Twelve younger players on the Olentangy Orange High School girls soccer team were zip-tied, blindfolded with duct-taped goggles and force-fed raw hot dogs and sardines during a hazing incident in the early morning hours of August 11, according to reports, and now the Delaware County Sheriff's Office says no criminal charges will be filed against the six identified suspects.
The sheriff's office determined a criminal incident occurred involving the Lewis Center team but ultimately decided against filing charges, citing a lack of evidence and insufficient cooperation from those involved, according to the Columbus Dispatch, as reported by Cleveland.com. Investigators had identified six suspects and 12 victims, and videos of the hazing were posted online, per that same account. The incident reportedly began when senior varsity team members drove to the homes of younger varsity members during the early morning hours on August 11.
Once there, the younger players were allegedly told to wear adult-sized diapers, including on their heads, and had their wrists zip-tied and their arms bound to their chests with plastic wrap, the Dispatch reported. They also wore goggles with duct tape over their eyes, were sprayed with shaving cream, silly string and glitter, and were asked sexually explicit questions, according to the same account. The younger players were reportedly force-fed raw hot dogs and sardines during the ordeal.
Parents Say Senior Players Got Only One-Game Suspensions
Following an informational meeting the district held for parents on September 28, local parents expressed outrage, alleging that senior players involved in the hazing were initially given brief one-game suspensions, the station reported.
Olentangy Local Schools has said it cooperated with investigators and takes hazing incidents seriously, per ABC 6's reporting. The district held the meeting to brief parents and discuss possible consequences, but it will not release details about the students involved, citing student privacy. District officials have said they remain committed to communicating directly with involved students and families about the outcome and to providing a safe and supportive environment for all students, adding that Olentangy Local Schools does not tolerate conduct that compromises student safety, dignity or well-being.
What Ohio Law Says About Hazing and School Liability
Ohio's Collin's Law, enacted in October 2021 as Senate Bill 126, elevated general criminal hazing from a fourth-degree misdemeanor to a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by jail time and fines, according to StopHazing. The law followed high-profile hazing deaths at Ohio universities. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2903.31, school administrators, teachers and employees who fail to report a hazing offense involving physical harm can face criminal charges up to a first-degree misdemeanor, according to Reminger.
A Pattern Playing Out Across Ohio High Schools
This case is not an isolated one in the state. In September 2025, a lawsuit involving alleged hazing and sexual assault on the Youngstown Ursuline High School football team resulted in game cancellations and multi-agency investigations, according to WHIO TV. Federal public reporting requirements apply to higher education, with no extension to high schools.
For now, the criminal case in Delaware County remains closed without charges. Whether the district pursues further discipline, or whether OHSAA scrutinizes the team's playing record, remains an open question for the Lewis Center community.
