DPS investigating 'Senior Hit Day' at JFK

Rosa Ramirez, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 22, 2006 at midnight

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A 16-year-old John F. Kennedy High School junior alleges the head coach and others in the school’s football team participated in the hazing of some team members.

The student’s father, Gary Pacheco Sr., taped the Nov. 2 incident, and Denver Public Schools is now conducting an investigation.

The student, Gary Pacheco, Jr. said the event "Senior Hit Day" is a tradition at the high school since 1965 and takes place at the end of each football season.

Students and coaches make a tight circle and call each senior to come to the center and pick two freshman or junior players.

They then "hit them as hard as they want," said Pacheco Jr.

Pacheco Jr. said coaches instruct the students to tuck their chin and protect their groin area. They are not allowed to hit back.

In some instances, the heads of those thrown to the ground are jerked back when they are picked up above knee-level from the ground and slammed to the floor.

"A lot of the players are upset about this having taken place," said Pacheco Jr.

"This is very degrading," his father said.

Pacheco Sr. said he decided to film the event when his son came home one day and told him that they were told "Senior Hit Day" would take place right after their last game.

"I told my son, ‘Surely, the coachers aren’t that irresponsible,’" he said.

Alejandra Garza, a spokeswoman for DPS, said the matter is being investigated.

"We’re conducting this in a fair and thorough manner," she said.

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