Football Season Goes Up In Flames As Authorities Investigate Suspected Arson In Wyandanch
WYANDANCH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Football season was suddenly over for students who have done nothing wrong. They no longer have equipment to use for practices and games.
For student athletes a charred shed means an abrupt end to their football season and possibly the loss of a track season. Now, police are looking for an arsonist in Wyandanch.
"All of our football equipment and all of our track equipment is gone," football player Quanel Robinson told CBS 2's Emily Smith.
An arsonist may be to blame for the fire in the sports equipment shed at Wyandanch High School. Suffolk County Police say it happened in broad daylight on Thursday.
School spokesperson Nathan Jackson said that he can't imagine who would do something like this.
"We have no idea who did it or why. Police are investigating it as arson, but no one knows," Jackson said.
The shed, now barred shut, has burn marks and smells charred.
Footballs, practice dummies, sideline markers, and an equipment wagon were all destroyed in the blaze. The track team lost landing pads.
The lost equipment totaled as much as $10,000.
"You don't really have much, and the stuff that we do have we want to keep it and enjoy it," Lexus Greene said.
Unfortunately for students, this has been just one of a recent string of incidents. A man was arrested and charged with stabbing two teenagers behind the bleachers after a homecoming game.
Police arrested Kaurron Foster, 21, of West Babylon and charged him with assault.
"Those were Amityville kids who got stabbed by a West Babylon guy who happened to be on our property," Jackson said.
"Everyone thinks hazing and stabbing and we are a bad school. We are not a bad school," football player Abdel Bessard said.
No injuries were reported in the fire, but for students who rely on sports for enjoyment, school spirit, and even potential scholarships, having a major sport benched hurts just as much.
The school had one football game left, but their opponent forfeited, so they are trying to stay positive saying they had their first win of the season. Track season will not work without the equipment. The superintendent plans to increase security around the school, but won't give specifics.
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