the a******," Scriven himself stated after preliminary investigation results were released in January. 

The investigation further revealed steps that the district is taking to discourage such inappropriate behavior.

What Other Steps Is Cheltenham Taking?

According to external investigations, the Cheltenham locker room incident revealed a "toxic and negative culture" fueled by unhealthy competition.

Phillyvoice.com reported that the varsity teams’ head coach last season was Terence Tolbert, a former semi-pro football player who also taught business studies. 

Superintendent Scriven revealed that the external investigator found a serious lack of supervision by the coaching staff. As a result, they have advocated replacing the entire coaching staff for football teams.

The institution is also implementing a whole new set of rules and protocols to prevent another incident from occurring.

"The district recognizes that this uncertainty is difficult for students, families, and staff, and we are committed to ensuring that no one navigates this time alone," Scriven’s statement stressed.

He mentioned that the district would be offering counseling services to students impacted by the cancellation of the 2026 football season. Only the ninth-grade (freshman) team will be allowed to participate in 2026.

Scriven’s message to the Cheltenham community also provided insight into the legal repercussions of these allegations.

Although no charges have been filed as of writing this article, according to Scriven, an investigation by the Cheltenham Police Department and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office were underway.

Do you think Cheltenham made the right choice by canceling the 2026 season?

Read more at the Michigan Football Community.

Written by

Arundhoti Palit

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit